Help with my narrowed down choices.

T

Tango Sierra

Joined
Dec 30, 2002
Messages
12
Just over a year ago I purchased a CRKT Ryan Model Seven as my first knife. Last week I bought my second knife, a Kershaw Chive in the Rainbow finish so I wouldn't have to pull the big knife out at work for simple cutting chores and get weird stares from everyone else.

Now I want to move up in quality for my large knife and I am looking for information about the group I've narrowed my choice down to. I will carry it mainly for a last resort of self defense.

1.) Benchmade 710
2.) Benchmade 806D2
3.) Kershaw Ken Onion Boa
4.) MOD CQD Mark I

If I wasn't saving for another handgun I'd just go ahead and buy the MOD. So between the other three which one should it be and why. Or should I make with do with my Ryan M7 and wait several months until after I buy another gun and save up for the MOD.

What are the differences between the following blade materials?
154CM
M2
D2
CPM-440V

I hope this wasn't too many questions for one post.
 
Get the BM AFCK (w/ Axis lock) or 710 (M2 preferred) in PE.

Steel:

154CM, pretty much the same as ATS-34. It has some of the highest carbon content (edge retention). And is still considered a Stainless steel.

M2 - Don't have much experience with it. Better edge retention then 154CM, but more prone to rusting.

D2- Higher carbon content, great edge retention. Some finishes don't work well. But any black coating should keep it from rusting easily.

CMP-440V - I have no idea, I know it's as a good as 154CM but thats about it.
 
Hey Tango,

I own an MOD CQD so I may be a little biased...of course, I will recommend it though :)

It's hard to think of the CQD as a "last resort" option mainly because it's so BIG...then again, it is designed to be used as an impact weapon, which is yet another argument to carry it as a "last resort" option (you can still do damage in case you can't deploy the blade quickly enough).

M2 is non-stainless, D2 is borderline stainless (some refer to it as "semi-stainless), CPM-440V is a lower grade stainless and 154CM (the American version of the Japanese ATS-34) is a medium grade stainless that was very popular a few years ago (ok, it's still popular even though it has been surpassed by CPM-420V, BG-42, and S30V, among others).

RL
 
BM 710, a great all-around knife.

Use the search function, this should provide you with a lot of results covering all knives and steels you listed.
 
I think you would be happy with either of the Benchmades.
The Axis-lock is simple awesome!
 
Tango, Since you're so unsure what to buy next I'd
suggest that you follow your own advice.......
"Or should I make with do with my Ryan M7
and wait several months until after I buy
another gun and save up for the MOD."

After all ......"a knife is a knife is a knife"
as long as the knife you have does the daily duty
you have for it then wait to shop/compare, and
define what YOU want better. The price of waiting
is getting the knife you want for sure. ;)

FWIW from my point of view I think you are
overlooking some very fine cutlery in favor of a
designer name. To me designer names are great for
the seller and bad for my wallet. :(

Take your time , mate. The fun is in the hunt.:D
 
Well being a Benchmade fan I guess this will be biased but hey.

Get the 806D2 or the 710M2 personaly I own the 710M2 and it is great. The 806 is the next one on my list.

154CM is nice it is a good allround steel but it seems to be prown to very light staining.

CPM440V is a very very high carbon SS. Hense making it more britel.

I have not seen any hint of staining or rust on my 710 M2 true it is covered but even the uncovered portion has not stained and it has been in the rain and not dryed.

D2 from what I have heared is just under M2 in edge retention. but above it in rust or stain retarding.

Buy the 806D2 AFCK or the 710HS you will not regret it at all.
 
MOD CQD Mark I , Master of Defense is a cut above Benchmade on fit, finish and design.
 
Thanks for the answers guys.

From my search on this site most everyone around here seems to think the Microtech is the best of the production knife makers. The dealers I frequent don't carry this line and I can't find a dealer locator on their website. Would anyone know of a dealer located in Chicago's western suburbs? I live about 50 miles west-southwest of Chicago.

Which Microtech models best fit in with the style knives I'm looking at?

I'm waiting for my dealer to get a 710 in to try it. He had the 806 but from the catalog I liked the 710.

RL, I haven't handled the CQD Mark I yet, only the Mark II. I was thinking a little extra blade might be nice but I had not noticed the big difference in size when closed until you pointed that out. I might have to rethink this.

Tightwad, since I bought the Kershaw Chive it seems to cover 90% of my daily needs. I don't like the serrations on my CRKT and since I will replace it, I want something of better quality. Could you suggest a few no-names at a lower price that will match the quality I'm looking for.
 
Tango, Sure I can suggest other makes since you
asked. They may not be the designer names you've
selected but I know that I'll get both a good
knife and good value from them.

1.) Camillus. Lots of goodies here.
2.) Buck. They make lots of knives other than the
110. Some really neat stuff really.
3.) Al Mar. His lightweights are superior every
day cutters. He also make serious heavy duty
stuff.
4.) Outdoor Edge. This small company has some
killer values in underrated knives.
5.) Bob Dozier ( semi-custom) Bob's knives are
plain looking serious cutting machines that
will satsify the most jaded among us at
workingman's price for a semi-custom knives.
5.) Spyderco. This company practicly invented the
"one hand" concept. Lots to choose from here.

I'm sure there are more but I tried to stay with
well known COMMERCIAL companies that are not hung
up on designer names to sell their knives.

Where to buy? On the internet of course!! Not many
local stores carry anything much beyond the
ordinary.

Good luck, mate. :)
 
Originally posted by RL
CPM-440V is a lower grade stainless
Click to expand...

I think you may be confusing designations. CPM 440V is a very high-end steel with some of the highest hardness and wear resistance factors avaialble. Its only real downside is that it is more prone to brittleness than most. In a small to medium length that is rarely an issue, although a few people have complained of chipping.

--Bob Q
 
And, on a more general note, my personal preferences favor all three of your runners-up over your first choice. :)

I have nothing against the MOD, but I consider the other three as the top picks in their class. My order would be:
Kershaw Boa
Benchmade 710
Benchmade 806D2

You've narrowed your choices down to the point where you will be happy with whatever you pick.

--Bob Q
 
If I were you, I'd get the 710. Great lock, excellent blade shape, comfortable handle, built like a brick sh_thouse.
 
Originally posted by bquinlan
And, on a more general note, my personal preferences favor all three of your runners-up over your first choice. :)

I have nothing against the MOD, but I consider the other three as the top picks in their class. My order would be:
Kershaw Boa
Benchmade 710
Benchmade 806D2

You've narrowed your choices down to the point where you will be happy with whatever you pick.

--Bob Q
Click to expand...

You are probably right. I think I'll buy either two of them or all three and forgo a gun purchase for now. If I don't like one or more of them as much as the others, I'll just sell it.
 
CPM-440V is now S60V if I am not mistaken. A very good steel. The problem was in the heat treat. People were trying to make this steel too hard. Resulting in easy chipping. Properly heat treated, it is still an excellent steel. Heck, 440c is still a very good steel.
 
BM710HS or BM806D2. the M2 steel won't rust on you if you dry the knife after it has gotten wet. No need to keep the blade oiled either - I live in a wet climate and have had no problems with M2.

M2 takes a fine edge and holds it pretty well. It cuts very well if the edge is nice and thin.

Don't have experience with the Kershaw or MOD, but the Benchmades can be had for a little over $100 and are big bang for the buck. The AXIS lock is one I am very confident in, and it keeps the width of the knife down too.
 
710 I think is a good choice from what Ive seen (I do not have one personally, but I do have one on the way).



154cm is almost exactly the same as ats-34. 154cm is made by crucible, ats-34 by hitachi. Its a high chrome steel used in making Jet engine turbine fins. It is fairly easy to sharpen and holds a good edge. m2 is a high speed steel used in making drill bits, high speed tools, ect.

D2 is also a tool steel. Neither m2, nor D2 are stainless. However D2 has enough chrome (if I remember correctly?) to be considered stain "resistant".

cpm440v is also a steel used in making jet engine parts.

154cm stainless=easy to sharpen
D2 non-stainless (does have enough chrome to be stain "resistant")=hard to sharpen
m2 non-stainless=harder to sharpen
cpm440v stainless=hard to sharpen
 
Originally posted by Tango Sierra


Which Microtech models best fit in with the style knives I'm looking at?
Click to expand...

If you can wait just a bit, Microtech is coming out very shortly with a mini Socom Elite. It features a 3.4" blade in, I believe, S30V and a frame lock. It will also be somewhat reasonably priced. It should be a real winner and is eagerly anticipated by knifeknuts everywhere.

The regular Socom Elite (now out of production:( ), was one of the most highly respected tactical folders out there.
 
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