What is "CPM", and does it make a difference?

It means Crucible Powder Metallurgy. Other companies have powder steel, too, but that's what Crucible calls theirs. Basically it makes the grains in the steel finer, which improves the toughness, strength, and sharpenability (both how easy it is to sharpen and how fine it can be sharpened). The carbides are also more evenly distributed.
 
CPM S30v and S30v are all the same, being produced by Crucible only (as Tsujigiri said) and only in one way. If I have a Ford Pinto, I might call it a Pinto or I might call it a Ford Pinto; the same thing is going on with what you read.
 
It's more honest to call it CPM S30V rather than just S30V.

This reveals that it's a powder steel.

It may keep people from buying a powder steel when they really don't want one.
 
I think most all know that S30V is a powder steel created for knives, so thats why myself, and many others just drop the CPM.
 
The more common confusion lately is between 154CM & CPM154CM, which are two different steels (one is the powder steel version of the other). I keep seeing guys get confused with that. Is that why CPM had 420V renamed S90V?
 
The confusion is actually between 154CM (also referred to as CPM154CM) and CPM154 (without the "CM" on the end). Crucible should have recognized they had a potential naming problem on their hand when they developed CPM154. But they didn't. And even knifemakers provide misleading information from time to time.

If you're looking for a knife constructed of CPM154, you REALLY have to check and make sure you're not getting one made out of 154CM (CPM154CM).

Here's the data sheet for CPM154 for those who may be interested:

http://www.alphaknifesupply.com/Pictures/Info/Steel/CPM154-DS.pdf
 
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So the S30V that Benchmade use is the same as Spyderco's CPM S30V, right?

But, 154CM and CPM 154CM is actually different.
 
|davedude| said:
So the S30V that Benchmade use is the same as Spyderco's CPM S30V, right?

But, 154CM and CPM 154CM is actually different.
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yes. 154CM IS NOT the same as CPM154.

As far as the the S30V used by spyderco and benchmade or any other maker/manufacturer; Yes, the composition of the steel is the same, but there will be variations in heat treating by each company that will impart into the steel varying characteristics.
 
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Maddogg774 said:
Sooooo....what does ZT use? It says 154cm, s30v. No cpm.
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Gets a bit confusing. S30V is only made by Crucible using a particle metallurgical process (Crucible Particle Metallurgy). So, whether or not it says CPM is inconsequential as they are the only ones who make it and it is only made using that process.. It's understood. For S30V.

As for the 154cm; Read this thread http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/389030-Cpm-154

Also, a great reference for researching the differences in steels is an android app made by one of the forumites here, Gator97. A fantastic app. So, If you have an android phone/device, download it from the market. https://market.android.com/details?id=zvisoft.stlchmob&hl=en
 
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On the ZT knives; if it says 154CM only, it's NOT the CPM version. Still good blades, but not as good as the CPM version would be, IMO.
 
The issue isn't as much around the use of the letters "CPM" as it is the use of the letters "CM". If the designation for a 154-based steel has a "CM" following it, I assume it's 154CM regardless of whether the letters "CPM" precede it or not. If the designation for a 154-based steel starts with "CPM" but does NOT have the letters "CM" following it, I assume it's CPM-154. Or to put it more simply:

154CM = 154CM
CPM154CM = 154CM
CPM154 = CPM154

Having said that, I don't like to make assumptions, especially when there's so much confusion about the different designations. If you're in doubt, I'd suggest you contact the manufacturer of the knife and ask them which alloy their using.
 
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