CPM 154 vs CPM 20CV: Knife Steel Comparison & Experience

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Last updated on July 13th, 2023 at 06:00 pm

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At A Glance
CPM 154, known for its high wear resistance, toughness, and excellent corrosion resistance, proves to be slightly harder to sharpen due to its hardness, leading to superior edge retention. On the other hand, CPM 20CV is a high-carbon stainless steel, boasting hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance, while being easier to maintain and sharpen. The toughness of CPM 20CV slightly outshines CPM 154, making it less susceptible to chipping. In terms of cost, CPM 154 generally comes at a higher price point than CPM 20CV. While the best steel is highly dependent on personal preference and intended use, CPM 20CV appears to offer a slightly better balance for the average user, thanks to its toughness, hardness, ease of sharpening, and more affordable price point.

Top Rated Knives

In the world of knife enthusiasts, the debate surrounding different types of knife steels is neverending.

In my honest opinion, it’s because there really isn’t that much else to talk about in the knife world (knives are pretty simple after all…) and it allows people to feel smart and pedantic.

While I don’t buy into the idea that some steels are the “best” and others the “worst” it is true that some types of steel lend themselves to performing better in almost every regard.

Which comes at a price to your wallet. Sometimes a steep price.

So, in the interest of saving us all time and a bit of money, today we’re going to take a look at two popular steels that are considered on the “good” side of the spectrum and see how they stack up.

This comparison won’t be overly scientific (I’m not a scientist) but hopefully I’ll be able to break things down enough so that you can decide which steel is for you.

Background Of Each Steel

CPM 154

Spyderco Respect Survival Bowie Knife

CPM 154 steel is a proprietary martensitic stainless steel (meaning it’s a very hard steel with a crystalline structure) developed by Crucible Industries.

It offers an impressive blend of high wear resistance, toughness, and corrosion resistance.

The secret (shhh…don’t tell…) lies in a patented process involving the addition of vanadium and molybdenum, elements that enhance the hardness and wear resistance of the steel (but also make it slightly more brittle).

CPM 154 edges out other martensitic stainless steels that are used for knife blades due to its excellent corrosion resistance, an attribute that makes it versatile across various environments. Additionally, its heat-treatable nature renders it perfect for applications demanding high strength and durability.

Popular Knives That Use CPM 154

  • Benchmade Griptilian
  • Chris Reeve Sebenza
  • Kershaw Blur
  • Zero Tolerance 0562
  • Spyderco Paramilitary 2

CPM 20CV

Strider SMF

Another product of Crucible (hint: you could guess this from the name, “CPM” stands for Crucible Particle Metallurgy Process), CPM 20CV is a high-carbon stainless steel that boasts a composition of 1.45% carbon, 15% chromium, 4% vanadium, and 1.05% molybdenum.

Its martensitic (again) composition not only renders the steel harder than most stainless steels but also enhances its wear resistance and corrosion resistance.

CPM 20CV was designed to possess higher toughness and a lower wear rate than other high-carbon stainless steels, making it ideal for knife blades and other cutting tools.

What’s more, the steel is easy to maintain and sharpen.

CPM also beats out similar steels from other competitors (such as Bohler-Uddeholm’s M390 steel) due to the superior consistency and cleanliness derived from the Crucible Particle Metallurgy process. Consequently, it has become a popular choice for high-end custom knives.

Popular Knives That Use CMP 20CV

  • Benchmade 940
  • Zero Tolerance 0452CF
  • Spyderco Military
  • LionSteel SR-1
  • Microtech SOCOM Elite

CPM 154 vs CPM 20CV – Full Comparison

Toughness

If you want a wimpy knife, go ahead and skip this section.

However, if you want a “tough” knife steel, you probably already know that “toughness” refers to the ability of the steel to resist damage like chipping, breaking, or fracturing when subjected to high impact or stress.

As a martensitic stainless steel, CPM 154 is harder than other stainless steels but more prone to chipping (it’s a bit more brittle). Conversely, CPM 20CV is a high-carbon stainless steel that is harder than most stainless steels and less susceptible to chipping. In essence, CPM 20CV proves to be a tougher steel than CPM 154.

However, tougher steels come with the tradeoffs of being more difficult to get super sharp and keep sharp with use.

Hardness

Hardness, as measured on the Rockwell scale, reflects a material’s resistance to deformation or indentation. In other words, it’s how hard something is to dent (not bend, that’s toughness).

In general, the testing process involves pressing a diamond or carbide ball into the material under examination and at a certain force. The depth of the indentation is then measured and registered on the Rockwell Scale – the higher the number, the harder the material. This scale is widely used in a myriad of industries, including electronics and aerospace, as a crucial quality control tool.

In knives, it’s useful because the hardness tells us how keen we can get the edge, how well it will retain the edge, and how brittle the knife is likely to be (harder means more brittle in this case).

Most modern steels used in knife-making fall between 55 and 62 on the Rockwell C hardness scale, providing a good balance between hardness and toughness.

For example, CPM 154 typically measures around 58-61 HRC, offering superior wear resistance and excellent edge retention. However, this hardness means it can be somewhat challenging to sharpen, requiring a bit more effort than some other steels. With the correct sharpening stone and technique, maintaining the edge on a CPM 154 knife is manageable and will keep your knife in top condition for many years.

Crucible puts the hardness of CPM 20CV right at 58 meaning that it is quite comparable. It is slightly less hard which comes with the tradeoffs we already mentioned.

Sharpening & Edge Retention

While hardness is an important factor in determining a knife’s performance, sharpening ease and edge retention is equally important (and informed by the former).

CPM 154 offers excellent edge retention due to its hardness but may be slightly more difficult to sharpen. Conversely, CPM 20CV, while still offering good edge retention, is generally easier to sharpen, making it a popular choice for those who frequently use and maintain their knives.

Cost

When it comes to the cost of knife steels, CPM 154 and CPM 20CV offer a bit of a trade-off. CPM 154 is generally more expensive due to its superior corrosion resistance and edge retention. However, CPM 20CV, while still providing excellent performance, is typically less expensive and easier to sharpen.

The choice between these two ultimately comes down to personal preference and how exactly you’ll be using your knife. If you’re using it near saltwater, for example, CPM 154 would be a better (but still not perfect) choice.

Overall Winner

Surprise! There isn’t one… As we already mentioned, comparing knife steels is hardly something that can be a technical victory on either side…unless the margins are huge.

However, if we take into account factors such as toughness, hardness, ease of sharpening, edge retention, and cost, CPM 20CV seems to offer a slightly better balance for the average user. It provides excellent toughness and hardness, is easier to sharpen, and is typically less expensive than CPM 154.

But, once again, if you need corrosion resistance and edge retention, CPM 154 may be worth the extra cost.

Conclusion

Personally, as an author and knife enthusiast, I’ve found that the type of steel used in a knife isn’t really a dealbreaker for me.

Whether it’s CPM 154, CPM 20CV, or any other type of steel, each has its strengths and weaknesses that lend themselves to different applications (and sometimes that application is just being as cheap as possible so you don’t care about abusing the knife…).

At the end of the day, a knife is a tool, and the best tool is the one you have at hand and know how to use. So don’t stress too much about the steel type; instead, focus on finding a knife that feels good in your hand, suits your needs, and yes, maybe even one that just makes you smile when you use it. Happy knife hunting!

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