M4 steel?

mbkingshane

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Oct 7, 2013
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Ok I have a benchmade contego in M4, and this thing takes an awesome edge pretty easily, and gets crazy sharp. So does anyone else think this stuff is the best or did I just get lucky?
 
Ok I have a benchmade contego in M4, and this thing takes an awesome edge pretty easily, and gets crazy sharp. So does anyone else think this stuff is the best or did I just get lucky?

I'm with you dude, great stuff that M4. I have several knives with the M4 steel blade, but my current M4 discovery is my Spyderco Gayle Bradley, what a super EDC at a fair price. It fits my large hands well.

Here is a great video by Gayle Bradley that explains his design logic. You will see he is a true pragmatist when it come to knives.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk0IxU-fuW4

I'm also a fan of D2 blade steel. Both it and M4 require a squirt of Breakfree CLP from time to time to stop any corrosion, but they are sure great to use and require infrequent sharpening.

The Kershaw Leek with a D2 composite blade is my gentlemen's knife, but the GB is my serious EDC.
 
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Yes m4 is good stuff. My only "super steel" knife is a Contego. It hasn't seen much hard use but I can say it's one if the best factory edges On a production knife I have seen.
 
I got a Spyderco Gayle Bradley and CPM-M4 is now my favorite blade steel. I don't have experience with all the super steels but I like it over everything I've used up to and including M390. It's amazing and I'm letting mine develop a nice natural patina just from use not forcing anything but from slicing meat with it it has developed a beautiful dark bluish rainbow kind of look to it. It's a truly amazing steel that I want more of :)
 
I got a Spyderco Gayle Bradley and CPM-M4 is now my favorite blade steel. I don't have experience with all the super steels but I like it over everything I've used up to and including M390. It's amazing and I'm letting mine develop a nice natural patina just from use not forcing anything but from slicing meat with it it has developed a beautiful dark bluish rainbow kind of look to it. It's a truly amazing steel that I want more of :)

That's great to hear, I have some other "super steels" also, elmax, s30v but so far loving yhe M4. I personally think some knives with s30v can be a bear to sharpen. Probably has something to do with heat treat?
 
M4 gets my vote as a favorite. I have yet to sharpen the blade I received from Big Chris (I want to, but there's just no point in doing it yet).
 
That's great to hear, I have some other "super steels" also, elmax, s30v but so far loving yhe M4. I personally think some knives with s30v can be a bear to sharpen. Probably has something to do with heat treat?
I've used s30v and m4 blows it out of the water in just about every aspect except corrosion resistance and I've found it sharpens the same or even easier and holds its edge longer. I've never used elmax..yet.
 
The only steel that I like as much or more than M4 is M390, and that's only because of its stainless properties. I sold my M4 Contego to get the M390 version since I don't care for coated blades, but it's hard to beat CPM-M4 for just about anything.
 
The only steel that I like as much or more than M4 is M390, and that's only because of its stainless properties. I sold my M4 Contego to get the M390 version since I don't care for coated blades, but it's hard to beat CPM-M4 for just about anything.

Yeah I haven't tried m390 yet, but seriously looking at the benchmade nakamura!
 
I have two knives in M4, a Mini-Grip and a Spyderco Air.

I also have maybe a half dozen in M390 and two in Cruwear, plus a few in S110V.

All are seriously great blade steels, but M4 is my favorite. One caveat: I haven't had a chance to sharpen the Cruwear, yet, so there is still potential to change my mind.
 
I have two knives in M4, a Mini-Grip and a Spyderco Air.

I also have maybe a half dozen in M390 and two in Cruwear, plus a few in S110V.

All are seriously great blade steels, but M4 is my favorite. One caveat: I haven't had a chance to sharpen the Cruwear, yet, so there is still potential to change my mind.

It sounds like you have a good stash of fine knives. From what I've read the Cruwear has lovers and haters.


http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1157552-CPM-CRUWEAR-Military-issues-need-help


http://www.crucible.com/PDFs\DataSheets2010\ds3Vv1 2010.pdf

http://www.crucibleservice.com/eselector/general/generalpart1.html

http://www.britishmetalforming.com/...t - Crucible Specialty Metals - 14 May 08.pdf
 
I have both Contegos. The CPM-M4 and M390 but I preffer the M390 version a bit more because of corrosion resistance and 810-1401 has a bit smoother handles.
 
I actually don't have many blades with CPM-M4 because I'm not really big on coated blades and M4 is usually coated since it's not technically a stainless steel. I only have two currently (BM 940-121 and BM 950-1201) and I haven't used either enough to really get a good sense of the steel.
 
Love it

m4foevah_zpsa7r4tzgq.jpg


tacosandshanks_zpsj1in6dj9.jpg
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