Which steels does BM do best?

D

dlrflyer

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Feb 5, 2007
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As the title says, what steels does BM do best, or at least very good? From my experience, their S30V is done very well for a production knife, certainly holds an edge better than Spyderco. I also think the CPM-M4 is also very well done, but I have heard, that their M390 and 20CV don’t hold an edge any better than S30V. I also know that the had a problem with soft 3V in the past. I guess I should add that I think their 154CM was good for 154CM.

What are your experiences/thoughts?
 
They updated their 3v on the bailout and I have it and its good. M4 good. S30v good. I’ve never been impressed by m390 or 20cv from any company. I’ve never really felt a difference over S30v especially when done right.
 
I would agree with your assessment. Have had excellent experiences with their S30V (Ritter Grip), also 154CM (AFO-II), 20CV (Grip) and more recently M4 (Bailout). However, I seem to have issues keeping my Ritter Grip in M390 sharp. Which is a disappointment. It seems to require more frequent sharpening which I don't think it should if what I understand about that steel is correct. I now have another knife in M390 (see avatar) so I will compare the two.
 
Buffalohump said:
I would agree with your assessment. Have had excellent experiences with their S30V (Ritter Grip), also 154CM (AFO-II), 20CV (Grip) and more recently M4 (Bailout). However, I seem to have issues keeping my Ritter Grip in M390 sharp. Which is a disappointment. It seems to require more frequent sharpening which I don't think it should if what I understand about that steel is correct. I now have another knife in M390 (see avatar) so I will compare the two.
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I look forward to your comparison
 
I have been very impressed with the 154CM. Benchmade is the reason I don't discount 154CM as a good steel. My go to fixes blade is made of it and the blade outlived the handles.

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I used my Griptilian’s 154cm a lot, hard use. Excellent edge retention, probably the best done 154cm from all that I had.
Very happy with the new S30V so far.
 
Not sure which one they do best but I've been happy with the S90v on my Bugout, which has been my EDC for quite a while.
 
My experiences match everyone else's. 154CM, S30V, and 20CV have all been excellent. My 710 in M390 has always been odd to sharpen, it seems to easily form a burr, but it's very hard to get off, almost like it just keeps getting pushed from one side of the edge to the other. It's definitely odd.

If you look in Benchmade's catalog, you can see that they rate M390 as being tougher and easier to sharpen than 20CV, and 20CV as having better edge retention. Considering M390 and 20CV have a nearly similar chemical makeup, that makes me believe they're Heat treating M390 a bit softer than their 20CV, which is why everyone here prefers their 20CV to their M390.

Catalog Link:https://view.publitas.com/benchmade/2023-benchmade-catalog/page/48-49

H8oW0kPl.jpg
 
Silent H said:
My experiences match everyone else's. 154CM, S30V, and 20CV have all been excellent. My 710 in M390 has always been odd to sharpen, it seems to easily form a burr, but it's very hard to get off, almost like it just keeps getting pushed from one side of the edge to the other. It's definitely odd.

If you look in Benchmade's catalog, you can see that they rate M390 as being tougher and easier to sharpen than 20CV, and 20CV as having better edge retention. Considering M390 and 20CV have a nearly similar chemical makeup, that makes me believe they're Heat treating M390 a bit softer than their 20CV, which is why everyone here prefers their 20CV to their M390.

Catalog Link:https://view.publitas.com/benchmade/2023-benchmade-catalog/page/48-49

H8oW0kPl.jpg
Click to expand...
Frankly, their steel ratings are bizarre and all over the map. I suspect it comes from the marketing dept and they just make up the numbers.
 
Benchmade does 154cm better than anyone. Their cru wear seems to be done as well as my hoback. I think after the initial 3v screw up they have done a very good job with it. I don't like s30v so I don't buy it but the knife I have in my pocket everyday is a partially serrated bail out in m4. It's close to perfect. I'm excited to try magnacut. Benchmade is the only folders I carry at this point although I wish they offered more partial serrations.
 
Fletcher.357 said:
Benchmade does 154cm better than anyone. Their cru wear seems to be done as well as my hoback. I think after the initial 3v screw up they have done a very good job with it. I don't like s30v so I don't buy it but the knife I have in my pocket everyday is a partially serrated bail out in m4. It's close to perfect. I'm excited to try magnacut. Benchmade is the only folders I carry at this point although I wish they offered more partial serrations.
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What’s your hangup with S30V?
 
Fletcher.357 said:
I don't like how it sharpens, never have regardless of brand. Don't like s35vn either.
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I have had issues with S30V when I was using my diamond sharpeners. I found out my diamond sharpeners tear up the edge so much they create a problem I don't see now that I use my Arkansas stones. Yes, I know about the "burr."
Do you use diamond surfaces?
 
Stephen W Huyssoon said:
I have had issues with S30V when I was using my diamond sharpeners. I found out my diamond sharpeners tear up the edge so much they create a problem I don't see now that I use my Arkansas stones. Yes, I know about the "burr."
Do you use diamond surfaces?
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I tend to prefer ceramics.
 
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