Announcing our '21 Collection!
Join us on our YouTube Channel:
https://youtu.be/GUcuqqAkv28
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[@mention:589599268366160530]
All this said - I would love to see some good ‘ol satin M390 make another appearance with an upcoming model.
Best part about these new releases (as well as some over the past couple years) for me is the inclusion of more and more premium steels into Benchmade’s lineup, rather than only being reserved for limited releases. I remember a lot of complaints over having to first buy a knife in “just S30V” (or skip it entirely) and then wait a while for a limited release with an updated super-steel. It seems Benchmade really has been listening to it’s customer base in that regard. I for one was definitely aboard the boatload of customers who believed the days of Benchmade producing folders bladed with M390 was a thing of the past, all so BKC could claim 100% “Made In America”. That mission was of course quite honorable, as well as difficult for me to have been mad at, even if I did (I still do!) prefer M390 to 20CV. Yet, here I am rambling again about a new release featuring my beloved Bohler Uddelhom blade steel.
Once again, Benchmade:
THANK YOU for the return of M390!
I do hope that you continue to give the people what they want.
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+1 on that Mac! Well stated!
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I'm anxious about the new 535BK-4 in DLC coated M390! That one's gonna be super slicey dicey! And it looks great too!
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[@mention:589880809437764246] posted:
I'm anxious about the new 535BK-4 in DLC coated M390! That one's gonna be super slicey dicey! And it looks great too!
Agreed. That, of course, is the model I was referring to. As well, the -4 handle milling is (obviously) a really nice touch. Again, that detailed concept seems like it would have been reserved for a Limited release in years past... Yet - Inline knife!
Also...
Those scales are just begging to be custom anodized! What a lovely canvas. A knife modder’s dream... Am I right, [@mention:589880809437764246]?
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You hit that nail square on the head Mac! And I already texted my BMK dealer and told him to make sure there's one with my name on it! 🤪
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For me personally, I really don't care if the steel is M390 or 20CV as they are cousins if not siblings (from what I understand which of course may very well be incorrect).
However, according to the new catalogue, M390 has considerably higher strength and toughness than 20cv. Granted, for what I use my knives for, I can't see apples and orange peelings taxing the strength of my 20cv blades, let alone the M390 ones. Is there any sort of reasoning behind the differences?
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[@mention:589599268366317714]
I hear you. I don’t like to discount the favorable properties of Benchmade’s 20CV, because it is indeed pretty great knife steel. As I’ve understood it (plus I’ve only used a few Benchmade knives with that steel and far more with M390), the CPM counterpart has a bit less toughness than the Bohler Uddelholm made stuff but slightly better edge retention. And while M390 is said to be tougher with the trade off of less edge retention - in my experience it does indeed have noticeably better edge retention than 20CV. At first, we heard that they are very similar, so much so that they are practically the same steels. Composition considered, sure, I can believe that. But of course there will be slight differences when produced by 2 different companies. In my mind though, the most substantial differences come down to the heat treat. In terms of comparing both steels being used by Benchmade, no way are they exactly the same . To simplify my long winded response to your question - BKC produces their 20CV blades at a hardness of 59-61 HRC, while they have always ran M390 blades harder, at 60-62 HRC.
Plus, the Austrians added in a dash of *magic* to their M390.
I’m with you, though - Most won’t notice much of a difference while lightly using their knives for “EDC”.
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Well stated Mac. I'll add that it seems as though I can put a sharper edge on M390 than I can on 20CV. That said I'm anxious to see how the new CPM variants take and hold an edge.
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/|\ +1 Mac I can’t put it into as many words or even explain it.
But M390 is just one of my favorites (810-1401) & 20Cv just doesn’t come close IMHO.
Mac nailed it when he call M390 - Magic!
PS I want 940’s & 945’s in uncoated M390
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[@mention:589599268366258657] posted:There we go! As well, it is basically self-lubricating as it wears, right? I know I’ve read/heard all this somewhere before... I think?
You’re correct sir, Jason had mentioned that here a few years back. I believe the description was a “reduced friction coefficient” with DLC vs uncoated blades. (I do wonder about that being universal though, as the polish DLC blades certainly seem to be that, but those more matte finished examples seem to have a bit more drag from my experience.)
Also, I’m in agreement completely with you gentleman. 20CV is a nice steel. I like it better than S30V and a handful of others for sure. But it is NOT M390. That Bohler stuff truly is just magic.
I hope we keep seeing more M390 blades, but that it also doesn’t become universal and they stick with 20CV for the more high end knives. But that’s only because I like the quest and excitement of finding the M390 offerings out there.
all this talk of DLC and M390..... maybe we should be rallying to encourage another FORUM KNIFE!!! Maybe those wounds from the 2017 version have healed enough for us to talk once again about making it a yearly thing.
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[@mention:589599268366244285] posted:
all this talk of DLC and M390..... maybe we should be rallying to encourage another FORUM KNIFE!!! Maybe those wounds from the 2017 version have healed enough for us to talk once again about making it a yearly thing.
+1 I'm in for another forum knife. Something cool for 2021 and beyond!
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I’m excited about the auto fact that is on sexy knife in my opinion.
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All this talk of DLC & M390...
My rants about loving both...
My previous mention regarding the magic of running the steel’s heat treat to a hardness of 60-62 HRC...
Now, I just noticed this:
I REALLY hope this is simply a crazy typo and that Benchmade is not messing around with softening my beloved M390! Say it ain’t so...
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/|\ Mac don’t drive yourself CRAZY over it.🤪
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[@mention:589599268366227375] posted:
/|\ Mac don’t drive yourself CRAZY over it.🤪
Too late...
I’ve noticed a handful of typos in the 2021 catalog that weren’t caught before publication. I’m thinking this is probably just another.
It has to be...
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[@mention:589599268366258657] posted:
All this talk of DLC & M390...
My rants about loving both...
My previous mention regarding the magic of running the steel’s heat treat to a hardness of 60-62 HRC...
Now, I just noticed this:
I REALLY hope this is simply a crazy typo and that Benchmade is not messing around with softening my beloved M390! Say it ain’t so...
😳🧐🤔😬😮😞 I ran out of emojis!
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[@mention:589599268366258657] posted:
Too late...
I’ve noticed a handful of typos in the 2021 catalog that weren’t caught before publication. I’m thinking this is probably just another.
It has to be...
There are definitely a few typos that's for sure! I'm right there with you Mac. I'm really hoping that on is a typo also!
Update I just checked the the Benchmade website and it shows the following for the Bugout 535BK-4...
Blade: EdgePlain
Blade Finish: ColorDiamond-like Carbon Coated
Blade Steel: M390 (58-61 HRC)I'm not so sure its a typo unless they made a typo in both the catalog and website.
Jason or Jon can you confirm the HRC for the M390 used in the Bugout 535BK-4?
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I bought a 484 in 2018 so I checked the 2018 catalogue and the HRC is 58-61. Interestingly, the 698 is 59-61
Edit: now I checked the 2015 catalogue and M390 is listed at 60-62 and no mention of 20cv. 2016 seems to be when the change occurred as M390 and 20cv was listed at the current HRC, at least that's what the 2016 catalogue listed them as. Interestingly, that's also the year that 20cv appeared.
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Yeah, I’ve always noted the 484’s M390 @ 60-62 HRC, so I believe these are just errors in the specification listings from BKC employees who had been sipping on Blue Lube as they typed.
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My new 535-3 has finally arrived and I think it's brilliant.
Favorite new benchmade this year ![@mention:645620763037932376] Please shrink it and make a identical 533 mini version as well.
Maybe M390 on that one would make it perfect.
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[@mention:589599268366323675] posted:My new 535-3 has finally arrived and I think it's brilliant.
Favorite new benchmade this year ![@mention:645620763037932376] Please shrink it and make a identical 533 mini version as well.
Maybe M390 on that one would make it perfect.
I'm ready to order the 533 with the same specs as the 535-3 (or, with M390). In fact, I'd probably grab one for my boss as well.
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[@mention:589599268366323675] posted:My new 535-3 has finally arrived and I think it's brilliant.
Favorite new benchmade this year ![@mention:645620763037932376] Please shrink it and make a identical 533 mini version as well.
Maybe M390 on that one would make it perfect.
Only 63 days till the 535-4 is out. M390 & aluminum scales
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I'm counting the days too Tu!
I said "too Tu"! Lol
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[@mention:589880809437764246] posted:
I'm counting the days too Tu!
I said "too Tu"! Lol
I have a feeling that eventually most of my Bugouts will be M4 or M390
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While I'm probably not going to off any of my current Bugouts, I definitely see a 535-4 in my future! Maybe a couple!
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[@mention:589880809437764246] posted:
While I'm probably not going to off any of my current Bugouts, I definitely see a 535-4 in my future! Maybe a couple!
You don't have to off them to upgrade the blade
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[@mention:589599268366343161] posted:
You don't have to off them to upgrade the blade
Most of mine are non custom shop S30V blades so no-go on upgrading blade steels.
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I would love to see a folder that is corrosion resistant say in an lc200 or Vanax especially. In a 940 or bug out configuration would be ideal
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In regards to the 535bk-4 will their be an initial run of “first edition” ones? If so are you able to say about how many?
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[@mention:646324604467407966] posted:
In regards to the 535bk-4 will their be an initial run of “first edition” ones? If so are you able to say about how many?
Probably a run of first production. Most don't want the billboard on a knife, looks much cleaner without. But there is a minority that like to have first productions, some collect low or favorite numbers. I have a few Benchmade prototypes, but 95% of the time it will do nothing to increase the market value of the knife. There is the rare occasion where someone really wants a certain prototype, & it's worth what someone will pay for it. They typically only make 20 to 50 prototypes, so they are rare. It just doesn't usually transfer to the price
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