CPM-M4 Pros and Cons

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Slidetechnik

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I'm sure this thread already exists somewhere, but a quick search didn't turn it up.

Anyways, just wondering what the pros and cons of this steel are? Can someone provide a quick summary?

Thanks!
 
I don't oil any knives, just make sure they are clean before storage. I don't know why but I've never had a problem with rust, it happens but not often. Even trying to force a patina didn't do much.

If your worried about it or live near salt water a light coat of oil wouldn't hurt.
 
I keep them clean of salts& acids, dry, then wipe down with a simple silicone cloth from the gun cleaning section of any store with a sporting goods section. My current one is from outers, appx $2.99.

It keeps easier to rust steels than M4 perfect, so I use it on everything. To me, CPM doesn't rust as much as O-1, 52100, 1095, etc. Much depends on the finish too though.

It's currently my favorite non stainless steel, and probably my favorite overall too. For the amount of wear resistance it has it sure takes an edge easily. Edges can be anything from a 800-1200 grit biting type edge, to a super polished 8,000-16,000 grit super polished finish. It does very well with both.

It's pretty strong too.
 
after my tests of the spyder m4 mule m4 became my favorite steel. i have many knives in many alloys. carbon steels are fine with myself since i grew up with carbon being the only decent cutters.i like the chinese & austrian cobalt alloys , vg10 , d2 vg1 & s30v. bought a new one with 3v but have'nt tested it yet. it's hard for me to understand the fuss over rust since all civilations climbed up to modern times with carbon tools.
 
Maybe Donovan Phillips will chime in on this thread. Most of the Blade Sports competition cutters use CPM M4. I don[t think they have found anything that will out perform it in cutting competitions yet. It takes a very sharp edge and holds it very well. I have only experienced it in the Spyderco Mule and it sharpened much easier than I thought. It has to be the sharpest edge I have ever put on a knife. I really wish more makers would use it.
 
Question for those who have experienced it? What other steels would it be comparable to in toughness and corrosion resistance? D2?? I have heard it is tough and somewhat corrosion resistant, but that only says so much. Any other common steels that you would consider it comparable to in these two categories?
 
As a guess, I would think that CPM 3V would be fairly comparable. I haven't chopped with M4, so I can't give a direct comparison, but will be interested in what others say.
 
CPM M4 is much tougher than D2 at the same hardness, yet can get much harder as well. It has much improved wear resistance over D2 as well, though I'd have to give D2 an edge in corrosion resistance. CPM 3V should be tougher yet have less wear resistance than CPM M4. I have yet to find a steel that gets as sharp as CPM M4, and I find it's combo of toughness, edge retention, extreme sharpness, and chipping resistance to be the best balance of steel properties that I like out of all of the steels I have tried. I really like CPM M4 and have 3 (soon to be 5) knives in this steel, and will soon have a couple folders re heat treated to 64-66 RC to see how it does at the high end of it's hardness range. I know at 62.5 my Mule works great and my Krein custom at 63 RC really works nicely as a precision cutter with it's very thin edged full height hollow grind. It should be interesting to see what an extra 3-4 points of hardness does for edge retention and if any noticeable loss of toughness is given up to get full hardness out of CPM M4.

Mike
 
Thanks for the info guys. This steel has intrigued me for a while, and I look forward to giving it a try. My next knife will likely be M4. Should be exciting.
 
I think you'll like M4 steel.

My most used knives in the steel are a Spyderco Mule and a Benchmade Gaucho, two different companies and most likely two different heat treats, yet the steel impresses with the fine edge and wear resistance.

But I'm prejudicial to fine grain carbon steels.
 
it is too my knowledge the best; most wear resistant and hardest knife steel available (at least hardest for large knives) the corrosion resistance is not that bad its got 4% Cr so its really not much of a problem if kept dry.
 
gunmike1 said:
CPM M4 is much tougher than D2 at the same hardness, yet can get much harder as well. It has much improved wear resistance over D2 as well, though I'd have to give D2 an edge in corrosion resistance. CPM 3V should be tougher yet have less wear resistance than CPM M4. I have yet to find a steel that gets as sharp as CPM M4, and I find it's combo of toughness, edge retention, extreme sharpness, and chipping resistance to be the best balance of steel properties that I like out of all of the steels I have tried. I really like CPM M4 and have 3 (soon to be 5) knives in this steel, and will soon have a couple folders re heat treated to 64-66 RC to see how it does at the high end of it's hardness range. I know at 62.5 my Mule works great and my Krein custom at 63 RC really works nicely as a precision cutter with it's very thin edged full height hollow grind. It should be interesting to see what an extra 3-4 points of hardness does for edge retention and if any noticeable loss of toughness is given up to get full hardness out of CPM M4.

Mike
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Mike- did you do the checking at different hardness levels for edge retention and how fine an edge you could get? I am about to start a custom job and the competition knife people like HRC 61 in M4 as the best trade-off for toughness/hardness-edge retention(?)/extreme edge-sharpness: which implies the harder the more brittle, less 'sharp' we can get the blade- even if it retains the edge better. As I am looking for as close as I can get to razor sharpness with good edge retention, did you get to test different harness levels of this steel? Thanks in advance, you input would be valuable for my custom project.
 
Not to derail, too badly, but..

I'm not familiar with the BM Gaucho. Are there production folders with M4 blades? Under $80.00 is good, too. I don't like to EDC something that I can't afford to scratch!
 
spacetransient said:
Mike- did you do the checking at different hardness levels for edge retention and how fine an edge you could get? I am about to start a custom job and the competition knife people like HRC 61 in M4 as the best trade-off for toughness/hardness-edge retention(?)/extreme edge-sharpness: which implies the harder the more brittle, less 'sharp' we can get the blade- even if it retains the edge better. As I am looking for as close as I can get to razor sharpness with good edge retention, did you get to test different harness levels of this steel? Thanks in advance, you input would be valuable for my custom project.
Click to expand...

Mike wrote that in 2009 FYI.

How Sharp you can get a steel is all about how well you can sharpen, M4 just so happens to get extremely sharp in the hands of the right person.
 
Shorttime said:
Not to derail, too badly, but..

I'm not familiar with the BM Gaucho. Are there production folders with M4 blades? Under $80.00 is good, too. I don't like to EDC something that I can't afford to scratch!
Click to expand...

I know this is a necro thread, but this is a (recent) statement I cannot let go.

If you are worried about scratching a knife, you do not need M4.

M4 is a steel whose value is hard to asses unless you use it hard. If you want a good looking steel that keeps its good looks and retains a fine edge, I would suggest VG-10 which I find takes a simlar "sticky-sharp" edge, but polishes MUCH easier and is stainless.

Look up Blade Sports cutting competitions if you want to see the sort of area in which M4 excels.
 
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