I don't really understand this request. When something comes up using 154CM everyone bashes it and says they are going to pass on it because of the steel. In fact the OP just said he would pass on a Benchmade because of the use of 154CM. Now I know CPM154 is a little different as it uses a first generation particle metal process which improves the grain structure some. But how does this change the alloy of the steel? They are both iron alloyed with the same percentages of the same added elements. How does that change the alloy?
I'm ok with 154CM, though it is about as low as I like to go anymore. I bought one of the only production knives I know of that used CPM154 and it behaves just like 154CM. There are people who have praised CPM154 but since there are very few production knives that use it, I can only assume it was from a custom maker with a custom heat treat. In my experience a custom heat treat makes almost as much of a difference as the type of steel. A couple blades heat treated at a time perform significantly better than production blades where 100s of blades are in the furnace at once. I just doubt the average person, even knife knuts, are going to notice a difference between the 2 in a production knife, yet the ingot version gets poo-pooed all the time lately.
From what Sal said, it almost sounds like he was hinting that in testing S30V did better than CPM154. I guess it is one thing to try out a new steel. But most people don't usually want a steel that doesn't hold an edge as well. I would like to see Sal give us some testing numbers between S30V and CPM154. The fact they just changed the regular Manix 2 from 154CM to S30V says something. I know it's not the same, but it's not very different either. I just find it amusing to trash one steel and then request the same exact alloy that is made a little different.
I think it would sell out faster than the Orange or Green did.
