CPM-154CM, why not more love?

[Gaston444]

Anyway, the RWL34 mule team shows just how much marketing plays onto what people think of these different steels. RWL34 is almost identical to CPM154 yet people say that CPM154 doesn't have enough wear resistance for them while really liking RWL34. Hardcore placebo effect. Makes me really question most of what people say about how much they like steels. Maybe they like a steel, not because it's actually better, but because the vast majority of people say it's better and they just follow the herd.

This is true for all of them, and add to this that the outcome varies enormously by makers on the same steel, and the meaninglessness of most opinions based on steel alone becomes apparent...

You also touch on a issue that is seldom mentioned but is likely highly critical, which is the "cleanness" of each particular batch of steel, something that could explain an even larger part of the visible performance differences...

Gaston

 

[TDOG1]

I love the CPM154, but then the Shelter Cove makes it easy to love. Sharpens VERY easily and holds it's working edge well. Sounds strange, but I can hear the hardness in this knife. Makes filleting a joy. Thanks Phil.

 

[speedseeker]

I use the aforementioned steel composition app more than I'd like to admit. I refer back to it at least once a week.

Also, here's something pretty good and gives some decent comparisons and descriptions:

http://bestpocketknifetoday.com/knife-steel-composition-chart/

And more info:

http://www.knives-reviews.eu/contents/steels/39-english/content-info/steels/109-steels-comp.html

As far as how much a certain type of steel deviates from the official list of alloying ingredients, that's a common problem. Certain steel distributors demand a chemical analysis on every large batch they buy to ensure what they're selling is within the manufacturer's stated tolerances and that it's going to perform up to expectations. Really good knife makers take into account the varying ingredients from batch to batch but theoretically they want to have the exact same composition every time they pick up a steel bar that listed as a specific steel. But that's not the case so they like to see just how much they have to tweak their heat treatments. Different steels have a different tolerance set for them. The higher grade premium steels have tighter tolerances, hence the earlier statements about 154CM vs CPM 154CM. The CPM version is a higher grade than ingot.

When they do a melt of steel there can be recycled steel thrown in and that'll change the final product, even if just barely, and as long as the final steel is within tolerance it's sold as that type of steel. When you get to the premier steels that goes way down, hence the term "cleaner" steels. It's because there's a guarantee that it has less unwanted crap in it.

And I'm no expert. There are many guys lurking that have a far better understanding than I have. Hopefully they'll pop up and give us all a whatfor.

Wow! Fantastic resources. Thank you all for helping a guy out. When combined, the three resources you pointed me towards are immensely helpful when it comes to a new guy and knife steel. Just reminds me why this community is so great. Thanks again.

 

[bodog]

No problem man. There's a lot more to it than that but you can get an idea and start digging deeper if you want. There's a lot.