Benchmade CPM M4 Thoughts?

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wheelgunrambo

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I am looking at a benchmade stryker in M4. I have never owned an M4 before and was wondering if I could get some feedback about the steel in general and benchmade's version of M4? Thanks
 
i have an m4 stryker in carbon fiber and a benchmade m4 grip i ordered custom. decent heat treat, not as good as my spyderco m4s, imo from my use of both. still good enough to get the decent out of that steel.
 
In my experience, it's the toughest and best edge retention steel they offer.
 
wheelgunrambo said:
I am looking at a benchmade stryker in M4. I have never owned an M4 before and was wondering if I could get some feedback about the steel in general and benchmade's version of M4? Thanks
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The only Benchmade M4 that I have is in my Gayle Bradley One.
verdict : HELL YES !
I am not sure if it is a good example of the rest of Benchmade's M4.
I sincerely hope it is though. Could not be better. Heck it doesn't even take patina as much as my Spyderco Military in M4. Not sure why.
TOTALLY happy with both though.
In comparison with several S110V blades that I have had. I would choose M4 by these companies every time.

PS: I 'spect you want to know why I say that. M4, for what all I cut at work on a daily basis, stays sharp as long (some times longer) but the M4 keeps the scary sharp edge much longer where as S110V gives up the shave sharp and settles into "sharp enough pretty much" distressingly fast. I prefer scary sharp for many things I use the knife for, just for the precision and better feel for what I am cutting . . . so yah . . . love the M4.

Proves what I always say : If it don't rust/patina it isn't the best blade steel.
 
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Wowbagger said:
The only Benchmade M4 that I have is in my Gayle Bradley One.
verdict : HELL YES !
I am not sure if it is a good example of the rest of Benchmade's M4.
I sincerely hope it is though. Could not be better. Heck it doesn't even take patina as much as my Spyderco Military in M4. Not sure why.
TOTALLY happy with both though.
In comparison with several S110V blades that I have had. I would choose M4 by these companies every time.

PS: I 'spect you want to know why I say that. M4, for what all I cut at work on a daily basis, stays sharp as long (some times longer) but the M4 keeps the scary sharp edge much longer where as S110V gives up the shave sharp and settles into "sharp enough pretty much" distressingly fast. I prefer scary sharp for many things I use the knife for, just for the precision and better feel for what I am cutting . . . so yah . . . love the M4.

Proves what I always say : If it don't rust/patina it isn't the best blade steel.
Click to expand...
Interesting. Benchmade also has a Gayle Bradley One. Wonder which one came first, the Benchmade or the Spyderco?
I love the cutting ablility of my GB1, but I find the corrosion problem to be too bad for me to use it as a work knife near the water here in NW Florida. I can t prevent pitting, even with nightly lubrication, on my knife with our salt air. Too bad.
 
Wowbagger said:
The only Benchmade M4 that I have is in my Gayle Bradley One.
verdict : HELL YES !
I am not sure if it is a good example of the rest of Benchmade's M4.
I sincerely hope it is though. Could not be better. Heck it doesn't even take patina as much as my Spyderco Military in M4. Not sure why.
TOTALLY happy with both though.
In comparison with several S110V blades that I have had. I would choose M4 by these companies every time.

PS: I 'spect you want to know why I say that. M4, for what all I cut at work on a daily basis, stays sharp as long (some times longer) but the M4 keeps the scary sharp edge much longer where as S110V gives up the shave sharp and settles into "sharp enough pretty much" distressingly fast. I prefer scary sharp for many things I use the knife for, just for the precision and better feel for what I am cutting . . . so yah . . . love the M4.

Proves what I always say : If it don't rust/patina it isn't the best blade steel.
Click to expand...
I am curious about this too.
- What model did Gayle Bradley design or have input on for Benchmade?
- Does it bear his name? I couldn't find it by searching "Gayle Bradley Benchmade", only comparisons between the Spyderco GB and Benchmades.
 
Don't forget the CPM part as it's a significant improvement over plain M4 ! So CPM M4 heat treated properly would make you happy !
 
Benchmade doesn't have a GB..1, 2,..or any other GB colab.

I had Spyderco GB 1 and the Air..both great knives.

BM M4 is excellent, my favorite, currently....M2 being my favorite, but out of production... w/ M390 being a close second to M4, for me.

The M4 810 has great geometry out of box..seems thinner behind the edge most of their production offerings. I have an 806-901 that I would have to rank as my favorite Axis model.

I've read a few comparison reviews of BM vs Spyderco's M4..mixed reviews of edge retention..I trust both companies competence w/ the steel.
 
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Wowbagger said:
The only Benchmade M4 that I have is in my Gayle Bradley One.
verdict : HELL YES !
I am not sure if it is a good example of the rest of Benchmade's M4.
I sincerely hope it is though. Could not be better. Heck it doesn't even take patina as much as my Spyderco Military in M4. Not sure why.
TOTALLY happy with both though.
In comparison with several S110V blades that I have had. I would choose M4 by these companies every time.

PS: I 'spect you want to know why I say that. M4, for what all I cut at work on a daily basis, stays sharp as long (some times longer) but the M4 keeps the scary sharp edge much longer where as S110V gives up the shave sharp and settles into "sharp enough pretty much" distressingly fast. I prefer scary sharp for many things I use the knife for, just for the precision and better feel for what I am cutting . . . so yah . . . love the M4.

Proves what I always say : If it don't rust/patina it isn't the best blade steel.
Click to expand...

M4 takes a pretty sick edge and retains it well. Too bad it's so prone to corrosion. In my area , I get pitting every time so I've stopped with the M4. Salt air and high humidity really exposes it's weakness. So , the "best blade steel" ? Haha not quite.

Around here , for my use , I'm much prefer the likes of 204P and M390 . Love a good stainless.

Question : wouldn't M4 with a DLC coating be a mighty combination? I'm curious.
 
Benchmade m4 at 62-64hrc is probably the best mass production m4. Better than the Spyderco m4 which is only about 62hrc. and thats not to say that spyderco's m4 is bad. i very much enjoy using my PM2 in M4 steel.

benchmade m4 with tormek edge

spyderco's m4 on the mantra1 with convex edge.

 
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It's good. Be patient when sharpening because it can take a while if you let it go dull... which may take a few years depending on use (takes a lot of cardboard). Get some lube for it too, mineral is cheap and effective and can be had in food grade varieties. CPM M4 is plenty tough as well but hard use that could likely hurt the steel would be more scary on the lock than the blade and over time I would worry more about lock wear than blade wear.
 
I have used it for years in a 760 Lfti which people/internet maintain was run softer. I know this; it's tough stuff. I have cut really abrasive stuff like carpeting and dirty materials and never a chip. The edge will dull a bit and it's not hard to get back. I like it a lot. If it's a tad softer than what they put out now I can't tell because I don't have anything to compare it to.
 
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