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What's So Great About M390?
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- Опубліковано 24 кві 2020
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Hahah this is wild man! Im just learning about fancy knives, but i am the worst of the 20%! Construction worker living in rural coastal Canada im not even half a mile from the pacific ocean, living in a damp forrest haha! My main knife is currently a 1045 chinese folder hahaha! And its honestly the best ive had! Had it a few years and no rust, i even take it in the woods and up the mountain, ive gutted fish with it in a pinch! I hardly maintain it! My axes are both nice swedish carbon steel, just with the forge scale still on them. I oil them about once a year and i mean, the one that lives in the box of my pickup gets a little surface rust now and then if i dont use it for a while but always cleans up haha! Anyways hope that was a neat perspective for you, this video was for me! Going to get a real knife finally, dont think itll be m390 for me though hahahah! Probably go with good ole 1095 hahaha. Cheers from Canada!
Böhler M390 is made by Böhler Edelstahl GmbH & Co KG in Kapfenberg (Austria).
Greetings from Vienna 😜
Spoke with someone else about this. They are merged companies. One actually did originate in Sweden 😊 but yes, you're correct.
Man, I don't know. I'm a user, and that vg-10/154CM/cpm154 range is what I go to. Doesn't matter if its hip, it just strops real nice and stays sharp even with "work" use.
I agree
VG10 all day.
Acuto+ is a great steel along the same lines. I would also put ats-34 in that list. They're all quite capable steels at reasonable prices.
Bohler n690 and Sandvik 14c28n as well.
CPM154 ftw @ daily edc
For me it's all about how cool the name of the steel is. Maxamet, Rex, Elmax, Cru Wear all sound really badass. Lol I enjoyed the video and found it very entertaining. I love your weekend videos where you delve into the madness of us enthusiasts.
idk man, elmax kinda sounds like elmo to me
Ginsu
Cruwear is awesome, especially if you’re a freehand sharpener. It takes an unbelievably keen edge and feels great on the stones.
I like tool steel given I'm an absolute unit.
Magnacut tho
I have knives with these super steels such as 20CV, M390 and even RWL34. But my primary edc knife is S35VN and is the most prominent steel in my collection.
S35vn is prob the best edc steel out there.
Northern Ninety7 after this quarantine and when I’m able to make some more money I will try to pick one up
I’ve got or had quite a few m390, 20cv, 204p knives. For normal carry use it’s pretty decent. For use on my job though it takes damage pretty easy on the edge. I tend to prefer tool/carbon steels on my knives for overall performance.
Over all my favorite edc steel is s30v. I find it holds an edge among the best and is still easy enough to sharpen without losing my mind. My spyderco ceramic stones have been a game changer for sharpening these harder premium steels though.
Vanax for me, I see saltwater fairly regularly
Great video!!
I started laughing when you said you just purchased another knife in 20CV, I bought a WE knives Deacon 901E 4 days ago and I was seeking M390 when I bought it haha! I knew it would be comparable to my Native 5 S110v in edge retention so I pulled the trigger on a $245 knife.
Everything you said is really on point about choosing a blade steel and style of knife for specific uses and applications.
I’ve been into folders for about 12 years, it all started with my BM Griptilian (154CM) and that grip is now my official glove box knife in my car.
My tastes have changed in that time and I’ve learned a lot about different steels and lock types and which knife to use for what task.
I have a spyderco sharpmaker and it was like banging my head against a brick wall trying to get my s110v back to its factory edge so I sent it off in the mail to a friend for sharpening.
One of my all time favorites that I carry at least a couple days a week is my green micarta Steel Will gekko mini in N690co
It’s a killer steel, it holds a nice edge and it’s super easy to touch up/sharpen. The ergos of that knife are amazing too.
After buying/selling/trading knives since 2008 I’ve settled on 3 keepers that I rotate in and out of my pocket.
Native 5 LW S110v
Steel will gekko mini N690co
ZT 0808 S35vn
The WE Deacon will get into that rotation also, I’ve been carrying it for a day and a half and it’s super nice, the fit and finish and QC is worth the price tag and I know it’ll hold its edge for a long time, I just need to buy a strop, everyone on the various FB knife groups keeps telling me that.
Oh and my 6 year old daughter keeps wanting me to take the WE out of my pocket so she can touch the carbon fiber!! 😂
Cool video, you’ve got a new subscriber!
Cheers and stay safe out there.
Good video. The best line in to me was " there is no best steel" they all have there place from 8cr 13mov to d2 to m4 or m390. Different steels for different price points/ uses. 8cr is a fine steel for edc and learning how to sharpen. D2 is tough as nails, but can rust a little easier. S35vn is probably the best all round. Its good for edge holding, toughness,sharpenability, and corrosion resistance. But not fantastic for any of those.
Finally a little 8cr13mov love. And paired with a pocket sharpener is a great beater. I personally use the camillus brand and a diamond rod.
I find myself gravitating toward premium steels for sure. And if I'm being honest with myself, with the way that I am, it's not all that necessary. The reason being is that I prefer starting my day off with a really sharp edge. And regardless of the steel, I have to touch up the edge at the end of the day. Even if I only cut 1 cardboard box. I gotta have that initial sharpness.
I am part of the collector/enthusiast boom in the knife industry....I was buying sub $100 knives around 2011-2013 when I committed to buying Benchmades Spydercos Microtech......and then Vintage Microtech.....and SOG GerberAl Mar.....I went through the fit and finish school and was driven to buy every new steel out there.....NOW all I want is a 2006 D-2 Socom Elite...manual, not a auto....I have a serratedexample but I NEED a p/e.......Microtech heat treat on D-2,🥰
My favorite M390 model is the Manix 2 in brown G10. That thing is a PERFECT example of every element coming together into a package. The blade geometry is spot on, Spyderco processes their steel well, the ergonomics are fantastic and it’s a “user knife” that you’re not afraid to throw in your pocket. The Manix is a great platform for pretty much any steel and the ones I have are truly top tier.
Do u prefer the option in m390 or s30v
@@maxschechterman7460
I like em both but the m390 version is highly weight relieved…so if there’s anything that’s gonna make a real, tangible difference in your day to day use, it’s probably that imo
My favorite steel is f 150 coil spring, especially if I'm going to be opening packages. I've only seen one though specifically custom made for said task....it's probably priceless, money means nothing when a goal that lofty is pursued.
f-150 ... the truck ?
5160 steel.
@@dimmacommunication yes
I really like 14C28N... Looking at other steel and been eyeballing Elmax, m390, and Magna cut.... I wanted to get one good knife that was premium... But wanted to put some logic behind it before deciding and right now Elmax looks pretty good for the price.. been eyeballing giant mouse and LionSTEEL knives.... (fixed blade wise)... But joker has some great one's in 14C28N sandvik stainless steel... because it's pretty close to what I need and I live in a very wet environment thusly, Stainless is at tge top of my list but still don't want to over pay for something like Magna cut... And already have a few knives in 14C28N, which is a great balance of all the different things you talked about here in the video, but the edge retention is a little sucky, but I make it easy peasy with my work Sharp Field version😎✌️
I knew an old custom blade smith who studied under Gil Hibben and Harvey Draper decades ago. They used to love 440c because it was stainless and easy to sharpen. He later embraced 154cm also, those were his 2 blade steels, and by the time I met him and had a couple knives made I went that direction, 154cm that is. His opinion was like "yeah 154cm is great, it stays sharp longer than 440c but when you do have to sharpen it, it's harder to sharpen.
Feels like the s30v vs m390 debate in a nutshell.
BTW I want to buy a Shirogorov that runs on washers with s30v steel and use it to dress out an elk.
I don't mind sharpening 20cv but S110v is an absolute nightmare, I took my XM-18 down to 36deg inclusive and it really didn't take as long as I thought it would
Great video! I would love to see this in a series of something. Talk about why everyone love D2 or how s35vn is better than S30v. I love these rambling informational videos to basically podcast
And then CPM 3V stepped into the ring.
Shit idk man my first “nice”(ish lol) knife was the kizer deviant in m390, prior to this I didn’t really believe in super steels having all that much use in real life situations where the knife will end up ruined regardless (I work manual labor) but this knife was the first time I really questioned some of my beliefs. One of the first things that happened with it was that while cutting waterproof covers off of wireless radios at the back of the truck the knife cut way quicker than expected and I slammed it on the steel tailgate along the flat of the blade. Pretty fucking hard too. It still push cut through paper after. I was astonished. Not even a roll. So even if it breaks under extreme impacts that a softer tougher steel might only warm under it’s still tough enough to not shatter under normal impacts + hard enough to not roll the edge when hitting harder materials. The main problem I’ve had with a lot of the cheaper steels focused primarily on toughness is that they roll any edge under 22dps incredibly easily when cutting hard materials. I need my knife to be able to sustain mishaps such as hitting metal embedded into a material I’m cutting, slipping out of a cut and hitting hard objects in tight spaces, and being dropped from time to time onto different surfaces.
I do find that a hack to get around this issue is to make the knife thick as fuck at the stock but then give it a decent thinning grind so it’s still quite slicy. The extra material further up in the blade seems to help a ton with edge stability regardless of the steel and there are geometrical ways to mitigate whatever loss to slicing ability comes with thicker blades
OMG...☺️.....I want to pick up a new CTS204P Socom Elite to round out 3 other Socoms I have....
Those being 1. 2011 Duratech 20-CV SCElite
2. 2012 CTS204P SCElite, Microtech made a run of about 50-100 of them only I n drop point, but satin, stonewash (I think) and blk coated blades....I think they serrated a few...I’ve only seen plain edge🤔
3. 2019 M390 SCElite
A few years back I figured hunting for the original 20-CV Elites would be tough...but over time I’ve accumulated 3, never paying over $475 for any one piece.
The 2012 CTS204P model was one that I didn’t even know existed until I saw the one I bought for sale on Arizona Custom Knives, $345, a very good price...
One thing Microtech did in the past was use a variety of steels during a run of one particular model ...ATS-34 still popped up in runs in 2014....
A perfect kitchen set
Chef, boning, santoku -- M390
Paring -- ZDP
Shears and cleaver -- XHP
20:56 Never say never; apparently a lot of people, from what I've heard, seem to think CPM MagnaCut might actually be the "best" steel. I have no idea though, because I've never seen it or used, nothing.
But people definitely seem stoked about it after Blade Show 2021. Wish I could've been there! Someday I'd love to attend for the first time! 😃
its near end of 2022, have you had a change of opinion on cpm magnacut?
It’s 2024, magnacut maybe the best pocket knife steel :)
Well put! It depends upon who you are... I went for the M390 for a while and found that the hard steel like ZDP189 was more to my liking for use day in and out. LC200N is my favorite for fishing in the ocean or food prep. (Spidie Cheif) People who use the knives as tools have more of a intended use perspective. I like 154CM and VG10. It just depends on what the use for the blade will be. I like to experiment with thinning out the blade and generally like to keep my knives super sharp. All the discussion is just about having fun with the hobby. Thank you for taking the time to make the video. : )
barkingspider2007 for food prep I prefer a chefs knife.
barkingspider2007 Well said. I have a ZT0450cf in zdp189 and it gets incredibly sharp! Different steels for different tasks.
@@bennyc409 this. I don't understand people trying to do food prep with a 3" folder. That's like making a dish with nothing but a paring knife, but worse. A servicable 6" chefs knife and a filet knife can be had for $40 together, and should be all you need in the field, and both will prep food better than the best folder
I prefer a good for fishing
@@iceman5117 cool story
Me personally I prefer the edge retention all while having good corrosion resistance, I work in a place where I am constantly putting my knife in contact with ice and frozen cardboard, so when I need to grab grab food from a box In The freezer and the boxes are stacked to where it makes it time consuming to unstick them in a rush I need to be able to cut through that cardboard consistently throughout the day without worrying about the ice damaging the blade, the corrosion resistance comes into play because I don’t always have the time to dry my knife off if I’m in the lunch or dinner rush so I need to be able to put it in my pocket and not rust over time. For my use m390 is ideal keeps a sharp edge so I can cut through the ice and cardboard without damaging the blade and resistant enough so I don’t have to dry it off after every use.
My favorite daily carry knife is my ZT 0450 in S35VN. I don't mind sharpening it. I recently got a Smock but I haven't had to touch up that lightsaber of a knife just yet.
I have the Benchmade bugout in M390. It definitely takes a nice polished edge and keeps it pretty well. The aluminum handle is very nice as well.
I just retired my benchmade in 154cm, picked up a MT Hera 2 in m390mk, week in my pocket, its already been through its share of london broil and NY strips.
All steel aside, that Microtech hellhound in the middle is sick!!! I want that!
That’s a combat troodon
I got a Microtech Ultratech a couple of days ago in M390. It’s my first with that steel, up until then S35VN is the highest grade steel I have owned. The M390 has saw little use so far. I have an ESEE 5 with 1095 carbon steel and I’m a huge fan, it holds an edge pretty good despite being used fairly hard, but honestly I think splitting wood isn’t as hard on the edge as repetitive cutting of paper for example.
I mean once you get the wood started splitting the pressure moves from the edge to the sides of the blade like a wedge so yeah I’d agree with your statement aside from knots….
@@bayouboys5008 yeah I suspected the same thing.
I have a Chris Reeves Sebenza with S35VN that costs as much as any of my other folders, some of which have M390. My Chris Reeves is my favorite folder and love the blade. Also have a Reate Horizon D w M390 that I do love but my CR is my favorite. Thanks for the presentation.
Recently, I've seen some reputable Blade Testers stunned by LC200N's and Vanax's edge retention ( Steels known for corrosion resistance but not edge retention/ hardness).
Very cool! I love hearing your perspective on this! I also really like 154cm and cpm. But one of my absolute favorites atm is 14c28n!
14c28n...my favorite "budget" steel. Bats above its pay grade.
Agreed
Kershaw bareknuckle is not a m390 steel. Everywhere I've looked they use Sandvik 14C28N.
Technically if one is looking for a “hard” steel then I would suggest a fixed blade with something like 3V
Hard? You mean "tough". Optimal hardness on 3V is 62ish. Same as m390. ZDP 189 would be a "hard" steel (optimally). But ya, 3v would be my choice for fixed 👍
Metal Complex yes
Metal Complex I miswrote 😂 love my ranch
@@oinnsheathen5684 I prefer blue cheese
I'd say that all depends, for a fixed blade with a 4" to 5", maybe 6" blade that I plan to do hard work with I'd go with 3V, for over 6" to 9" I stick to 80CrV2, honestly 80CrV2 is great for 4" to 6" hard used blades also.. For a fixed under 4" it will be more an EDC knife and M390 or S35VN will be fine for 99.9% of what I'll use it for. V3 is great steel but for such a short blade it would almost never be needed.
It retains an edge while not being that hard to sharpen with today's wide availability of pro level sharpening kits, and it sounds coooool.
M390 sounds way better than 420HC 😂
@Emerald Lx Exactly! It has that broad crossover appeal 😊
Is there a better value than that bareknuckle in 20cv? When I got mine it was $110 and I thought it was a good price. Then today i see it on Smokey Mountain Knife Works for $78! They are still in stock so if you're looking for an excellent edc knife, I'd go and grab one quick. One of Kershaw's best imo.
mr. jinks totally agree the Bareknuckle 20cv is hard to beat for the $’s.
Right now? No! It’s THE best value as an American made KVT bearing flipper in 20cv!
Wow, Bless Kershaw. I got a 3V Blur for a bill, I will jump on the Dividend.
M390PM is pretty expensive as raw stock. The PM stands for Powder Metallurgical, which means that is compressed as a powder. It's also rather difficult to machine, it eats specialized tools for tough material for breakfast. Great material, tough but great
Its interesting in a small fixed blade about 4mm thick. I have a lionsteel M4 in m390 and as long as you keep in mind its not for hard use then its amazing as a general user. 3V is the beater steel
Most of the ”three sisters” are under baked.
That trio needs 62hrc to perform well as a cutting edge that lasts more than average midrange steel.
To heat treat M390 to 62+ takes more energy, more focus and more time... Time spent machining/finishing when a great steel is taken into its sweet spot.
*K390 supposedly fixes some of the three sisters weaknesses/flaws (edge retention when soft) and truly gives *magnacut a run for its money.
If the price of m390 comes down and its heat treated properly then I will try some, however I own a Kershaw 'Link' in 20cv so maybe K390 Spyderco Police will be the one however I dont like the cheap looking scales and we should be offered a micarta option in a knife that costs $200.
Great video thanks for sharing.👍
One thing I like about this channel is that you are not biased with the knife designers u mention.
While you might be standing on the shoulders of giants with the info, you have condensed it nicely within one video. I’m inclined to agree with everything you said here.
Funny thing is I finally bought a socom in 204p and the reason I held off is steel toughness but it's STEEL, this things a beast
I can appreciate all the super steels but in my opinion S35vn and s110v are prob the best edc steels out there.
S110v is a nightmare to sharpen. Idk bout that but s35vn makes sense
I have a Benchmade 555-1 20cv... It's my fav and most used EDC ... I literally use it for everything from cooking to work(wearhouse ton of cardboard)... I have a fallkniven fine stone and ultrafine stone ... I never understood why people hate sharpening 20cv I sharpen once a month for like 5 min and my knife is razor sharp ... I will admit it is easier to chip then my esee 4 1095
I’m the same way. As long as you stay on top of it and don’t let it get full blown dull none of them are that bad with a good sharpener (I personally use a Spyderco sharpmaker). Don’t be lazy and just touch them up often and keep them razor sharp
Great informative video. I was worried I had screwed the pooch with my s35vn knives cuz I started to hear all about m390 being so much better. But now I know that s35vn is perfectly fine for what I use it for. Great content
For 90% of people, 8cr13mov is perfectly fine for what they use it for. Opening letter, cutting tags off, maybe cutting some food in the field
@@iceman5117 yeah, I’ve got several in that steel now. I just didn’t understand the difference in the steels but I’ve done a lot more reading in there 11 months
I have knives in supposedly much lesser steels and the geometry is kicking their asses in tasks of any sort without dullling based on geometry, and perhaps coating. Also certain serration types have their own ideal steels. I am seeing legit VG-10 and 154CM or its CPM counterpart and insane Damascus versions of some badass blades for $40 to $60 compared to the same models in M390 over $200. I am on the same steel snob pathology without anywhere near the money to have these knives in front of me. I had to have some M390, and got an Artisan Cobra for 80, M4 Blur for $100 and will jump on the Dividend for 80. Knife goals drive me toward a Rike M3, want that M390 4" beast with wave opening for treasure, but their 154CM has exceeded parameters at at least $100 less, and it makes way more sense combatively if necessary and to fidget and marvel at and use on basic everyday. I know this, but get caught up in all of these games and dissenting charts. The 440C Lansky world legal blade that came with a field sharpenr
for $20 and l can't let go without, but it's the only knife I have that has such an ultra practical versatility for anything, it serms made for martial and defense use, and the ONLY blade shape I've not quite lot fully seen ripped off by all
I have the paramilitary2 in m390 with blue g-10
Unless made in small batches....and without the right heat-treat ... nothing. Great video though 👌👍
I'm here because I really want a Lionsteel M4. I do use my knife and m390 doesn't give me butterflies. Doesn't necessarily sound like the steel for me but I suppose I can make do and not destroy it too bad.
Been learning a bit after being underwhelmed by my Benchmade Freed in S30V. Not a bad knife by any means, just didn't meet my expectations. Mind you it's my EDC so for that purpose I prefer higher edge retention. Looking at a fixed blade this time around. Considering the Bradford Guardian 3 in M390
Great choice but personally I'd choose cpm 3v instead as its a tough steel as it was made for competition
The two knives that I have with M390 blades are my Viper Storm and my Real Steel Puukko Skandi.
I love my Para 3 LW M390 DLT Trading Exclusive. I was about to get a Manix 2 M390 Brown G-10. But now, I don’t know if I will still go for it or the Para 3 CPM S35VN Brown G-10. Need your help sir. **By the way sir, I sweat a lot 🤣.
The Least of my concerns is corrosion resistance. EVERYTHING where I live and work corrodes and must be properly cared for. Ramble on brother!
I sharpen knives for people on whetstones. No knife steel is that difficult depending on you are using the proper abrasive stone. You arent going to get anywhere fast sharpening s90v, elmax, maxamet, m390, ect on a ceramic stone. If you use diamond plates or Diamond Resin bond stones like i prefer you make short work of sharpening those super steels. For standard carbon steels like 5160, 1095, and skandvik stainless steels like 14c28m, 12c27m, ect i use ceramic water stones and will not use diamonds on those steels. Its not good to use diamonds on regular carbon steels
Thanks for some metal talk from Metal Complex... Always enjoy you "rambling" LOL!
I'd say it's like 95% people, not 80%. Most people don't use these 3.5 inch blade pocket folders to bash wood and cut trees. They use them for cutting ropes, tape, thin wire, boxes, paper, fruits and veges, meats etc. If you want to cut trees they people would go to fix blade large military style knives. For EDC folders these trio of steels are the best. They prioritize edge retention more while also maintain good corrosion resistance and toughness. It's a well balanced combo. They even outperform MAGNACUT (all new super steel) in terms of edge retention.
Im still stuck back here in s30v and s35vn steel...then i purchased a Super Freek. Then i purchase a Maxamet Para 3. What the hell did I get myself into?
I love my super freek! M4 isn’t terrible to sharpen if you keep it touched up often!
It's like if you own a Porsche 911 and a chevelle 95, I wouldn't drive the 911 to go for the groceries... Let's be honest if I own a 200+ dls knife I wouldn't use it to cut some cables, cardboard or stuff, for that I'll use a 20 dls blade... it's more to impress, to show off or start a conversation than to work with a M390, 20CV or S35VN blade, at least that's what I thnk... Great review as always, thanks!!
I'd like to see someone test maxamet on rusting. With all the tungsten in it I don't think rust will get into the blade other than surface discoloration. I could be wrong but I'd like to see a test
Good point. It’s a very interesting steel. I have a maxamet native 5. Very cool knife and heavy steel with all of that tungsten.
Aren't most steels plenty tough for nearly all knife duties even batoning? Even M390?
Seems to me that toughness is a feature that rarely gfets pushed to the limit until you start prying and doing non cutting type activities.
I have seen pretrty impressive tests of steels not considered tough.
Failures tend to be more from bad heat treats, anomolies in the steel and bad geometry/design such as sharp transitions, jimping where energy is concentrated to a tiny spot or a combination of any of these.
This may be controversial but I think steel toughness is much more used for marketing than real world benefit 90% of usersIts still steel, the stuff is pretty tough regardless otherwise we would be seeing busted blades.
Just look at the Dutch Knives guys breaking that Magnacut, the trendiest steel , failed due to inclusion in steel.
The issue is that a "bad" heat treat can mean different things to different people using knives for various tasks. For example: M390 in terms of composition is not tough. Its shining attribute is the ratio of corrosion resistance to edge retention. In order to achieve this optimum ratio, M390 usually needs to be heat treated to around 62 rockwell. This makes it great for continuous cutting with light/medium materials like cardboard, but trash for tasks like choping/batoning due to low toughness. Lowering the rockwell hardness will yield better toughness, but that takes away from its intended purpose. Not every steel is meant to baton/pry. It depends on the composition and optimal heat treat. Geometry will also play a huge role in how any blade performs.
Toughness also means thinner edge angle possibilities.
There is no "Best steel" because nothing is perfect in nature. However, I consider ballbearing steel, to be the best steel for an outdoor fixed blade knife, AEB-L for the same and IFit has to be more stain resistant. As for these kind of folders, I would agree, that CPM 154 , is a better choice than any super hard steel.
M390, 20CV ans 204P are the premium steels that are most ideal steels for EDC knives imo. Holds the edge longer, stainless steel and tough within reason. S30V or 35VN don't hold the edge as long as that premium class of steels.
Super steel Steve’s test showed 20cv to cut almost the exact same as s30v
The caveat to that is poorly treated 20cv. When done correctly there's a clear differences in performance .
@@Mridgwell I as well as Steve have yet to find any well done 20CV.
@@Outpost_76 I was generalizing it with m390 but do you think if big brown bear or Roman got there hands on 20cv properly treated it that it wouldn't out cut s30v?
There is the factor of knowing you have the best...whatever it may be..whether it makes a difference or not.
You are exactly right, it all depends on what you intend to use the knife for.
My man, in each hobby there’s a guy that knows a lot of it and speaks reasonably,knowledgeable and honest. Without worrying if he’s catering for the status quo. You are that person of the knife world. The asmongold of knives. Even though I disagree with you on some stuff like you not liking the spyderco pattadese system but not criticizing the awful cold steel ad-15 heinous locking monstrosity.
I have lived on boats in south central Alaska for over twenty years ,have had all types of knives and tools and had minimal problems with rust and corission as long as I don't soak it with seawater.
I have an M390 Para 3 and a M390 Spyopra. Great knives. Great steel. That said, super steel can be executed poorly and average everyday steel can be executed very well.
2:22 M390 is made in Austria. Not Sweden. Bohler is a part Swedish company, but the plant that produces M390 is in Austria.
Ya this is an old goof on my part
I love m390 however CPM 154 with a good heat treat has been the best blade steel I've ever used.
Benchmade has always done it well but honestly m390 does stay sharp longer, not knocking cpm 154 though.
all these supersteels do make sense in edc folders. i really dont wanna sharpen them and therefore em being sharp "forever" is a good thing...tool knives like outdoor, bushcraft or survival knives is where they make no sense
The Bareknuckle in 20CV is nowhere to be found anymore, and the 14C28N variant also costs $70+...
i love the look of that Benchmade... man, i wish i had money... if i had tons of cash, i would buy: 1 car, basic food, 1 awesome guitar, and a sht ton of knives... just the bare necessities.
It’s probably my next Benchmade. I love it
it is 100% accurate to say that there is no best steel. Too many variables. Can you imagine a Cold Steel SRK in S110V? Somebody would ask, why did you get it serrated and I would say, I didn't. But I also think that is accurate to say that preferences are a real thing and for knife enthusiasts, I can guess that a lot of thought and research and some trial and error goes into developing a preferred blade steel. Of course, then the knife enthusiast is likely to come across a Cedric and Ada vid that says the blade steel is less important than the heat treat and the blade geometry. Then...that knife enthusiast will be devastated and question all of reality as nothing makes sense any more. Is nothing sacred?!? (there is a small chance I am not talking about me). (Sorry, I am on vacation and I have been drinking). (shit, my wife might read this).
If 154cm or cmp154 is good enough for a $3k custom, then I feel it's still plenty relevant in my favorite brands that know how to hear treat.
M390 is my favorite for EDC. 1095 for fixed blades. 🤷🏻♂️🤘🏻
I bought the ZT 0562cf m390 when it came out too. Lol the hype was real! Also just bought a Troodon Combat Tactical m390. m390 is definitely not a tough steel compared to some of my other heavier purposed knives. And it is definitely not easy to sharpen. But I have been able to keep a mirror edge with it. And I do enjoy showing my m390 blades off when I carry them. It certainly makes a great edc long as you dont plan on beating the shit out of the blade.
Iv been collecting since 96 and it was a habit and others called me a hoarder and now they ask bout my old stuff they hear gained attention that wasn’t popular back then my favorite as art pieces are knifes from pakistan
I just bought the Malga 6 multitool and it comes with m390 which is pretty cool 😎
Dude that reate jack 1.0 you made me buy 😆 is really thick at the spine but man that edge looks like once slicey beast man! I had it a week today and I still haven't cut so much as a piece of paper with it im trying to keep it pristine condition its a safe queen or my current Excalibur for sure and I want it to keep re sale value im hopping it really goes up so i can tell my wife hey it may have been a 450 dollar knife but now it worth 550 or whatever convince her my collection is an investment and not a collection and she buys maybe 1/4 of thst bs but really she knows I just like them lol
I rinse my whole 0562ti under the faucet CPM 20CV all good
You can send it back to the OEM for sharpening.
The tougher the steel, the tougher the tools need to be to shape it, drill it,...all labor.
🤦♂️
Is microtech M390 Blades good blades ? And which is the one thanks for sharing your videos
Spartan blades has it right, they use s45vn all there knife models. It's a great steel that can be worked in the field
I don't know.. s35vn is pretty sweet too. .
@@diezelvh4133 it is. Just 45 is just slightly better
I'd bet that most people hyping m390 only use it to cut tape and plastic packaging
At best, I keep mine in drawer xD for edc I carry either d2 or 14c28n. Steel doesnt really mater if your knife is big, I'd say.
I'm glad this video came out. I just ordered a heretic cleric in cpm154 and was feeling cheated it was not in m390. I feel better now.
Cpm 154 is my favorite user steel EVER! Great stuff!
I dislike most steels I cannot sharpen easily. I think the s35 and s45vn is the sweet spot for me. I basically can't stand s90v lol. M390 is fine, but mostly I'd prefer something softer.
What steel holds up best to cardboard? That is the question.
My new favorite knife is my Shaman Exclusive in 204P/Forest Green!!
I have mpr benchmade sibert m390. If to sharp and strop at leather with compound vandium ..i try to slice meat and its blunt ...due to no toothty edge ...
I fall into that same category. Thanks for the great vid.
I think tool steels are the way to go. They're tough and retain the edge well without being difficult to sharpen. As far as the stainlessness they are stainless enough for 90% of users. Too much chromium makes a knife form a wire edge while sharpening. Tool steel is the way to go after all knives are TOOLS..
Sorry... I'm sure others have mentioned it: Bohler (BÖHLER Edelstahl GmbH & Co KG) is Austrian, not Swedish. Also, the Microtech Troodon is named after the dinosaur: Troodon (/ˈtroʊ. ədɒn/ TROH-ə-don; Troödon in older sources). That is like: Troh-odon
ACTUALLY... since we're talking about M390 steel and not just BOHLER as an individual company...
"Bohler-Uddeholm was formed in 1991 as a result of a merger between the Austrian parastatal Böhler and of Uddeholms AB of Sweden. The company has production sites in Austria, Germany, Sweden, Brazil, Belgium, Turkey, China, United States and Mexico"
And I know how Troodon is pronounced. I just choose to say it the way I say it 👍
@@metal_complex Yes, I figured pronunciation was a choice. As for Bohler, they are incorporated in Austria. Is VW a Mexican company due to having some production there?
The big thing is that Microclean steel is only made in Kapfenberg, Austria, at the Böhler Microclean plant (as far as I know). Superclean steel is made in Sweden.
@@knickly The wonders of a global economy..
@@knickly I think there is a possible error in zknives.com. They seem to show M390 Microclean in Sweden rather than Austria. In 1991, both Uddeholm and Bohler bacame subsidiaries of voestalpine.
For the obvious reason of having zero mechanical parts a fixed blade such as a mora is a far better choice for those who are going to "beat" their knives. As for the knives you've got there, they're more for utility and personal protection which a great steal is perfect for.
You're just saying words here. Sounds more like your own preferences.
Define "beat on" first, then you can determine what you need. Laying out a blanket statement like this is super misleading and mostly incorrect. The only truth here is that fixed blades are usually more durable than folders.
Also steel choice is important no matter what you're going to use blade for. Fixed or folder. The composition, heat treat, and geometry will determine how well any blade performs in any setting.
I'm not the person you want to give your lecture to.
I love my qsp hawk s35vn 👍
Unfortunately M390 is highly, highly variable with its heat treatment. There are M390 knives on the market with less edge retention than AUS-8 and there are M390 knives on the market that will blow the pants off of S110V. Toughness is not all that important in the "average EDC use" you were referring to. You'll never chip a 63 RC M390 on an Amazon bubblewrap package or from taking a picture of it sticking in a log. Spyderco's Maxamet is run at about 68 and is one of the most brittle pocket knife steels of all time, yet we all love it. Paying premium extra prices for M390 (such as buying a particular model with "upgraded" steel) is a loss for the end user even if you are not utilizing it. M390 is really badass when done well.
I mean... any steel that's properly heat treated will blow the pants of a lot of steels that are poorly heat treated. It's the way of steel.
@@metal_complex I agree, but my point is M390 and 20CV are by far the ones that we are seeing the most variance in. D2 is probably a close second in how variable it has been in the production market. Also I do not necessarily say "bad" heat treat. You will get a very tough steel when it is that soft. It is just not very conducive to EDC tasks - i.e. what it is used for. People who are new to this topic will come here and watch this video. I won't ever say M390 is bad or overrated, but the variance that we have right now on production knives is great enough that it merits being a significant talking point. I don't want to detract anything from what you were saying, but to add to it.
I have some beautiful knives that are 440a and there cool in there own way. 😃but I also have some not so beautiful knives that are M390 but work good. Thanks
Sandvik is the Swedish one and the Bohler is the Austrian made one we call German steel. I understand what you're saying, but I say choose whatever steel, blade type, hardness doesn't mean a damn if it's all poor quality. Look what Buck was able to with that 420 BS steel!😂 We live in an age where we can choose to be a snob. For me I find all these steel recipes interesting. Don't worry we have Magnacut, which is already getting boring to people, is going to probably be replaced with a Tungstacut.😂
Unpopular opinion but I find m390/20cv to be extremely dependent on a good heat treat to actually perform as well as it does in our minds. I also usually find that lack of toughness to be a big factor in why I don’t enjoy m390 so much any more. Corrosion resistance is great in theory, but always comes with that toughness tradeoff. Important to actually test how much corrosion resistance you need. I think most people will be surprised how well most steels hold up if you don’t go swimming in saltwater and take care/oil them when needed. That m390 Edge retention can be great until you twist a little lateral torque on that apex, hit an embedded grain of sand, or start cutting something with a very abrasive or synthetic/fibrous structure, then you don’t realize how important finding something more balanced really is. I’ve had some really pricy m390 blades routinely roll and chip in simple tasks much sooner than they ever actually just dulled. Just my personal experience with lots of outdoor “field” use (not abuse). That being said I love my 204p military! Lol. Great video dude! Really enjoy the m390 topic.