Thoughts on 154CM

R

Ruger 44 Redhawk

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Feb 19, 2021
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Hi all, just ordered some raw aluminum handle scales from Applied Weapons Tech for my Benchmade Griptilian 551 full size straight edge in 154CM (if you haven't checked them out they are awesome). I've had the knife for a decade or so and it's just sat in a drawer so I figured why not. I put the Applied Weapons Tech handle scales on another rare full size Benchmade Doug Ritter in M390 years ago and it just sits in a safety deposit box with all my other expensive discontinued blades. For the last couple of years I have been carrying a 3 dot 1980-81 Buck 110 in a sheath and I like the 440C steel on it. So it got me thinking, I always liked Benchmade's 154CM and I have a couple other knives with it like the Leatherman K502 lockback. I understand the composition of 154CM and I think it's similar to 440C only on steroids, but how does Benchmade's 154CM compare to others like Leatherman, Hogue, Spyderco, et al.? In this super duper steel world, I would almost prefer 154CM now.
 
I have a few knives in 154CM from different companies and I haven't noticed a difference in real world use. I also have knives in S30V and it performs the same as 154CM also.
 
I treat 154CM like a stainless D2. Might be a little tougher too, but not much. Good working steel.

154CM is noticeably easier for me to sharpen than S30V, takes about half as many passes on my sharpmaker.

Other companies? Pro tech's 154CM is okay, Kizer's 154CM is okay. Now that I think about it, I think benchmade might have the better treatment of that steel. Dont have a spyderco in 154CM though.

Kershaw's CPM154 is "okay".

Hope this helps!
 
I have a Hogue EX01 with 154CM blade steel.
It dulls quicker than I expected, but that's just me.
Maybe I got unlucky with my knife from that batch?
On the other hand, it also sharpens up real easy.
No experience with BM using 154CM.
 
My 154 CM knives all seem to work about as well as my S30V knives.
They all seem to hold an edge for about the same amount of cutting-time, and they are are all very easy to sharpen.
 
I'm a fan of Benchmade's 154CM. I always found it easy to sharpen, and it held its edge well enough for me. I certainly think it performs better than Emerson's treatment of the same steel.
 
benchmades 154cm is okay. not bad at all, but not the best out there. Bucks 154cm is better. their heat treat is just better in general.

on that steel cpm154 just takes this 154cm which is a very good steel to the next level. its a personal favorite. not sure why we don't see more of it used by more makers.
 
I have plenty of knives, mostly BM, in 154CM. My Griptilian fixed blade is sweet and is 154CM. It's a good all around steel but I'm also no metallurgy genius.

FWIW... I have a set of aluminum scales from AWP for my Bugout that are sweet. The only reason I took them off is because I wanted G10 for the extra grip.
 
I agree there are no shortcomings with 154CM in general, I have more than a couple BM 154CM blades, and one of my all time favorites for the work I do is a Leatherman E33Bx Expanse. I have had it for many, many years and for about five years, it was just about the only tool I needed to take with me, between the bits in the handle and the bit driver and the extra bits in the carrier in the sheath, I was set! At the time I bought it, I was interested in the muti-function of the single knife tool without it being a heavy plier tool. I only realized, well after I retired it into it's sheath and a drawer, that it is Leatherman's 154CM steel. TOUGH STUFF!!!
 
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