Is cpm 20cv same as M390?

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wolverine_173

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Is it the same?
How does it compare with 154cm
I'm comparing survive gso 4.1 in 20CV to Ontario sk5 in 154cm. About a $100 difference.
 
CPM 20CV, Duratech 20CV, M390, and CTS 204P are all the same alloy content.

There is a HUGE difference in CPM 20CV and 154CM.
 
Not sure if 154CM is better in anything besides cost over CPM20CV. One of the metallurgical magicians might be able to respond with actual numbers. I know for my own use, the equivalent of CPM20CV (Carpenter's CTS 204P) completely blows 154CM away on edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, sharpness and strength. Only thing 154CM wins at is price. (Please don't take this to mean that 154CM is bad, far from it. But we're talking mid-tech steel vs super-steel here)
 
wolverine_173 said:
how about 20cv compared to bark river A2?
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In actual use, you would be hard pressed to see an actual difference. Just buy what you like, use it and get a feel for the steel. Then, buy a different knife use it and see how that one compares. That is the trick to enjoying knives.
 
RevDevil said:
In actual use, you would be hard pressed to see an actual difference. Just buy what you like, use it and get a feel for the steel. Then, buy a different knife use it and see how that one compares. That is the trick to enjoying knives.
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even in edge retention i wouldn't notice a difference?

For a hunting knife i just dont want it to dull, Dont want to sharpen it in the field
 
In my experience every knife will dull with use. I agree with RevDevil on this one too and can only advise taking a small whetstone or one of those field steels that you can buy from outdoor retailers for like five bucks when you go hunting. I hunt regularly and I use my own hand made hunter in w2, hard and tough as anything but I still touch up the edge on a butcher's steel I customised by cutting it in half and fitting a smaller wooden handle. At the end of the day you'll only really learn with experience (anything's better than a cheapo Chinese knockoff sak, trust me, dressing a boar with one of those is more trouble than it's worth) of course the old saying goes "you get what you pay for"
 
No one has ever asked regarding how those 2 steels are manufactured. although they have the same composition, Crucible manufactures it using 1st gen Pm and Bohler-uddeholm uses 3rd gen Pm. M390 will be a bit tougher. just a little.

Fun fact: i didn't realize there's a Bohler-uddeholm near me. i live in San Francisco and Bohler is at Hayward CA. 30 mins. away from me. LOL
 
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There is a difference in Si content between the two. cpm20cv has a .3 Si content vs. m390's .7 Si content. Si contributes to strength, moving oxygen from molten metal. Aside from that, the two are virtually identical in C, W, V, Cr, Mo, and Mn.
 
I actually have a GSO 4.1 but in CPM 3V and I have an Ontario SK5 in 154, you won't be able to tell a difference in the 2 knives with occasional camping, if you used them everyday you might be able to see the difference in edge retention and ease of sharpening. I would say the Ontario SK5 is the bargain since it is $100 cheaper than its own introduction price and cheaper than the GSO 4.1, also the SK5 is a better slicer due to profile, but the GSO is stronger by thickness and length, but be realistic about use you will probably be preparing food or just basic cutting( Ontario SK5 WINS) but if I needed to do pull ups and stand on my blade( I GUESS THE GSO WINS). I would really recommend the Ontario SK5, and don't be worried about it having a non super steel they have a great warranty if you happen to break it.
 
wolverine_173 said:
Is it the same?
How does it compare with 154cm
I'm comparing survive gso 4.1 in 20CV to Ontario sk5 in 154cm. About a $100 difference.
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Not the same, but similar up to a point. Think of them like individually different recipes for pancakes rather than this or that. 20CV has vanadium in it. 154CM doesn't and is basically the same as 440C stainless, just more Molybdenum. The 20CV will be stronger because of the vanadium, which being a proprietary steel, will cost more than the loveless 440C. Everyone will respond with "wear resistance/toughness" although the thing to think about is that the Ontario could suffer a chip where the 3V wouldn't. 20CV only has the advantage of more corrosion resistance over 3V, but in all the use my survive 3V has gotten, I couldn't be happier with the quality of ingredients. m390 was from a different foundry than CPM, but the idea is largely the same. The ontario is a fine knife, as mentioned above, just depends on what you're going to use it for.
 
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