Toughest PM2 version

M

Muaddib1116

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Dec 26, 2010
Messages
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Hi guys. Ignoring wear resistance and edge retention, at the hardness levels that Spyderco has heat-treated the various PM2 steels, which one has the toughest steel? Thanks!
 
As far as I know the PM2 has been made in the following steels:
CPM-S30V
CPM-S35VN
CPM-S90V
CTS-204P
CTS-20CP
CTS-XHP
M390

The CPM-S35VN is tougher than the M390, CPM-S90V, CTS-XHP and probably tougher than the CPM-S30V as well (some tests show S30V & S35VN as equal, others give an advantage to S35VN).
I have not been able find enough good info about CTS-20CP(micro melt 420CW) & CTS-204P(micro melt 20-4) to give you good comparison information. That said, I've yet to see a 420 steel come close to the toughness of S35VN, so I doubt the CTS metals will be better but I'd like to hear from anyone that might have more facts about those two.
 
Your missing 2 the composite CPM154/S90V and Elmax in the PM2.
I'm not sure but I think the Elmax would be the toughest but I only care about edge retention for my uses witch S90V wins hands down.
 
...and wasn't there a D2?
I'm not up on the PM2 models so I may have my signals crossed.
 
Thank you Clanton. I forgot about the Elmax and didn't know about the laminate.

Elmax is very similar to M390 and S90V in that it has amazing edge retention and wear resistance but is brittle compared with S35VN or S30V.
For edge retention I think I prefer the S90V as well, although the ELMAX and the M390 basically just as good.

I still think the S35VN wins the toughness challenge.

Still hoping someone can share more about the Carpenter Tool Steels...
 
Clanton said:
There was a PM1 with foliage green G10 and CPMD2.
It's my favorite PM1.
Click to expand...

Ah, I knew there was something....thanks.
So when are we going to see a D2 PM2? Wouldn't that rank right up there on the toughness scale?
 
"
TheGearGuy said:
Thank you Clanton. I forgot about the Elmax and didn't know about the laminate.

Elmax is very similar to M390 and S90V in that it has amazing edge retention and wear resistance but is brittle compared with S35VN or S30V.
For edge retention I think I prefer the S90V as well, although the ELMAX and the M390 basically just as good.

I still think the S35VN wins the toughness challenge.

Still hoping someone can share more about the Carpenter Tool Steels...
Click to expand...

Man there is a whole lot of wrong in that!
I've used them all (in a paramilitary) and Elmax and M390 are no where close to S90V in edge retention. I'm also pretty sure Elmax is tougher than S35VN.
CTS-20CP is the same or equivalent to S90V
CTS-204P is the same or equivalent to M390
Sorry if I'm wrong here I'm only going on memory which is getting worse every day!
 
Barman1 said:
Ah, I knew there was something....thanks.
So when are we going to see a D2 PM2? Wouldn't that rank right up there on the toughness scale?
Click to expand...

Yeah D2 is tough stuff.
That's all I need is another sprint PM!
 
All I know is is that Elmax is the only steel I've had Crack on me...granted that was a different knife company...and it wasn't during use either. It happened like over night a few times on a few blade. That was enough for me to stay clear of it...although I couldn't resist the Lionspy.

It's hard to find a lot of charts on comparisons of steel. I wish Spyderco would do a release of all their steels compared to each other like they do with all their different locks and blade style charts/pictures
 
Clanton said:
"

Man there is a whole lot of wrong in that!
I've used them all (in a paramilitary) and Elmax and M390 are no where close to S90V in edge retention. I'm also pretty sure Elmax is tougher than S35VN.
CTS-20CP is the same or equivalent to S90V
CTS-204P is the same or equivalent to M390
Sorry if I'm wrong here I'm only going on memory which is getting worse every day!
Click to expand...

We agree that S90V is the best edge retention choice. Every test I can locate shows ELMAX and M390 are closer to S90V in edge retention than any other stainless knife steels. My M390 blades and my ELMAX blade have held their edges better than anything else I own other than my S90V blade. What company hardens them (and to what hardness) has a big effect on the results. Of those three the ELMAX has the highest toughness numbers and S90V the lowest. All three however are EDGE steels and not tough steels compared to anything that is actually tough.

S35VN gives up some edge holding to the three above for greater toughness and possibly the best overall compromise of the two characteristics in any good stainless. Look it up.

The question was which is toughest. If someone can locate any real data that shows ELMAX is tougher than S35VN I'd sure appreciate seeing it. I have searched and found no such information. If that D2 blade was a PM2 and not a Military is would be toughest in the list by far.
 
I've read that Elmax's toughness changes dramatically with a few points of hardness, as does its edge holding. Does anyone know what the Rockwell ranges are for each of the PM2 steels?
 
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