CPM 20CV update

gull wing

gull wing

Joined
May 4, 2002
Messages
2,536
I'll just get right to it. This is the best blade steel(for my purposes )I have ever used. #555-1
I viewed several videos on the steel and was impressed by some of the testers there raving about it as "best", etc.

So, right out of the box it was Unbelievably sharp, more so than any factory job I've had before. I did my normal little light cutting tests expecting to dull it soon so I could reprofile it. I did this several times in a period of five days, with some light stropping on my green chrome strop. It kept up that keen edge, wow.*
Now I can't say I'm hard on a knife (no camping, hiking for a week at a time), but this blade beats anything I have so far.

I also have a Mini Ritter Grip in M390 and it is quite impressive with it's edge holding as well. **

Conclusion - I really like these SUPER STEELS. They are not hard to sharpen.:D Wish more companies used 20CV.

*- I've since reprofiled it.
** - Haven't done side by side tests with 20CV.
 
That's great to hear!

I've acquired a couple of blades recently with CPM-20CV and have yet to really put any of them threw their paces. Just light cutting like you describe. I'm letting some cardboard pile up so I can put one of my CPM-20CV blades to the test. I'm particularly curious as to how easily this steel will be to re-sharpen.

Everything I've read so far about 20CV has been extremely positive so I'm looking forward to seeing for myself.
 
I have been very happy with the performance on mine!! Really glad BM is using it on the Grips and Barrages!!
Haven't let it get very dull, but touch ups are a breeze!
Joe

T.K.C. said:
I am so happy to hear that you like it!! :D
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TKC!!! I have read your sig line 100 times and it really hits home!! I love it!!
Here are the ones that seem to think I'm a pretty cool dude......if they only knew!!!!



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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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Thank you!!!!! First time we've had 2 dogs at the same time and I wish we did it sooner!!!
It is NEVER boring at our house with these 2 maniacs!!!
Silly smile firmly in place while thinking of them!!
Joe
 
Dogs DO make one smile, don't they? My dog is sleeping one couch next to, as I type this. She makes me smile, every day!! I don't don't what I would do with out a dog in my life!!
 
gull wing said:
I also have a Mini Ritter Grip in M390 and it is quite impressive with it's edge holding as well. **

Conclusion - I really like these SUPER STEELS. They are not hard to sharpen.:D Wish more companies used 20CV.

*- I've since reprofiled it.
** - Haven't done side by side tests with 20CV.
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They are almost identical. I doubt you will see a real world difference.
 
Now I've used it a while now, I wish they finished the blade better. There are a lot of grind marks they could have "finished" a little further. I guess this finish is ok for a budget knife like the Regular Grip, but this 20CV with G10 is a step up, so the blade finish should reflect that.
Now the Ritter Grip's blade finish is great, I like it a lot, why not do that?
 
My g10 grip came super sharp, very impressed. Been my EDC for a month now. 1st sharpening i put a mirror edge on it, went up to 5000 grit on a chosera followed by stropping w/ white compound. Results were hair popping sharp, but the edge dulled within a few days of light use to no longer cutting phone book paper cleanly,and needing to scrape the skin to shave hairs. Maybe it needs a lower grit finish? Last night i took it back to 1000 grit on a chosera followed by stropping. Anyone else have this experience with quick dulling? The edge feels sharper now then with the mirror Polish.
 
Honestly, I think Benchmade 'won' SHOT Show more than any other company. It wasn't too long ago that a large majority of Benchmades ran 154CM or D2 with a couple of higher end options in S30V. They're now clearly moving in a direction where I expect S30V to be their entry level steel, with their high-end ranging from 20CV to M4 to S90V.
 
gull wing said:
Now I've used it a while now, I wish they finished the blade better. There are a lot of grind marks they could have "finished" a little further. I guess this finish is ok for a budget knife like the Regular Grip, but this 20CV with G10 is a step up, so the blade finish should reflect that.
Now the Ritter Grip's blade finish is great, I like it a lot, why not do that?
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Stonewashing a blade is faster and less expensive way of finishing a blade. The process hides imperfections, where a satin finish will show any crooked/uneven grind. I like the finish on the Ritter Grips too, but I have to say the finish on the 20CV Grip is not bad on mine.

NJ Hunter said:
My g10 grip came super sharp, very impressed. Been my EDC for a month now. 1st sharpening i put a mirror edge on it, went up to 5000 grit on a chosera followed by stropping w/ white compound. Results were hair popping sharp, but the edge dulled within a few days of light use to no longer cutting phone book paper cleanly,and needing to scrape the skin to shave hairs. Maybe it needs a lower grit finish? Last night i took it back to 1000 grit on a chosera followed by stropping. Anyone else have this experience with quick dulling? The edge feels sharper now then with the mirror Polish.
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Not all steel performs terrifically with a mirror edge. If you did anything wrong while sharpening, like leaving the smallest burr or thin the edge out too much, there is not enough meat on the cutting edge to resist the pressure and force of cutting. Higher carbide steels appear to do the best with toothy edges, steels like say 14C28N, 154CM, and similar do slightly better with a mirror edge. In my personal experience, based on the knives I've sharpened to a mirror edge, they NEVER hold an edge as well as a toothy finish. It's more for show than for go. I'm sure there are several people that can and will disagree, but such is life. I do believe after sharpening everything from kitchen knives to folders, fixed blades, etc a 600 grit finish is the spot I aim form regardless of steel.
 
RevDevil said:
Stonewashing a blade is faster and less expensive way of finishing a blade. The process hides imperfections, where a satin finish will show any crooked/uneven grind. I like the finish on the Ritter Grips too, but I have to say the finish on the 20CV Grip is not bad on mine.



Not all steel performs terrifically with a mirror edge. If you did anything wrong while sharpening, like leaving the smallest burr or thin the edge out too much, there is not enough meat on the cutting edge to resist the pressure and force of cutting. Higher carbide steels appear to do the best with toothy edges, steels like say 14C28N, 154CM, and similar do slightly better with a mirror edge. In my personal experience, based on the knives I've sharpened to a mirror edge, they NEVER hold an edge as well as a toothy finish. It's more for show than for go. I'm sure there are several people that can and will disagree, but such is life. I do believe after sharpening everything from kitchen knives to folders, fixed blades, etc a 600 grit finish is the spot I aim form regardless of steel.
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I have no use for a mirrored edge. Looks are one thing, but in reality (mine at least...) a toothy edge goes much further between full sharpenings. I like leaving it at 320, yes to 600 but no further.
 
RevDevil said:
Not all steel performs terrifically with a mirror edge. If you did anything wrong while sharpening, like leaving the smallest burr or thin the edge out too much, there is not enough meat on the cutting edge to resist the pressure and force of cutting. Higher carbide steels appear to do the best with toothy edges, steels like say 14C28N, 154CM, and similar do slightly better with a mirror edge. In my personal experience, based on the knives I've sharpened to a mirror edge, they NEVER hold an edge as well as a toothy finish. It's more for show than for go. I'm sure there are several people that can and will disagree, but such is life. I do believe after sharpening everything from kitchen knives to folders, fixed blades, etc a 600 grit finish is the spot I aim form regardless of steel.
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This. After 10 years of sharpening i tend to aim for nothing higher than a 600 grit finish for a knife that will see use. Mirror for show knife - not for a go knife.
 
Stonewashing does hide a little of the imperfections, but not all of them. To make a good stonewash finish, you must have a good base to begin with. As an example, the grind marks on my 20CV Grip would NOT look better with stonewashing. You simply can't throw anything in a stonewash and it come out looking great.
 
Can we see pictures of the knife you are referencing, Gull Wing? I am interested in the difference between what you are describing and my own Grip. Thanks.
 
So far im having better results with the 1000 grit finish with stropping after use. It seems be be staying sharper, and will shave and almost push cut phone book paper.
 
I am really digging my 20cv grip, have not had to sharpen it since I got it a month ago. I have a second 20cv grip on order, you know for back-up. I really love the new style.
 
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