What steel to buy on a Benchmade

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skillgannon

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Apr 27, 2009
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I am wanting to buy a benchmade osborne. I have a griptilian with the sheepsfoot blade and love everything about the knife but the blade steel it is 440c. It chips worse that any other knife I have ever owned and it doesn't hold an edge well. its so bad that i thought that the blade might be defective. Now I aam looking to step into a better blade the things that I am looking for is that the blade be hard so that it will take a wicked edge and I would like it to hold that edge. I don't care how long or hard it is to sharpen. I take my knife to work with me so its gonna see things like duck tape and cardboard a lot. I was thinking about d2. Any ideas and help would be great. Thanks
-Storm
 
Benchmade 440C (at least the older stuff...haven't tried it more recently) = bad. Benchmade 154cm or just about anything else = win. ;)
 
I really really like Benchmades s30v. I honestly cant imagine a folding knife thats more perfect than the Dejavoo in s30v. Check it out before you buy the Osborne
 
I've got 4 Benchmades w/ 154cm. Love them all. Have had no chipping issues and all are very easy to get scary sharp on the Sharpmaker. I know others have had chipping issues, especially while sharpening, w/ Benchmades S30V. Maybe the S30V had heat-treatment issues too. Can't speak for that personally, but the HK 14205 has been my EDC for the past couple months and I've yet to find a better production folder anywhere (IMHO :))
 
If you like the Mini-Grip, try the Mini-Dejavoo - great shape, no issue with the hole being blocked by the handle, and a good EDC size.
 
The Benchmade Osborne Gaucho in CPM M4 is about as high performance a steel as you are going to find in a production folder. They are still available at Knifeworks in PE.

It may not have the pure wear resistance of S90V ( not a benchmade steel), but it takes an edge as good or better than any steel I've tried.

It's both tougher and more wear resistant than 154cm, D2, S30V, and most other common steels.

It ISN"T a stainless steel though, if that matters to you. I rate it higher than the old Benchmade M2 even. Joe
 
I have the small bali in Benchmade 440C and it is an excellent blade. Holds an edge like 154CM benchmade, no chipping and easy to sharpen, but rarely needs it. I use it as a household utility knife in the kitchen, garden and shop. It's been abused, but I've had no problems. 440C is an excellent steel and should not chip. Send back the knife or try resharpening at a slightly more obtuse angle. I got a poorly made blade a few years ago, the tip got too hot during grinding and was heat discolored, and they replaced the blade for free. Benchmade stocks replacement parts unlike some other companies.
 
I really like the reverse tanto and the sheepfoot blades that they have, that why I want a osborn. Does everybody like the s30v better than d2? I read about the chiiping thing that kinda scares me with s30v.
 
I have had many different BMs in 154CM, S30V, & D2 & am expecting a 760 M4 hopefully today.

I have not had any issues with chipping on BM's S30V. I like 154CM, but I do think their S30V & D2 holds its edge better & personally, it's more of what design I like better.

However, if it is an issue, D2 is not a stainless, but I have not had any issues with any of my D2 knives rusting or anything & I have several from different makers, including customs.

If you like the particular knife & it's in S30V, I would get it & enjoy.
 
I really like the reverse tanto and the sheepfoot blades that they have, that why I want a osborn.
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Some don't like this feature but I've found in practice it pulls in rope when slicing, cutting deeply very easily.

Does everybody like the s30v better than d2?
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You won't really get a consensus about that kind of thing. Different people have had different experiences. Likewise, people have different needs better served by different steels. Some might rule out the Osborne in M4 because it's not stainless. I don't care about that, and find it's performance and toughness more than makes up for what little extra care it needs.

I read about the chiiping thing that kinda scares me with s30v.
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Don't let stories about S30V chipping stop you if that's the steel you want to try. For every story about chipping there are dozens of satisfied users that had no problems whatsoever. If it was to be a problem there are warranties for that kind of thing from all the major companies that will take care of stuff that you didn't cause by misuse. Joe
 
skillgannon said:
I am wanting to buy a benchmade osborne. I have a griptilian with the sheepsfoot blade and love everything about the knife but the blade steel it is 440c. It chips worse that any other knife I have ever owned and it doesn't hold an edge well. its so bad that i thought that the blade might be defective. Now I aam looking to step into a better blade the things that I am looking for is that the blade be hard so that it will take a wicked edge and I would like it to hold that edge. I don't care how long or hard it is to sharpen. I take my knife to work with me so its gonna see things like duck tape and cardboard a lot. I was thinking about d2. Any ideas and help would be great. Thanks
-Storm
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Hi,
Ok so heres the deal fast answer time ok dude lol.
If you're lookin for an Osbourne from Benchmade there are only (in my opinion) 2 real chioces depending on how you're gonna use it.
You can either get the 940 series(which is my absolute FAV) for its reverse tanto style blade which boasts a feinforced tip and some AWSOME S30V(which is comprable to ATS-34 in strength, resilence, and edge retention under duress but more rust resistant). I consider this blade a light to medium duty EDC. Or you can get the 960 series which has one of the most bad ass steels out there(D2 tool steel which sits at 61rc WOW). This blade sports a niiice broad spear point and is to me a medium to hard use EDC.

Either way its a win win situation for you.Both knives are phenominal!!! The handles are AWSOME!!! The AXIS lock makes these knives totally easy to use and the best thing about each of these knives..... under 3oz. Totally cool!!
 
senoBDEC said:
If you like the Mini-Grip, try the Mini-Dejavoo - great shape, no issue with the hole being blocked by the handle, and a good EDC size.
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There is no issue with 154 Grips. The hole is not an oval it is round just like Sal intended.
 
skillgannon said:
I am wanting to buy a benchmade osborne. I have a griptilian with the sheepsfoot blade and love everything about the knife but the blade steel it is 440c. It chips worse that any other knife I have ever owned and it doesn't hold an edge well. its so bad that i thought that the blade might be defective. Now I aam looking to step into a better blade the things that I am looking for is that the blade be hard so that it will take a wicked edge and I would like it to hold that edge. I don't care how long or hard it is to sharpen. I take my knife to work with me so its gonna see things like duck tape and cardboard a lot. I was thinking about d2. Any ideas and help would be great. Thanks
-Storm
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Just remember one thing.
Getting the hardest most resiliant steel out there is not what makes a great knife for you. The reason that knife manufactures have so many models and steels is because knives and the steel in which they are made are application based. One mans 440c might be better to him than another mans vg-10. It all depends on if he's whittleing or just cutting boxes. Knife size and weight are also very important things to consider. If you're cutting tape and boxes you'll want a med size knife thats light for control and less fatigue under continuous use. Medium blades in the 2 1/2 inch size offer more control while cutting boxes down in my opinion. The main reason people get harder alloys in my opinion is because like me they dull knives fast during cutting and slicing and can't really sharpen knives that well. A harder steel will hold an edge for a longer period of time saving the user from having to sharpen constantly.
I hope this helps you good luck.
 
Does anyone have an opinion or is anyone knowledgeable regarding the Kershaw leek or Scallion in the Damascus blade?

What do people think about this particular steel?
 
If you're lookin for an Osbourne from Benchmade there are only (in my opinion) 2 real chioces depending on how you're gonna use it.
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I take it you haven't tried the osborne in CPM M4 yet eh?

Does anyone have an opinion or is anyone knowledgeable regarding the Kershaw leek or Scallion in the Damascus blade?

What do people think about this particular steel?
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Yes, I have the leek damascus. It's a non stainless damascus made by an american damascus steel company in Alabama. It's good steel as far as that goes but it's not in the same class wear resistance wise as 154cm, S30V, D2, and certainly not near M4 in performance. Still, it's a good knife made by a good company. Kershaw makes good stuff. Joe
 
I have a lot of Benchmade D2 knives, and they perform well. I've had some difficulty getting them to be razor sharp, but they hold the edge well, are highly rust resistant (somehow?) and so on. I've enjoyed them, but I'm ready to move on.

I have quite a bit of S30V too, over the years, and I've had only great performance from it.

My 154CM has been reasonably strong. I'd recommend it, but it's nothing special.

I think that S30V is probably the way to go. If you got the dollars, maybe try a damasteel gold class just for kicks.
 
I've only had 1 S30V knife out of over 20 chip. That was around 4 years ago. D2 can be really good, or it can be a dog. It varies IMO. 154cm is usually pretty good. Out of all the steels I have the CPM M4 steel is the one that is the easiest to get that savage edge on, and holds it like ZDP. Benchmade S30V is typically good, as is Spyderco, Kershaw's etc. I don't like the standard ingot D2 as much as the CPM powdered D2 as used by Spyderco and Kershaw. It takes a better edge, easier IMO. Same as CPM 154cm vs 154cm.

In general I've gotten to like steel at higher RC's. They may be harder, and a bit more wear resistant but with some steels if run too low the bur is more difficult to remove than the same steel at higher rc's. Powdered metals typically sharpen easier than their regular versions too.

Lately with Benchmade it seems the edge is hit or miss as far as sharpness. Some are excellent, some not so much. They are still built pretty well though.

I still think the CPM M4 Osborne is by far the best of the series. I like it better than my old M2 benchmades even. Joe
 
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