vg10 vs 154cm

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flameboy

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Jul 14, 2006
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I've already read a TON of information about different steels and this forum has been a great resource, but I would really appreciate it if somone could compare and contrast the properties of vg10 and 154cm. I am still trying to get a definitive understanding of the different metals to make better educated purchases.

It seems the premium blades from spyderco are mainly vg10 and most benchmades are 154cm (plus a few d2 and s30v)

OH and also, I havent heard much about damascus but it seems to be very expensive. Is it a metal that can be used as an EDC or is it reserved for looking pretty?
 
Hi Flameboy!

I have several Spyder VG-10 folders, and I'm totally satisfied with the steel.
Damascus blades mainly bought by collectors - they're beautiful, but I think they' re a little expensive for EDC carry.
 
If you're just trying to get a rough idea at this point, I'd chalk them up as roughly comparable. VG-10 is a bit more fine grained and wear-resistant, but you may not notice a difference in actual use.
 
VG-10 probably outshines 154CM by a little. VG-10 has a little vanadium and 154CM has none but 154CM has high molybdenum and VG-10 has little but is about 61 RC and 154CM about 60.

In a fixed blade i think i would go with 154CM because molybdenium adds toughness. In a folder i would go with VG-10 because vanadium has finer carbides and gets and holds an edge better and since 154CM is hard to sharpen VG-10 is probably easier to sharpen.

sog
 
Thanks for the replies

sog said:
VG-10 probably outshines 154CM by a little. VG-10 has a little vanadium and 154CM has none but 154CM has high molybdenum and VG-10 has little but is about 61 RC and 154CM about 60.

In a fixed blade i think i would go with 154CM because molybdenium adds toughness. In a folder i would go with VG-10 because vanadium has finer carbides and gets and holds an edge better and since 154CM is hard to sharpen VG-10 is probably easier to sharpen.

sog
Click to expand...

Thats interesting, the guy at the knife store i went to tried to convince me that in general "benchmade steel is going to perform better than spydercos". Oh well, thanks for the info.
 
flameboy said:
Thats interesting, the guy at the knife store i went to tried to convince me that in general "benchmade steel is going to perform better than spydercos". Oh well, thanks for the info.
Click to expand...

Having used both benchmades 154 and spydercos vg-10, I think vg-10 is better. I also think spydercos s30v is better. They seemed to hold a better edge than my mini skirmish.
 
I have some VG-10 and 154CM knives. I love both. I think I can put a slightly better edge on the VG-10 blades. BUT... a VG-10 blade (Spyderco Native III) is the only blade I've had chip under normal use - field dressing a whitetail. It was a tiny chip that was fairly easily sharpened out, but it surprised me as I never had a blade chip before.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
I own a couple of 154CM blades.. Benchmade. They work great for me and I like the knife designs (Ares & 940.) They hold a good edge and I can keep them reasonably sharp. Actually, these two get a LOT of EDC time.

Maybe it's just my type of chores but the VG10 seems like the perfect folder steel to me. It sharpens easily to a keen edge and holds it quite well. In fact - maybe it is only the manufacturer finishing, but they seem to have a certain glossy quality that none of my other folders have.

I've also got S30V blades from BM (635, 630, 921) and Spyderco (Manix, Native) but I honestly prefer the VG10. I haven't really used my MicroTech 14-4CrMo (Amphib) or ZDP laminate (Jess Horn) so I can't compare them.

Good luck! Both are good steels...

(Edit to add that the Ares seems particulary "chippy." May be only that blade.)
 
154CM was designed for jet turbines while VG-10 was designed for knife blades. While 154CM wears well it isn't great for thin sharp edges.
 
In my limited applications, Spyderco VG-10 has gotten sharper, held the edge longer and been easier to sharpen. The difference in edge retention isn't immediately noticable, but the sharpness and ease of sharpening was readily apparent to me.

This may have to do more with Spyderco's cut efficiency oriented blade designs versus Benchmade's looks oriented blade designs more so than the steel, though.

I'd be willing to bet a Spyderco in 154CM would be sharper and easier to sharpen than a BM in 154CM by a long shot due to their factory edge and blade profiles, so put that into consideration as well.
 
As others pointed out, they are both good steels. The choice may largely depend on personal taste, I'd say.

I like 154CM, it sharpens well, holds edge long enough, tough enough for general use.
VG10 is good too. It's durable. It's easy to sharpen as others said though I have a little bit trouble. (Mainly because I'm trying to get thinner edge out of my VG10 blade than my 154CM blade )

In my experience, my Spyderco VG10s develop fine burr on sharpening and it's little bit annoying, while my 154CMs hardly form burr.

Somehow, I happen to use my VG10 blades for fine cutting, and put 154CM blades into somewhat tougher usage. Not because of any properties of particular steel. It just happened.

When I bought my VG10s, I was looking for blades for fine cutting, and those knives caught my eyes. Design first, steel second. They're good design, and they're made of VG10, fine steel. So there. I bought knives for fine cutting, and they just happened to be made of VG10. I would have bought them even if they're made of 154CM.

The same goes for my 154CMs. I was looking for some sturdy knives at that time, and those knives caught me.

Having said that, I will admit that I sometimes think that 154CM steel is good for tough use and VG10 is good for fine cutting. I think that way probably because how I use my knives made of particular steel. I use them for certain uses mainly because of their design, but they happen to be made of a particular steel, and I unconsciously associate their usefulness in certain job with the steel.
 
I have knives with both steels, however, I have quite a few Fallkniven solid VG-10 and some laminated VG-10.
The feel I get is that the Fallkniven blades will take a very hard beating without breaking and will sharpen up as sharp as you want them to be. The Laminated VG-10 Blades will be tougher then the solid blades but I would never turn down a Fallkniven knife either solid VG-10 or laminated.
The F1 Fallkniven is the survival knife issued to the Swedish military and they live and work in a very harsh environment.

FWIW
Ciao
;)
 
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