M390- Not Super Difficult

[BoboOfBodom]

So I'm new here and new to being into blades. I've been reading allot. Trying to learn freehand sharpening.
Got some 8x3 India stones, and a soft Arkansas 8x3. Have a Victornox fine/smooth steel and have (for a long time) a Lansky with almost all the stones they make.

Bought a Benchmade 581, M390 steel. The factory edge was toothy, and looked about 25' each. I was under the impression that I just about had to use diamond something to re-profile it.Well, I couldn't take it any longer and decided to try it on my India stones.
Those stones worked!!!. Ok, I could tell it was harder than the 440 stuff I had been doing, but jeesh, not that much harder!
I spent about 15 minutes, taking my time on the coarse and waaaalllaaaa- what's this? A dandy burr!!

Sharpened it at roughly 15' each side, then used the Lansky to put a micro bevel on each side at 20'. I am pleased with it!
I still have allot of room for improvement, and my skills...but this knife is way sharper-to me, than the factory edge was. The factory edge was very consistent and even, no doubt.

So , I wanted to share this, to at least the newbs (like me) you don't have to have diamonds for M390!

Also, Bluntcut made some posts using cheap ceramic belts...I ordered some, but just couldn't wait to try my stones.

 

[toker]

I used the Wicked Edge 100 grit stones to re-profile my ZT0777 M390BLK. Took about 15 minutes to set the new angles and another 30 minutes to go all the way to 1000 grit and the stropping. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.

 

[Ben Dover]

Different makers use different heat treat. Benchmade is typiclly 2-3 RC softer than Spyderco as an example.

If you acquire a Spyderco in M390 (or S90V) you will find it takes a bit more work to re-bevel than a BM.

 

[bpeezer]

Different makers use different heat treat. Benchmade is typiclly 2-3 RC softer than Spyderco as an example.

If you acquire a Spyderco in M390 (or S90V) you will find it takes a bit more work to re-bevel than a BM.

Interesting. Does Taichung do CTS-204P differently than Golden does M390? I only ask because my Southard (CTS-204P) did not strike me as difficult at all. To me, it was easier than Benchmade's D2 but not as easy as Benchmade's 154CM.