MK360 SUPER steel

[big70tom]

Is this as good of stuff as the name implies? Anybody care to share some impressions or experiences?

 

[DennisStrickland]

i'll get back --been out of town--knife was in mail.
dennis

 

[termiteslayer]

I haven't put it through any decent workouts, yet.
It gets freaky sharp relatively easily and polishes quite nicely.
That's all I know about it so far.

 

[Gator97]

I assume this is Bohler-Uddeholm M390 steel? I can't find MK390 anywhere.

 

[CL01]

I assume this is Bohler-Uddeholm M390 steel? I can't find MK390 anywhere.

I think so, too. As to the OP's question, yes it's a very good steel (Dare I say super steel?).

If you're into Benchmades, better snap up a 710 in M390 while they're still available.

 

[Ankerson]

My impressions so far of M390 are that's it's fantastic, one of the best steels I have ever used cutting cardboard. I still have more testing to do yet though.

 

[termiteslayer]

Okay, so today I used my Benchmade 710 with the M390 quite a bit, probably at least two hours in hand.
Lots of light to medium use primarily with the tip. I'm mostly cutting out spots of bad caulking on a boat deck. Huge deck with tons of reasons to use a knife.
I got home and tested it and it barely cuts through the paper without tearing it.
Not bad at all, probably the second best results of any steel I've tried under similar circumstances.
A while back I got a knife with a thin, high hollow grind that is easily the best work knife I've ever used. I almost don't like my flat ground knives after using that blade... almost.
I wonder how M390 would fare with a thin, high hollow grind.
One weird thing is that stuff seemed to stick to the blade and resisted being wiped off.
All other metals I've tried doing exactly the same thing didn't seem to have this problem, or at least not to this degree.
Same deck, same bedding/caulking compounds, same duties, same circumstances... M390 seemed sticky.
Maybe I'm delusional.

me - not the best reference in the world, take what I say with a grain of salt

 

[DennisStrickland]

termite sounds like you work your knives hard--i ca'nt trust hollow grinds for the strength factor but if you can make them work--power to you.
dennis

 

[Ankerson]

It is easy to reprofile and sharpen, takes a freaking wicked edge and holds it. :thumbup:

Once it starts to get dull it's very easy and fast to get the edge back.

The more I use it the better I like it. :thumbup:

Personally I think it's right up there with ZDP-189 from my experiences so far, but it's tougher.

And it cuts extremely well even with a polished edge, something not all steels do well.

M390 is the steel to watch IMO, I want to see more knives in this steel.

 

[termiteslayer]

termite sounds like you work your knives hard--i ca'nt trust hollow grinds for the strength factor but if you can make them work--power to you.
dennis

No 'tactical' or combat strength is needed by me, I have chisels and saws for heavy stuff.
The one thing my tool setup was missing was a decent whittler.
Throw away razors are kinda crappy tools and I probably go through at least 50 a year, maybe twice that. Lotta waste.
At the moment I like M390 a bit more than S30V and I'm quite happy with S30V.
I think I like CPM M4 better than M390... but it's close.

me - don't know what I'm talking about

 

[apollo11]

I have two of the BM 710's coming in the M390 along with the 755 MPR. I'll use the snot out of the second 710 and see how it stacks up next to my knives in M4, D2, ZDP189, and S90V. This stuff looks promising, I really like that its a true stainless and it has a lot of "super steel" properties.

 

[Ankerson]

I have two of the BM 710's coming in the M390 along with the 755 MPR. I'll use the snot out of the second 710 and see how it stacks up next to my knives in M4, D2, ZDP189, and S90V. This stuff looks promising, I really like that its a true stainless and it has a lot of "super steel" properties.

I think you will like it. :thumbup:

 

[termiteslayer]

I think you will like it. :thumbup:

+1
It's a fine steel, indeed.

 

[DennisStrickland]

termite slayer i have'nt tested the 390 yet but i do'nt think it can beat m4. wish spydie would do a millie in m4. even a buck vantage pro in m4 would be welcome. thanks for reply, i sometimes wonder when ankerson [jim] sleeps.
dennis

 

[Ankerson]

termite slayer i have'nt tested the 390 yet but i do'nt think it can beat m4. wish spydie would do a millie in m4. even a buck vantage pro in m4 would be welcome. thanks for reply, i sometimes wonder when ankerson [jim] sleeps.
dennis

Sleep?

WHat's that?

Let me know what you think once you test it, I think you will be suprised.

 

[termiteslayer]

termite slayer i have'nt tested the 390 yet but i do'nt think it can beat m4. wish spydie would do a millie in m4. even a buck vantage pro in m4 would be welcome. thanks for reply, i sometimes wonder when ankerson [jim] sleeps.
dennis

You got me thinkin'...
A Caly 3 in M4 and a high hollow grind would be fantabulous.
A Chris Reeve Insingo, M4, high thin hollow grind... (tongue falls on floor).
Either one of those blades would be top notch with M390, come to think of it.