Cpm-m4?

gull wing

gull wing

Joined
May 4, 2002
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Is this steel as good at cutting/edge holding as M390/20CV?
I have used the M390 and 20CV and like them a lot, but the M4 not so much. I have a Gayle Bradley in M4, but it usually sits in the box because it's too big and heavy for my uses. I've gotten my M4 very sharp, but as I said, haven't carried it much to know about it's longevity.

:)May get a smaller M4 knife.
 
I have used M390/20CV and M4 a lot.

In my opinion M390/20CV outperform M4 in fine edge holding capability by a good margin.

Just my findings.
 
I've owned perhaps five GB 1's, and they are great knives, but too large/heavy for my casual carry uses.
I love the M4 steel, BTW.
If you want "slimmer" and lighter, you might check out the "new" Gayle Bradley 2 in CPM M4. I bought two of these, and I think I'll like this model enough to carry in rotation...once I get some of the scale ground out of the way with my dremel tool. The liner-lock is too difficult for me to operate well in its "now" configuration.
The GB 1 has grip thickness of 0.525" and weighs 5.5 oz.
The GB 2 has grip thickness of 0.490" and weighs 4.4 oz.
The knives are very similar, otherwise, in materials, blade thickness, length, grip length, etc. but the 2 will "carry" much lighter. This means that I will be MUCH more likely to carry the "2" instead of the original model "1."

Ankerson's tables of rope-cutting efficiency vs edge-holding tends to place the M390 and CTS-20CP a bit "higher" than M4. However, much depends upon initial RC hardness of the blade-steels. And yes, the M4 will tend to rust or patina more easily, due to differences in chemical composition, as per Blues Bender's post. However, if you wipe the blade down after use, you'll be happy enough with any of them.
 
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IIRC, M4 is the 3rd gen D2. A tool steel with a harder steel with pretty much the same qualities as D2, as mentioned above, rust and all. They don't cut as good, nor are as sharp, but hold an edge longer being a harder steel. It keeps its form. Usually, this is reason D2/M4s knives sit so much, cause they are just dull and harder to sharpen. Heh. I like D2 too, dont get me wrong; it's the closest to adamantium we have I think.

I consider D2 a different category of super steel, tool super steel,compared to 440 variant super steel, cats, m390, sv,etc, which have standard steel quality, but with cutting as the primary focus.

Then there's longevity, I think. IIRC, only 2 can be had.

Theres all the rust proof water class.
 
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I did an informal test of a Manix 2 in M4 vs. a Manix 2 LW in S110V. In my case the M4 won by a long way. YMMV of course. In my book M4 is very good stuff, and so are M390 and up such as 20CV, S90V, S110V.
 
wensynch said:
IIRC, M4 is the 3rd gen D2. A tool steel with a harder steel with pretty much the same qualities as D2, as mentioned above, rust and all. They don't cut as good, nor are as sharp, but hold an edge longer being a harder steel. It keeps its form. Usually, this is reason D2/M4s knives sit so much, cause they are just dull and harder to sharpen. Heh. I like D2 too, dont get me wrong; it's the closest to adamantium we have I think.

I consider D2 a different category of super steel, tool super steel,compared to 440 variant super steel, cats, m390, sv,etc, which have standard steel quality, but with cutting as the primary focus.

Then there's longevity, I think. IIRC, only 2 can be had.

Theres all the rust proof water class.
Click to expand...

^This is almost as absurd as it gets.^
 
wensynch said:
IIRC, M4 is the 3rd gen D2. A tool steel with a harder steel with pretty much the same qualities as D2, as mentioned above, rust and all. They don't cut as good, nor are as sharp, but hold an edge longer being a harder steel. It keeps its form. Usually, this is reason D2/M4s knives sit so much, cause they are just dull and harder to sharpen. Heh. I like D2 too, dont get me wrong; it's the closest to adamantium we have I think.

I consider D2 a different category of super steel, tool super steel,compared to 440 variant super steel, cats, m390, sv,etc, which have standard steel quality, but with cutting as the primary focus.

Then there's longevity, I think. IIRC, only 2 can be had.

Theres all the rust proof water class.
Click to expand...

I still think 440C is better. It is the same thing as Stellite 6K, but totally different.
 
I own knives in M4 and D2 and if you would like to know how similar they are, I will tell you.

They are both alloys used in making knives and both contain carbon.

After that they are different animals.
Please see the attached photo that shows the composition of each alloy.

------
Gull, sorry about the derail.

I have owned knives in m390, but I haven't used them enough to get an accurate read on edge life for my uses.
That being said, I carry a cruwear manix 2 or a zt770 in M4 daily and I love them both.

M4 holds its toothy edge a bit longer but it takes a bit more to refine the edge back to an acceptable keenness if you let it go.

Cruwear takes a Crazy keen edge Very fast and will hold it for an impressive amount of time when compared to how easy it is to touch up.

I cut mostly double walled cardboard, food grade plastics and packing material.
 
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NJBillK said:
I own knives in M4 and D2 and if you would like to know how similar they are, I will tell you.

They are both alloys used in making knives and both contain carbon.

After that they are different animals.
Please see the attached photo that shows the composition of each alloy.

------
Gull, sorry about the derail.

I have owned knives in m390, but I haven't used them enough to get an accurate read on edge life for my uses.
That being said, I carry a cruwear manix 2 or a zt770 in M4 daily and I love them both.

M4 holds its toothy edge a bit longer but it takes a bit more to refine the edge back to an acceptable keenness if you let it go.

Cruwear takes a Crazy keen edge Very fast and will hold it for an impressive amount of time when compared to how easy it is to touch up.

I cut mostly double walled cardboard, food grade plastics and packing material.
Click to expand...

I love the one knife I have in M4. Go wolfram!
 
One of the best overall cutting performance steel especially when it come to holding very thin geometry due to its capability to retain high toughness at high HRC hardness = high strength, with outstanding wear resistance.

That why this type of steel is popular among cutting competition knife. Its has mediocre corrosion resistance though.
 
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