High End Knives with Average Blade Steels?

D

DavidTGM

Joined
Feb 28, 2010
Messages
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Hey guys, I've recently gotten the custom knife bug and I've been looking around just for fun and purchased one... (god damn you Bladeforums)
I've seen knives that run for 300$ that have S35VN steel and others that go for 700$ that use CPM 154.
From what I've read, S35VN is in many ways better than CPM 154 yet the knife maker is asking for way more even if the knives are basically the same quality of fabrication.

I was just wondering if a heat treatment can actually make an 'average' blade steel turn into a high quality steel. Or if Benchmade's CPM 154 is not the same as Demko's CPM 154 in composition. I would assume that they have the same composition but perhaps a different heat treat. Anyways, even with a better heat treat, I can't see how it could influence such a big jump in price.

Thanks in advance! I'm not hating, just curious ;)
 
CPM 154 has an excellent reputation, so I wouldn't really worry about it. As far as I'm aware, Benchmade doesn't use that steel, they use 154CM.

There's a lot that goes into a custom folder or even high end production, so that may be where the money is going.

I really like the entry level William Henrys, but at about $300 they only come with D2...which is marginally annoying.
 
DavidTGM said:
Hey guys, I've recently gotten the custom knife bug and I've been looking around just for fun and purchased one... (god damn you Bladeforums)
I've seen knives that run for 300$ that have S35VN steel and others that go for 700$ that use CPM 154.
From what I've read, S35VN is in many ways better than CPM 154 yet the knife maker is asking for way more even if the knives are basically the same quality of fabrication.

I was just wondering if a heat treatment can actually make an 'average' blade steel turn into a high quality steel. Or if Benchmade's CPM 154 is not the same as Demko's CPM 154 in composition. I would assume that they have the same composition but perhaps a different heat treat. Anyways, even with a better heat treat, I can't see how it could influence such a big jump in price.

Thanks in advance! I'm not hating, just curious ;)
Click to expand...

There is a world of difference in production knives and customs, in a custom you pay for the makers craftsmanship and custom heat treating.

S35VN hasn't really been around long enough or used in enough knives to really judge it either way yet. Once we see more production blades in this steel we will have a better idea of what it can do or not do.

CPM 154 is not an ave steel by any means and with proper HT and tempering it's excellent.
 
I was told that just because a chef uses same ingredients as another chef doesn't mean that they're both making the same meal. It doesn't simply have to do with heat treating. While it is obviously an important aspect, what the knifemaker does to the metal during the forging process (even the difference in using a coke/wood forge vs. gas forge - which has a more carbonizing flame) is more important.
 
I think the confusion comes from a mixup of the designations, "154CM" and "CPM-154." They are in fact 2 different steels and CPM-154 is top shelf stuff. I would be happy with a high-end knife in that blade steel.
 
CPM 154 is a particle steel, 154cm is not. While they have the same chemical composition, they are not the same steel. CPM 154 is finer grained, tougher, holds an edge longer, and far more expensive.
 
A good heat treat makes a big difference, but obviously CPM 154 won't perform as well as a lot of steels can. There are some high end makers that use supersteels, though, like INFI or CPM-M4.
 
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