Well, I have been putting my 710-801 through some paces over the past two months that I have owned it. I had to see if the CPM-M4 is really all that it is supposed to be. I have been EDC'ing this thing since the day I got it. It has been used to tackle all my light day to day stuff, and has joined me in the garage for more than a few projects.

I have cut literally 100's of feet of cardboard with it. I made (debarked and smoothed) a walking stick out of a cut peice of pine. I have cut lots of rope, and lots of random things with it as well.

Well today I sharpened it on the sharpmaker (brown and white stones) for the FIRST time! Ten passes on each stone and it is slicing through paper again like a razor (my definition of a sharp blade).

I did manage to roll about a 1/16" section of the edge by trying to whack a knot out of the wood that I was shaving down to create the walking stick... didn't chip, just barely rolled the edge over a touch. The SM cleaned it up in a few passes.

Anyhow, I have noticed two big things with the M4 so far. First, it just plain runs! I haven't found anything that stays this sharp and I have D2, S30V, M2HS, 154cm, 440c, AUS34 in my EDC line up.

Second, I think that the M4 is just as easy to sharpen as most of the steels I have, and WAY EASIER than D2 and M2 to sharpen up correctly.

Just thought I'd post up my experiences, feel free to comment and post up your opinions as well!

and so you know I am no poser ...

What is a Poser ??
Are you saying that you used the knife for two months and it never went dull on you ??
So its better than its brother M-2 ??
This is the best stuff from BM yet ??

dj..... a poser is a person that pretends to be something they are not.

I haven't worked my M4 as hard as Drew has, but I will say that I have also put it through its paces, and I couldn't be happier with the performance. I initially reprofiled the blade and sharpened it. After much use, I haven't really seen the knife dull. It still push cuts and shaves. I like to sharpen knives and wish this one needed it, but alas, no....

Brian

quote:

Originally posted by dj:
What is a Poser??

A poser is the guy who dresses like a surfer, but can't surf, he's even got a board... it is the guy who wears MMA apparel and has never been in a fight. Posers just pose.

quote:

Originally posted by dj:
Are you saying that you used the knife for two months and it never went dull on you ??
So its better than its brother M-2 ??
This is the best stuff from BM yet ??

Yuppers! I have only used it to CUT things, no abuse just lots and lots of USE. I did strop it out of the box, but other than that for two months there has been no mo' sharpening!

I am starting to think it is the super steel we were all hoping for!

From your description, Drew, M4 sounds like our old friend M2. ESPECIALLY where you say it sharpens easily. I'd rather sharpen 5 M2 knives than 1 D2. I'd rather sharpen 2 M2 knives than 1 S30V. M2 sharpens easily like 154CM, but stays sharp like you are describing.

I never expected M4 would surpass M2, just acting like it is M2 would have been enough for me. I'm really glad to hear they're about the same.

-fj

A good example of a poser is a mall ninja.

Thanks for the reviews of the CPM-M4.

Perhaps I should ask this question somewhere else in the forum, but the points that have been stated about the ease of sharpening of M4 and M2 have left me with a question on my mind. If these 2 "super steels" are so easy to sharpen, then are the rumors that BM dropped the steel because it was too hard to machine false? I thought that was what everyone seemed to be alluding to....

Sorry, I'm still new to fancy knives, but I can't find any knives listed on Benchmade's website with this M4 steel listed as what the blade is made of. M2 I see, but not CPM-M4.

Cameron

The only production model that BM has introduced so far with the CPM-M4 steel is the 760BKLFTi. There was also the limited edition 710 and 12800, as well as, a few other Gold Class limited edition runs. There are quite a few limited edition models that don't have any information on BM's website unfortunately, but if you search around the forum, I'm sure you can find information on them and pictures.

quote:

Originally posted by Chang:
Thanks for the reviews of the CPM-M4.

Perhaps I should ask this question somewhere else in the forum, but the points that have been stated about the ease of sharpening of M4 and M2 have left me with a question on my mind. If these 2 "super steels" are so easy to sharpen, then are the rumors that BM dropped the steel because it was too hard to machine false? I thought that was what everyone seemed to be alluding to....

Chang- I thought that it was difficult to find it in sheets verses rounds (like drill bits and stuff). Also, it didn't seem to get a cult like following until they discontinued it... go figure!

Thanks Drew.