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M2 v.s ATS 34
- Thread starter Sean D
- Start date
I reckon you're probably better off with the ATS-34 for general use. If you ever have to sharpen the M2 version one day you may find it quite a bit tougher to work with.
This is just my opinion, I'm no expert. I reckon take the more than satisfactory ATS-34 and save yourself a few $$.
This is just my opinion, I'm no expert. I reckon take the more than satisfactory ATS-34 and save yourself a few $$.
- Joined
- Sep 8, 1999
- Messages
- 460
I think that the M2 is worth the extra $20. I like it much better then the Benchnade ATS-34. It might be a little harder to sharpen then the ATS, but it seems to hold an edge much better, YMMV. The only thing that I would worry about with the 710 is the recurve edge. Make sure that you get a knife with good even grinds. This will make it much easier to sharpen. By the way, I bought a 710 over a year ago and the only thing that I would change is the steel. I got mine in ATS-34 and should have waited for the M-2 version.
Shawn
Shawn
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2000
- Messages
- 196
when i bought my mini-AFCK, i chose M-2 just so i wouldn't have a later regret. it must've worked because i absolutely have no regrets that i did.
whichever steel you choose ( they are both great ), the main thing is, the 710 is a fine knife and you are making an excellent choice just in choosing that particular model.
just one little opinion,
bill
p.s. i just bought the 705 in ATS-34 and am hoping M-2 is right around the corner.
------------------
Nothing is better for an ignorant man than silence, and if he
were to consider it to be suitable, he would not be ignorant.
Gulistan - Sheykh Moslehoddi Sadi
whichever steel you choose ( they are both great ), the main thing is, the 710 is a fine knife and you are making an excellent choice just in choosing that particular model.
just one little opinion,
bill
p.s. i just bought the 705 in ATS-34 and am hoping M-2 is right around the corner.
------------------
Nothing is better for an ignorant man than silence, and if he
were to consider it to be suitable, he would not be ignorant.
Gulistan - Sheykh Moslehoddi Sadi
- Joined
- Oct 16, 1998
- Messages
- 2,395
They are both great steels in my opinion. Benchmade's ATS-34 holds an edge for a looooong time, but does tend to be a little bit brittle, and will break or chip if lateral forces are applied to small cross-sectional areas. In simple terms, if you pry with the fine tip of an ATS-34 710, it will snap off without too much resistance. Similarly, if you sharpen your edge finer than about 20 degrees per side and you attempt to cut hard materials like metal, the edge may chip. The good news is that it is impressively wear resistant for a stain resistant steel, and the grain structure is such that it cuts aggressively on wood and harder materials.
Benchmade M-2 on the other hand is very tough. It will tolerate a surprising amount of abuse before sustaining damage. It also holds an edge an amazingly long time. It is finer grained than the ATS-34 blade, and will take a very fine, razor-like edge which will tend to perform better on fibrous materials like rope. It is not particularly prone to rust at the edge. My experience is that, even in rainy conditions, a very moderate amount of effort to keep the edge dry will keep active rust away. The BT2 coating does a good job of inhibiting wholesale rusting of the blade.
I don't consider M-2 any harder to sharpen than ATS-34. They are both very wear resistant. M-2 may tend to dull less due to its toughness which means if you used an ATS blade and a M-2 blade for the same job then sharpened them both, they would both require about the same amount of effort to sharpen. ATS-34 has a much greater tendency to form a burr, and polishing the burr off takes some extra strokes. With M-2 though, it will take such a sharp edge, I find myself sharpening it finer just because I know what a scary edge it will take with a little more work. So it is six of one, half dozen of the other.
I personally prefer the fine edge taking ability and the toughness of M-2, but at one point I thought that the toothier edge characteristics of ATS-34 were preferable, since I don't tend to pry or cut metal objects with my knives, and edge chipping has never been a problem for me with my Benchmade knives.
Whew, that was a buffer full. Hope its useful.
Benchmade M-2 on the other hand is very tough. It will tolerate a surprising amount of abuse before sustaining damage. It also holds an edge an amazingly long time. It is finer grained than the ATS-34 blade, and will take a very fine, razor-like edge which will tend to perform better on fibrous materials like rope. It is not particularly prone to rust at the edge. My experience is that, even in rainy conditions, a very moderate amount of effort to keep the edge dry will keep active rust away. The BT2 coating does a good job of inhibiting wholesale rusting of the blade.
I don't consider M-2 any harder to sharpen than ATS-34. They are both very wear resistant. M-2 may tend to dull less due to its toughness which means if you used an ATS blade and a M-2 blade for the same job then sharpened them both, they would both require about the same amount of effort to sharpen. ATS-34 has a much greater tendency to form a burr, and polishing the burr off takes some extra strokes. With M-2 though, it will take such a sharp edge, I find myself sharpening it finer just because I know what a scary edge it will take with a little more work. So it is six of one, half dozen of the other.
I personally prefer the fine edge taking ability and the toughness of M-2, but at one point I thought that the toothier edge characteristics of ATS-34 were preferable, since I don't tend to pry or cut metal objects with my knives, and edge chipping has never been a problem for me with my Benchmade knives.
Whew, that was a buffer full. Hope its useful.
I've got a Nimravus, AFCK, and mini-AFCK all in ATS-34. They take and hold a good edge, and have yet to show signs of rust (well, the clip on the Nimravus' sheath rusted a little-it ain't ATS-34, though).
Thinking about getting a Nimravus Cub, and it will probably be in M-2 if I do. Just to try it.
I think it's all about personal preference and what you need the knife to do.
Here is a link to Joe Talmadge's steel faq: www.knifeart.com/steelfaqbyjo.html
It's on this site, too, but I had that handy. Very informative. As someone who's not too well versed on blade steels, it's helped me a lot. Thanks, Joe!
Thinking about getting a Nimravus Cub, and it will probably be in M-2 if I do. Just to try it.
I think it's all about personal preference and what you need the knife to do.
Here is a link to Joe Talmadge's steel faq: www.knifeart.com/steelfaqbyjo.html
It's on this site, too, but I had that handy. Very informative. As someone who's not too well versed on blade steels, it's helped me a lot. Thanks, Joe!
I owned the ats-34 version of the 710 and sold it after a short time and purchased the M2 710 version and really like it better but it might be in my head. I also own the mini-afck in M2 and really like it well, so you could say I've owned both but find myself in the M2 camp.