Thoughts on 154CM

R

Ruger 44 Redhawk

Joined
Feb 19, 2021
Messages
192
Hi all, just ordered some raw aluminum handle scales from Applied Weapons Tech for my Benchmade Griptilian 551 full size straight edge in 154CM (if you haven't checked them out they are awesome). I've had the knife for a decade or so and it's just sat in a drawer so I figured why not. I put the Applied Weapons Tech handle scales on another rare full size Benchmade Doug Ritter in M390 years ago and it just sits in a safety deposit box with all my other expensive discontinued blades. For the last couple of years I have been carrying a 3 dot 1980-81 Buck 110 in a sheath and I like the 440C steel on it. So it got me thinking, I always liked Benchmade's 154CM and I have a couple other knives with it like the Leatherman K502 lockback. I understand the composition of 154CM and I think it's similar to 440C only on steroids, but how does Benchmade's 154CM compare to others like Leatherman, Hogue, Spyderco, et al.? In this super duper steel world, I would almost prefer 154CM now.
 
I have the same Grippie but I've never cared for CM-154 in that knife or my (single) Emerson. Maybe it's the rather thick blade grind of those two knives; I have a Grippie in D2 that is thinner and cuts a whole lot better. I don't think it holds an edge very well compared to powder steels like S30V, CV20, etc.
 
I’m guessing you like 154 cm because of how well it sharpens compared to the supersteels? Give CPM cruwear a try if you are able to. It’ll sharpen very very easily, holds an edge better than 154 cm and is way tougher. The only drawback is that it’s semi stainless… however, all I have done to take care of my knives in cruwear is wipe them dry after any water gets on them. It’s pretty low maintenance for a non stainless steel.
 
nattynarwhal said:
I’m guessing you like 154 cm because of how well it sharpens compared to the supersteels? Give CPM cruwear a try if you are able to. It’ll sharpen very very easily, holds an edge better than 154 cm and is way tougher. The only drawback is that it’s semi stainless… however, all I have done to take care of my knives in cruwear is wipe them dry after any water gets on them. It’s pretty low maintenance for a non stainless steel.
Click to expand...
Intersesting. Yes I know of Cruware but have never tried it. The only super steel blades I own now all sit in a safety deposit box because I just don't see the need for them I guess. That Buck 110 in 440C I carry sharpens to a razor and quickly just with a couple strokes on ceramic. Maybe that's why I like the 154CM. I feel that "toughness" in a small folder like that is really negligent because that's what a fixed blade is for in 1095 or 5160. For instance, I never baton the back of a knife and don't see why you would ever do that to a small folder and risk breaking the lock or the tip. So if I'm using a knife heavily and need that toughness it will be a fixed blade. The small folders are for slicing. At least that's my philosophy of use.
 
All Emerson (non custom) knives are 154CM. I happen to like the steel myself (own 4 Emerson’s) others may not.

Below was lifted from another website….

“The Crucible steel 154CM is from the 1970's, it was originally used for jet engine components. Bob Loveless popularized the steel for custom knives but the custom makers used very small quantites of the minimum "heat" for alloy production.

When Crucible dropped the steel in favor of newer jet engine alloys,,,,,Bob Loveless went the Hitachi Metals Div. in CA and described what he wanted,,,,,,Hitachi made up the alloy ATS-34 which was almost identical to 154CM but was cleaner with the new steelmaking equiipment in Japan. Cleaner steel = less impurities.

In the late 1990's Cricuble again became interested in custom steels for the knife industry and introduced CPM 154 with similar alloy content but with a far different process to produce the steel, Crucible Powdered Metal is a cleaner method for small quantities.

Are they the same alloy,,,,,,on paper yes,,,, in the world of metallurgy,,,,,no.
Can the average knife user tell the difference = no."
 
Alberta Ed said:
I have the same Grippie but I've never cared for CM-154 in that knife or my (single) Emerson. Maybe it's the rather thick blade grind of those two knives; I have a Grippie in D2 that is thinner and cuts a whole lot better. I don't think it holds an edge very well compared to powder steels like S30V, CV20, etc.
Click to expand...

CM-154 is a powdered metal whereas 154CM never has been.

Neither will hold an edge like S30V, S35VN, or CPM 20CV.
 
Last edited:
Ruger 44 Redhawk said:
Intersesting. Yes I know of Cruware but have never tried it. The only super steel blades I own now all sit in a safety deposit box because I just don't see the need for them I guess. That Buck 110 in 440C I carry sharpens to a razor and quickly just with a couple strokes on ceramic. Maybe that's why I like the 154CM. I feel that "toughness" in a small folder like that is really negligent because that's what a fixed blade is for in 1095 or 5160. For instance, I never baton the back of a knife and don't see why you would ever do that to a small folder and risk breaking the lock or the tip. So if I'm using a knife heavily and need that toughness it will be a fixed blade. The small folders are for slicing. At least that's my philosophy of use.
Click to expand...
I’ve found cruwear to be one of the best sharpening steels I’ve used so far. The toughness of cruwear allows good manufacturers to jack up the hardness and create a blade that is extremely strong at the edge (I.e., resilient to rolling) and also resilient against impact chips because of high toughness. I’d argue that toughness translates over to cutting performance because a tougher blade can generally be made harder and thinner.
 
I like 154cm, but prefer cpm 154. its just a bit better overall. takes a sharper edge easier, in my experience and holds it a bit better.

its a good overall stainless steel. it's one of my favorites in constant user where I need to resharpen.

back to your question. I feel benchmade on 154cm is okay and done decently. Buck does a better heat treat job though.
 
jbmonkey said:
I like 154cm, but prefer cpm 154. its just a bit better overall. takes a sharper edge easier, in my experience and holds it a bit better.

its a good overall stainless steel. it's one of my favorites in constant user where I need to resharpen.

back to your question. I feel benchmade on 154cm is okay and done decently. Buck does a better heat treat job though.
Click to expand...
I was going to write a full response, but it would have read about like the above.
So I'll just say, "Great for every day use. Benchmade does a good heat treat on it."
 
nattynarwhal said:
I’m guessing you like 154 cm because of how well it sharpens compared to the supersteels? Give CPM cruwear a try if you are able to. It’ll sharpen very very easily, holds an edge better than 154 cm and is way tougher. The only drawback is that it’s semi stainless… however, all I have done to take care of my knives in cruwear is wipe them dry after any water gets on them. It’s pretty low maintenance for a non stainless steel.
Click to expand...
Holy hell! I just saw that Benchmade is making the Adamas in CPM Cruware now! Probably a lot better than the original D2.
 
My latest Benchmade (Mini Reflex 2); has a 154 blade. It does sharpen easily...
 
Last edited:
154cm/ATS 34 were the first "super"steels I recall. I don't recall 440c ever being referred to in that context. I still like them but I like the powder steel versions better. CPM 154 sharpens better, is a bit tougher with a little better edge stability. It's pretty good for a stainless steel.
 
Zulus said:
Before - one supersteel every 5 years
Now - one supersteel evety 5 weeks ...
:^D
Click to expand...
That's called, "Technology's increasing pace."
Or
"How much quicker; the good stuff comes."
 
I never cared for the Benchmade or Emerson heat treat of 154cm I had a few and no longer own any. I prefer S30V or better for edge holding or 440, VG10 or AUS8 for easy sharpening.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top