CPM S30V vs M390

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soapboxpreacher

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Steel Battle Royal! Which one is King. I really like CPM S30V, stainless, tough, easy to sharpen, holds an edge. But new comer M390 looks to be possible better. In all categories. Is the true? I am having trouble finding data that is comparable. Both of these steels seem to be better than D2 as well as easier to sharpen.
 
SBP - Check in the Knife Reviews and Testing forum for Ankersons cutting tests on the Benchmade M390 710 knife. Looks like it did really well. Another member here So-Lo has some good videos on knives, not sure if he did something in a video with S30V, but it's worth a look either way.
 
No contest, M390 has much better edge retention than S30V.

I would take that bet any day and I would be banking the money in the end.
 
I really like the steel of my M390 710. I haven't used it a great deal, but changing the factory edge to one that performs properly gave me a feel for the steel.
To me it feels silkier and harder than S30V.
 
soapboxpreacher said:
Steel Battle Royal! Which one is King. I really like CPM S30V, stainless, tough, easy to sharpen, holds an edge. But new comer M390 looks to be possible better. In all categories. Is the true? I am having trouble finding data that is comparable. Both of these steels seem to be better than D2 as well as easier to sharpen.
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It is not true.

M390 is same as CPM S30V. At least performs same on edge holding test on manila rope. CPM S30V by Buck heat treated by Boss on 110 holds 20th place and M390 by BM on 710 holds 21st.

Usually BM show worse results then Buck - Buck has better heat treatment then many. So in theory if M390 will be heat treated by Buck it may performs better, but this is not the case yet.

For sure this is best performance I see so far on Benchmade knives.

Hope they will start using real super performer - CTS-XHP, it is US made unlike ZDP189.

Thanks, Vassili.

Ankerson does cut rope on wooden base, which compromise results on my opinion. BM710 has re-curved edge and so avoid contact with base - in result Military cut rope + wooden base, BM 710 cuts only rope and so looks better - suppose to, my estimate - it has three times less load. In my tests where blades have same load BM 710 with M390 steel show pretty average results.

http://playground.sun.com/~vasya/Manila-Rope-Results.html
 
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nozh2002 said:
It is not true.

M390 is same as CPM S30V.
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The thread I posted said it's the same as Duratech 20CV: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=704854

post #9

It's the same steel as Latrobe's Duratech 20CV. It's a good steel, tough ( for a high carbide fraction stainless steel) and wear resistant. I wouldn't put it in the S90V /ZDP 189 class for wear resistance, but it can be above S30V depending on the hardness it's run at.

It's another steel that wouldn't work out real well if it didn't use PM technology.
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You all should already know that Vasilli is right about the steel. Everything else is incorrect.
Thanks,
RevDevil ;)
 
For those who are confused about the composition -- www.bohler-edelstahl.com/files/M390DE.pdf

There's an interesting photo comparing present and earlier particle size .Steels get better and better !! With the 4.00 % V it will have the wear resistance close to S30V. Should make a fine blade !
 
I guess I will be finding out soon enough whenever the Benchmade TSEK special edition is released with M390. I recently got some sebenzas and must say I like the way Chris reeve heat treats his knives. So far it is the sharpest I have gotten S30V, it takes a mighty fine edge.
 
It looks like knife manufacturers trying new marketing approach. Instead of having one supersteel they now have super steel per manufacturer. BM pushing M390 (European), Kershaw pushing for Elmax (European), I was hoping that Spyderco will push for made in US CTS-XHP, but that company is hard to understand lately.

It is interesting way to do business everyone has it's own super steel. Unfortunately M390 and Elmax does not really perform as supersteel and both have reputation based on hype not on real performance - M390 - 21st place, Elmax - 30th place (funny but Kershqw made composite knife with Elmax on the edge and CPM D2 on spine while CPM D2 from same Kershaw is on 12th place).

Again we have manufacturers focused on marketing hype rather then on performance. Same as it was when they push replacement of CPM S60V by way less performed CPM S30V. I was hoping that everybody will jump on CTS-XHP because it is real deal, not very expensive and made in US, but looks like this is not major focus for industry.

Well, one more disappointment from knife industry among many others...

So back to original question - on my test M390 is same as CPM S30V and so no reason to switch to it from CPM S30V. CTS-XHP is steel to look for (as well as well known, good old ZDP-189).

Thanks, Vassili.

P.S. Hierer making his knives with CTS-XHP on regular basis, but other then that nobody else to my knowledge.
 
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Yes, Rick Hinderer is using largely Duratech 20V in the XM-18 3.5" & CTS-XHP in some XM-18's and the XM-24. Although I'm sure he probably has some crossover where he's used one or the other in a different model for customs etc...:)

Where is this list that you're quoting from nozh2002?

perform as supersteel and both have reputation based on hype not on real performance - M390 - 21st place, Elmax - 30th place (funny but Kershqw made composite knife with Elmax on the edge and CPM D2 on spine while CPM D2 from same Kershaw is on 12th place).
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cziv said:
Yes, Rick Hinderer is using largely Duratech 20V in the XM-18 3.5" & CTS-XHP in some XM-18's and the XM-24. Although I'm sure he probably has some crossover where he's used one or the other in a different model for customs etc...:)

Where is this list that you're quoting from nozh2002?
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Oh-Oh! Now you pulled the cork out of the monkeys arse. :eek:;)
 
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