Mini Griptilian with 154CM need perspective and links

Wowbagger

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I posted the following in the Ankerson Ranking of Steels in Categories thread. I got zero responses so . . . encore !

Is it here in the Ankerson 400 grit tests and I'm just blind or is 154CM missing from those tests?
I have taken a recent interest because I am considering getting (have just gotten) a Mini Griptilian and so am learning what I can about Benchmade's 154CM.
I just read that it does best with a toothy edge so I would expect it to be here cutting rope in front of Bob and everyone.

For that matter how does Benchmade's (heat treat) do with a polished edge? You all know how addicted I am to polished edges (for what I use knives for it works well for me).
Any link to a discussion of middle of the road 154CM ( I understand the higher RC stuff is a different animal than the softer stuff)? What does it compare to that is on the 400 grit chart ?
It's above a similar grade of VG10 . . . is that right ?
Thanks.

Here he is
IMG_5468.jpg

Here he is with Big Ritter M390
IMG_5469.jpg
 
I carry that same 556 mini grip every day through the week.
It replaced a 555 mini grip that I carried for over 3 years until I lost it about a month ago.
I like Benchmade's 154 pretty well. It seems to hold a decent edge and isn't too hard to sharpen. I like the M 390 on my Valet better as it holds a better edge but is a little harder to sharpen and also at a higher price point.
When the factory edge became dull the first couple of times, I stropped it back sharp. After that I sharpened on my KME at 18 degrees.
I really like the mini grip for daily carry.
 
Overall the 154CM will perform much like ATS-34 and VG-10. Since Ankerson's tests involve fibrous material, a toothy edge works better. Polished edges work better for wood carving. Buck did a study a while back comparing edge finishes and found that in general every day use cutting a variety of materials, a coarser edge (around 400 grit) holds up the best. Use an edge finish that is best suited to your typical cutting chores.
 
My experience with benchmade 154cm puts it in the ballpark with spyderco vg10, but I like 154 better.
It will take any kind of edge you want to put on it from coarse to polished. It's pretty tough for a stainless steel, but lacks in edge strength for my taste. It will dull quicker than steels like s30v, zdp189 and m4, but hold its edge significantly longer than your cases and saks.
It's a decent steel.
 
Groundhogsniper said:
I really like the mini grip for daily carry.
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I didn't realize it until I got mine but the steel liners are full length even on the basic one. Up until now I thought the upgraded light gray and blue one had full length liners and the previous ones had partial liners like the full size Griptillian. The full length liners give the little one some noticeable heft and solidity. For what that's worth in use I don't know but it is desirable just for how it feels in hand.
 
Getting older said:
The mini grip imho feels much better in hand than its big brother,to each their own
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Yes, until I asked a customer to see his Mini I had written it off as too small and not a knife for me.
I hadn't taken into account how much I would like the thick handle on such a small knife. After the customer left the feeling of that knife in my hand has haunted me for six months and I finally found a gap in my knife buying frenzy to fit it in.
Glad I did. Plenty sharp and well made. I am having a time sorting out the pivot to get it dropping. So far it is exactly like my 710 in M390.
In a word : flakey
I get it pivoting free with play then it starts binding up.
I may have to resign myself to using wrist action to initiate closing and maybe some finger pressure for the final close or a wipe of the spine of the blade on my leg to close it.
Not the end of the world. I have been carrying slip joints a lot lately and that's sort of what I do to close them.
Also . . . hahahaha . . . I had been really enjoying the Rat 1 for quite a while before that and it certainly isn't a dropper; just not possible with the Rat 1.

I pretty much knew what to expect pivot wise going in when I bought the Mini.
It sure is great opening and in use though and that's the main thing. That's most of it.
 
I've been outright inpressed by Benchmade 154cm. I was expecting 440C levels of edge retention, but it seems to fit a nice niche between N690 and S35VN. Lower than S35VN, but a noticeable improvement over N690 (when heat treated right). From my very limited testing, Benchmade seems to do 154CM the best (aside from the very few BOS 154CM knives out there) of all production companies. The Grip also slices pretty well considering it doesn't have a terribly optimized grind.

As for edge finish, it seems perfectly happy with a polished edge cutting dirty cardboard, so it doesn't seem super picky on finish.
 
Sorry to hear that your M390 BM's are having issues with their pivot. No issues with binding on my two full size Ritters (one with custom scales and one stock) or my M390 710. However, I take most of my BM's apart for a post-purchase cleaning, clean off most of the parts with Rem Oil, and do a 5 second buffing of the washers with paper towels before oiling them up and putting the knife back together.

The only issue I had with a BM's pivot being "flakey" was my fault. I put on a little too much Loctite on a 940's pivot screw and it leaked out onto the washers. I didn't notice this until I took it apart a second time.

I'll add that I had an issue with the pivot of an Ontario Rat 1. When I took it apart, there was an irregularity on the blade underneath the washers.
 
I prefer VG10. I find that the 154CM in the mini Grip dulls faster, and the VG10 has better corrosion resistance in yard work. Nonetheless, performance overall is pretty similar.
You get better edge retention with steels like S30V, S35V or XHP, but 154 CM is easy to sharpen.
 
I don't care for CM-154, either in my Grippie or my (single) Emerson. Maybe it's those blades' geometry, but I find it difficult to sharpen even on diamond, and it doesn't hold an edge very well, compared to D2 or any of the CPM steels. OK for scraping or other abusive chores but not my first choice.
 
I have 154 on my Rift and I can say that I'm really happy with how it performs with a polished edge. I work in a warehouse and I'm cutting cardboard all day. It holds a shaving edge for about the same as my s35vn blades, maybe a little less. I'm not doing and hard experimenting, just what I've noticed from day to day work. I haven't noticed a huge drop in edge retention compared to my other knives, and when it does get a little dull, about 10 passes over my strop brings it back up. I don't think you'll regret buying it
KBgX757.jpg
 
Benchmades 154cm will hold it's own. I have found that with any steel everyones mileage will vary full stop. Nobody cuts the same stuff exclusively in the same fashion at the same intensity day in and day out, so it's not possible to assign an edge holding time bracket to each steel. If i cut normal stuff with M390 like cardboard, rope, open plastic, shave wood - it holds it's edge for ages, but then again so does 154cm. If i make a couple cuts into vinyl flooring sheets (which seem soft and gentle on blades) it will stop M390 shaving hair in just 2 cuts. I think benchmade have used 154cm long enough to know how to get the best out of it. I doubt anyone could tell the difference between 154cm, S35vn and steels of that similar level in a cut test if the blades were unmarked and all sharpened with the same geometry. In fact i'd bet money on it.
 
Scott321 said:
I take most of my BM's apart for a post-purchase cleaning, clean off most of the parts with Rem Oil, and do a 5 second buffing of the washers with paper towels before oiling them up and putting the knife back together.

. . . . a little too much Loctite on a 940's pivot screw and it leaked out onto the washers. . . . .
. . . Rat 1. . . . irregularity on the blade underneath the washers.
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If I were smart I would take mine apart.
I have been working on the Benchmade rep here to send me a third blue spacer. So far none has hit my mail box. I have been waiting to rebuild it for when the nice man sends me my spacer. That is practically the whole issue. I can squeeze the scales there and stop the blade in mid drop. If there were a spacer there I couldn't squeeze the scales against the blade while gripping the knife and I would . . . I believe . . . be all done "rebuilding" the knife.

How long until Hell freezes over ? I figured I would wait until then or until he sends me a spacer. ;)

PS: I am perfectly willing to pay for the spacer and the shipping. How much ? $10 ? $20?
You let me know Benchmade man.
 
On my full size grip I have had some issues with easy dulling and not getting sharp as I would like. I also experienced some micro chipping in the edge, I can't recall cutting anything that abrasive but under a loupe I can see tiny chunks missing.
 
arty said:
XHP
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Don't say XHP . . . I'm a little freaked out that there won't be much of that in my future purchases (sounds like / I haven't looked into it I just know Cold Steel can't get enough (?) or some such).
I dig XHP.
 
Sounds like a lot of varied experiences with 154CM.
Thank you all for the perspectives.
I'm learning, again, how much of a noobie I am. This winter and spring was the first time I used S30V extensively. This autumn I will be using the heck out of 154CM for the first time.
(previously mostly I have been using XHP, M390, VG-10, S110V, and M4)
I'm pretty happy with what little 440C I have used so if 154CM is as good or better I think I will be just fine with it.
And I would add that my one example of N690 (in my Pattadda) blew me away; I expected it to be one of those super rust resistant sucky stainlesses and it actually is darned good as far as sharpenablilty (getting rid of the bur) and edge holding.
I would be super please if 154CM was any where near as good but we will see.
 
154cm is my all time favorite steel. It sharpens easy and takes a nice hair popping paper slicing edge. As far as edge retention, I intentionally chopped and sliced into a cardboard tube several times and my blade may have lost its hair shaving edge, but held a decent working edge.
 
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