Once you start to look at knives in the 50-100 dollar range, two of the more common knife steels you will see are 154CM and D2. This is also the price range where you can either get a knife worth far more than its price, or one not even worth buying. And an important detail to look at is knife steel. So it would only be reasonable to see which of these two steel is better to ensure you get your money’s worth.
Short Answer:
D2 has better edge retention, wear resistance, and is slightly tougher. However, 154CM is more stainless and is easier to sharpen.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look closer at each steel, how these two compare in-depth, and the best knives in each steel.
A Closer Look at 154CM
154CM is a premium stainless steel known for its balanced performance and widespread use in the knife-making industry.
The steel contains the following key elements:
– 1.05% carbon
– 14% chromium
– 4% molybdenum
– 3% vanadium
Edge Retention: 154CM offers middle-of-the-road edge retention. It is not the best but not the worst. The upside is that you can get a very sharp edge with 154CM.
Corrosion Resistance: With a high chromium content, 154CM has excellent corrosion resistance, reducing the risk of rust and staining.
Toughness: 154CM maintains a good balance of toughness and hardness. It will not break on you, but will not be the best for heavy chopping applications.
Wear resistance: 154CM is again a mediocre steel here. It’s not like it will lose its shape after everyday use but it also won’t always stay the same like steel such as S90V.
A Closer Look at D2
D2 is a high-carbon, high-chromium tool steel celebrated for its exceptional edge retention and wear resistance.
The full composition of D2 is:
Carbon: 1.5%
Chromium: 12.00%
Vanadium: 0.90%
Molybdenum: 0.80%
Magnesium: 0.45%
Silicon: 0.40%
Sulfur: 0.02%
Edge Retention: D2 excels in edge retention, especially when you consider its price. This is in part because D2 is a tool steel and has fairly high carbon.
Corrosion Resistance: This an area where D2 falls behind. It does not have much chromium so it is hard for it to resist corrosion.
Toughness: D2 exhibits good toughness in part to its high carbon content as well as other hardening elements such as silicon and magnesium. If you need to use your knife for chopping applications, D2 is not a bad steel to use.
Wear resistance: Being a tool steel, D2 is going to have great wear resistance. It sure to hold its shape over long periods of use.
In-Depth Comparison
Edge Retention: D2 offers superior edge retention compared to 154CM. This is due to its higher carbon content and greater presence of elements to balance the negative effects of carbon.
Corrosion Resistance: 154CM has superior corrosion resistance compared to D2. This is because of its higher chromium content which lends it far better to fighting off corrosion and thus is better for humid and wet environments.
Toughness: These steels are pretty close in terms of toughness, but D2 does take the cake here. Because of its composition, it is going to be better for chopping. So D2 is better for tasks like bushcraft.
Sharpenability: 154CM is easier to sharpen compared to D2. This is a plus for those who want a super sharp blade. This makes it ideal for cutting through softer objects.
Wear resistance: D2 is going to be the better steel. Being a tool steel, it made to withstand constant cutting. On the other hand, 154CM was made to be more affordable.
Best knives in each steel
Since we have looked at the short answer, we can look at the best knives in each steel.
Buck Knives Skinner – D2
The Buck knives Skinner is a knife that works great for not just for hunting, but all kinds of fixed blade tasks. I have used the Skinner for bushcraft and wood working as well as skinning big game. If you want a good all-around fixed-blade knife this is the knife for you.
Check out this knife here (link to Amazon)
The SOG Terminus XR – D2
The SOG Terminus XR also has a D2 blade, SOG’s deep carry pocket clip, G10 handle scales, a thumb stud, and a flicker. The Terminus XR is more of an EDC knife, as it’s only 4 inches, closed, in length. The opening is also extremely smooth–made with the same technology as Benchmade’s previously patented AXIS lock technology.
Click here to see the knife for yourself (Amazon).
Benchmade Mini Barrage (154CM)
The mini Barrage is an EDC knife from Benchmade that can be used for any task you come across in a day-to-day basis. The Barrage has assisted opening, a 2.91-inch blade, is just over 6 inches open, and weighs 3.4 ounces. This knife has all the features that make a great everyday carry blade.
Check out this knife here (link to Amazon)
Conclusion
154CM is well-suited for everyday carry knives, kitchen cutlery, and general-purpose knife uses. D2 shines in heavy-duty applications, industrial tools, and hard-use knives.