M2 Tool Steel?

M

megafriday

Joined
Jun 7, 2005
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I see Benchmade makes a M2 version of the 710. Any opinions on the performance (sharpening, edge holding, etc) of this steel? I'm not familiar with it.
 
M2 is good, but it rusts easily. It's really not worth the extra you pay for it, though. To me (at least the way BM heat treats it) it's very brittle. It will take an outstanding edge, though. Has a lot of tungsten in it, which makes it kind of hard to sharpen, but not too bad if the edge is thin. Still, to me it's a bit brittle to make a great hard-use knife.
 
You've had it chip on you?? I've found my M2 afck to be far tougher than any of my ATS-34 or 154CM Benchmades.
 
I think that is the first time I have seen it compared as brittle compared to ATS-34 as well. More details would be interesting.

-Cliff
 
megafriday said:
I see Benchmade makes a M2 version of the 710. Any opinions on the performance (sharpening, edge holding, etc) of this steel? I'm not familiar with it.
Click to expand...

You do know that this is one of the most discussed knives on this board? Anyway for sharpening do a search for

"How to Make the Benchmade Axis Perform" written by Joe Talmadge

Maybe somebody can do a link for you.
 
I want an M2 BM, but I can't decide between the 710 and 910. The Stryker handle is awesome, but tantos and linerlocks are low on my list. I already have an 806, so I also don't 'need' another 4" black blade axis lock.
 
warden41272 said:
M2 is good, but it rusts easily.
Click to expand...

What knife do you have with M2? A 710? You had it rust? I have EDC'd a BM710 practically everyday for over 4 years and I have never seen any rust. Even the coating is worn off on several spots of the blade, still no rust. I also haven't found it to be brittle and I find it easy to sharpen.
 
I just found a nice BM 800 with M2. I can't wait to give it a test drive. Probably will whip it out when the kids need help with their presents. Anyone else have a review on this one?
 
At one time, I had the AFCK in M2. It didn't rust on me, because I take very good care of my knives. However, M2 is a very rust-prone steel. I only put that in there as a warning, in the even the original poster was unaware it was a non-stainless tool steel. As far as being brittle, in my experience (with that one knife) it was. Of course, I also admitted earlier mine was maybe just a dud, since everyone else apparently didn't have the same problem. And by brittle I mean this (in practical terms): I was skinning a squirrel and struck a bone in the leg. A small portion chipped out of the edge. Not rolled or bent, but chipped. A few minutes on a stone cleaned it right up, but that is the only knife I have ever owned that did that. *That's* what I mean by brittle.
 
That's not terribly surprising, when I refer to its toughness it's mostly in regards to the alternative (ats34/154cm) in the same model line.
 
warden41272 said:
And by brittle I mean this (in practical terms): I was skinning a squirrel and struck a bone in the leg. A small portion chipped out of the edge. Not rolled or bent, but chipped.
Click to expand...

Unless your squirrels are massively bigger than Canadian ones, this was a faulty blade, even ATS-34 in that profile can chop/cut up squirrels directly, bones and all, let alone take contacts while cutting them up.

-Cliff
 
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