M2 Steel

[shaun_503]

Is this steel that Benchmade uses harder to sharpen than their ATS34 or 154 CM??? If it is what is the best way to sharpen M2? How does everyone feel about this steel???

 

[SIFU1A]

M2 is a little harder to sharpen than 154 but i dont think its that big a deal myself, a sharpmaker works fine for sharpening M2, freehand diamond stones work well, it good stuff imho.

 

[dannyvi]

Could you tell me which benchmade uses the M2 steel??

 

[Deadhead Archer]

710 and 910 both use M2...they use the "HS" to symbolize High Speed steel.

 

[shaun_503]

How does the M2 compare with the D2?

 

[Deadhead Archer]

I happen to have both a 910 Stryker in M2, and a Griptilian in D2.

Both are capable of retaining a scary sharp edge when cutting through different materials (carpet, cardboard, paper). One difference is that M2 is capable of achieving a thinner edge, whereas a D2 edge will not retain a thin edge well. Between the 2 steels, I'd give the edge retention medal to M2 as just slightly better than D2.

I've found that the Stryker's geometry cannot be readily compared to the Grip. Perhaps a better comparison between the D2 Grip and the 710 in M2 because of blade geometry. Also, my Stryker has the combo edge (in retrospect, I wish I had gotten a plain edge) so I don't have as much "belly" to the blade as the Grip for a slicing comparison.

Both steels are not meant to be used as a prybar, they are too brittle and will fracture. M2 is "tool steel"...it literally is the same steel as a twist-bit drill bit (which you wouldn't want to use as a pry either).

I'd love to own another M2 blade (unfortunately, for production knives there is currently is only the BM 910 and BM 710 in M2), but I wouldn't turn my nose up to a D2 blade. Both are superior steels.