Nimravus/Cub in M2 or ATS-34?

[Brigadier]

I've been planning to get a Nim or Cub in M2. Is it worth the extra price, not just $$ but also maintenance? Is it really prone to corrosion?

BM advertises their ATS-34 Rc at 59-61. I've read that makes ATS-34 too hard and brittle. Emerson keeps their 154CM Rc at 57-59 because they say it gets too brittle above Rc 59. Cliff Stamp basically says the same in his reviews of Strider knives at Rc 60[and THAT is with Paul Bos treating it].

Is there a real advantage to the M2? BM says it's "super tough", but I don't know of anyone else that uses it. Is it close to A2 or D2? Does it hold an edge better that ATS-34?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Samurai6]

Benchmade's M-2 is my favorite production knife steel. It holds and edge approximately the same as ATS-34, but is remarkably tougher at the hardness Benchmade is using. I believe A-2 is tougher, but I doubt that a knife user could tell the difference.

M-2 will rust, but Benchmade coats the M-2 blades in teflon, so it is only the edge you have to worry about. I have used Benchmade's M-2 blades in moderately wet conditions without getting any visible rust on the edge. If you use the blade in salt water, it will rust of course, but as long as you keep the blade reasonably dry, you will have no problems even in damp conditions.

 

[misque]

Steve Harvey wrote:

Benchmade's M-2 is my favorite production knife steel.

I'll second that.
Benchmade has the heat treat for this steel down pat. I have the Nimravus Cub in M-2 and it is a tough little customer. Just the right size to be useful, and holds it's edge really well. It's got me lusting after the full size Nimravus in M-2.

You might wanna try an AFCK and the Axis Lock 710 in M-2 also.
I've used all these knives in wet conditions and have yet to see any corrosion on the blades. Don't get me wrong, it WILL rust if not cared for, but Marine Tuff-Cloth applied to the edges keeps the corrosion at bay on my samples.

 

[fudo]

M-2. My Nimravus is in M-2. It takes and holds an extremely keen edge, and as hot and humid as it gets here, maintenance has never been a problem.

 

[Bugs3x]

Here is the URL for the steel composition chart I use the most. I use it most, because it has the longest list of steels included.

http://www.shreve.net/~primos/steelcmp.htm

You'll note that M2 has the second highest percentage of tungsten of any steel listed. It has more molybdenum than ATS34/154CM, and a decent jolt of vanadium. Vanadium is talked about a lot, but tungsten is right behind it for hardness. With the combo of those 3 ingredients, M2 should be up there at least close with the CPM steels.