difference between blade material types. benchmaid griptilian

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Nov 29, 2014
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So im newer to knives I dont know much. My boyfriend is a fanatic he loves his knives. I want to get him a benchmaid 550 griptilian for his birthday. I found the color and blade typehe wants. Its now just a matter of blade material. I dont know the difference. Please discuss thanks in advance!
First one is n680 stainless steel
Second one is 154-cm stainless. Whats the difference. What is better quality. Whick one would you buy? Thqnks!
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Benchmade's basic steel is 154CM. It's a very good stainless steel. N690 or N680 would be similar. I wouldn't worry about the differences.
 
The long and short of it for someone new to knives is this, N680 has a higher resistance to rust than 154CM but both are good steels. If your boyfriend will be using the knife heavily in wet areas or under water, N680 will be best. If he just carries a knife and opens packages and general utility tasks, 154CM will be fine for that.
 
Let me begin by stating I am not a steel snob in the slightest.

I have a Griptillian in 154cm and it has been a good little knife. The factory edge was terrible out of the box, but it sharpened up easily on a medium diamond stone and then a fine Arkansas.

It hasn't seen much hard use but appears to have held up well to what I have done with it.

The standard 154cm will be fine for a everyday use knife, no need in my opinion to get it with anything else.
 
The long and short of it for someone new to knives is this, N680 has a higher resistance to rust than 154CM but both are good steels. If your boyfriend will be using the knife heavily in wet areas or under water, N680 will be best. If he just carries a knife and opens packages and general utility tasks, 154CM will be fine for that.

I agree with this. 154cm will be just fine. And good on you for getting him a knife!
 
Hold on GF. You want to really impress him? I mean "jaw dropping" impressed? ;)

Get him this Knifeworks Exclusive - Benchmade Doug Ritter RSK Mk1 Griptilian

Same basic Benchmade Griptilian you've picked but upgraded with an M390 Stonewashed blade. ( M390 > 154CM )

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I bought the 'Mini' version of this in black as a gift.
 
He won't notice a difference in the steels. 154CM is a good steel.

The Knifeworks thing looks like something you should check out. M-390 IS a superior steel.
 
N680 is very, very stain/rust resistant and that particular iteration of the Griptilian was designed for use in and around salt water. 154CM is a very respectable steel that will hold a better edge than N680, and is plenty rust resistant enough for most environments and tasks. M390 is several grades above either, will hold an edge for MUCH longer, but will also be the trickiest to sharpen of all three.

Whichever one you pick, he's one lucky guy!
 
I googled around to see what experience people have had with N680, and it seems to be a mixed bag. There's a fair amount of comment that it doesn't hold an edge well, but some others who like it for edge holding.

Bohler's premium conventional knife steel is N690, which will be tougher and hold an edge better than N680. N680 will be somewhat more corrosion-resistant than N690 or 154CM, but not as corrosion resistant around salty environments as H1.

Personally, I'd stick with 154CM, because it will hold an edge better than N680 and it will still be very stain resistant. If I needed a blade to use in salt water, I'd go with H1.
 
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