Your favorite Benchmade steel?

Q

Quy4n8

Joined
Nov 27, 2002
Messages
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Just curious what steel you like best as treated by Benchmade specifically. I know it depends on what you are going to use it for, so lets start with a folding knife, blade length between 3”-4” and general purpose pocket knife use. Normal, mundane stuff: opening mail and boxes; cutting rope/string; possible kitchen use, etc. (no batoning, splitting hickory, prying open car doors!!!) The knife will get wet, but will be well taken care of, so if you like the non-stainless varieties, that would be fine. Also let me know why you like this particular steel best.

Me, I am not sure, that is why I am asking. I have Benchmades in ATS-34, 154CM and D-2 and so far 154CM, although I am also very fond of the D-2 as well.
 
I have BMs in ATS-34 and 154CM too. Today I like the 154CM and S30V above all other stainless or semi-stainless. They're relatively easy to sharpen and get razor sharp, and they hold an edge just fine.

In a recent Blade mag article comparing Friction Forged steel with others, the S30V came out way ahead of D2 in edge retention. Now I don;t vouch for the authenticity of that article, but it's an interesting sidenote.
 
From BM, I think I like their 154CM best. But I've got no complaints about the S30V, 440C, Aus8 and 14CrMoV8 have been good steels at their price points.

I'm not a fan of BM's D2 but it's not bad. I don't really like anyone's D2, but it's the only steel the Morpho comes in so I've got some D2 once again.

Phil
 
their 440C
i have S30V blade in a Doug ritter and the bradley Alias, do you accept them as "benchmade"?
If so, they are quite good also:thumbup:
i don' t really like their 154 CM
 
I like their 154CM and S30V (Ritter Grips) about equally well. I've had no problems using or maintaining either type of steel.
 
I have D2 (BM710), 154CM (BM550, 140), 440C (BM160, 10510), S30V (Alias) and M2 (BM145). The best is M2 but My favorite is 154CM (easy to sharpen).
 
I like most of their steel, but hands down i love their AUS-8. It's always ground a little too thick (well,a lot!) but it's around 60 hrc and makes a great edc blade.
 
I have BM in 154CM, D2, and 440C. I like the 440C best, easy to sharpen, holds the edge long enough for me, and gets spooky sharp in no time. My standard practice is to run my EDC through the Sharp maker at the end of a work week, so edge holding is not necessarily at the top of my list.
 
I like their S30v the best. I think their D2 and 154CM are top notch as well but I've just had good luck with their S30v.
 
M2 was my all time favorite benchmade steel. Now it's gone I suppose S30V would be my next choice though they do all their steels pretty well. Joe
 
Richard Sommer said:
Me, I am not sure, that is why I am asking. I have Benchmades in ATS-34, 154CM and D-2 and so far 154CM, although I am also very fond of the D-2 as well.
Click to expand...

I have the same selection of Benchmade knife steel as you.

I'm partial to the D2, but I do love the ATS-34 and 154CM (which, to me, are pretty much the same thing).

My D2 blade is fairly new but I've had ATS-34 and 154CM blades for a while. The only thing that might knock D2 off the top of my list is corrosion, but I can't see it being a problem judging by my experience so far.

To be honest, I don't know if I could actually tell the difference between these steels in some sort of blind test.... they're all plenty good and any differences for the normal user may be more psychological than anything else, I bet. :p

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
Since they don't use M-2 anymore, I guess my favorite would be D-2. But that will change if they pull their heads out of their armpits and start using CPM M-4, and/or S90V.
 
I've always like their 440C.
I can get it extremely sharp and it holds up to a decent day's work.

I really don't like Benchmade's 154CM or their ATS-34.
I can never seem to get an edge that I'm happy with.
 
I have Benchmades D2, S30V, 440C, 154CM, and 14CrMoV8. I was really impressed with their 440C, easy to sharpen, and takes a great edge. I love my new Griptilian in D2, it gets razor sharp and stays there for a while. My 710D2 stays razor sharp forever as well, so their D2 would have to be my favorite.
 
I'm still in the honeymoon phase with my 710D2. After I thinned the edge way down, its beautifully sharp and holds its edge a good deal better than the 154CM and 440C Benchmades I have. So D2 is my current favorite.
 
I love my D2 710, actually planning on buying a second soon imho the best sharpener is a spyderco fine ceramic stone either the whet stone or a sharpmaker
 
I own Benchmades in ATS-34, 154CM, 440C, AUS-8, N690, G-2...etc. Of the lot, I personally like their 440C. I realize many will automatically equate higher hardness with being "better," but BM's 440C is one of the truly user-friendly steels I've used. I also like their 154CM a lot as well. I don't own any of their knives in S30V yet.
Jim
 
I really love 154CM. $30V and D2 are just to much effort to sharpen. I've found 154CM to be much more stain resistant than many 400 series steels. That's probably due to 154's grain structure.
 
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