m4 hardness in spydercos

Popsickle · #1

hey guys, just wondering what the m4 on some of the spyderco folders came in at? manix 2 m4, gayle bradley, Millie framelock m4. only one i have an idea of is the no logo that got the higher HT by accident at 63 i think? thanks for the info guys!

Zenith · #2

Popsickle wrote:hey guys, just wondering what the m4 on some of the spyderco folders came in at? manix 2 m4, gayle bradley, Millie framelock m4. only one i have an idea of is the no logo that got the higher HT by accident at 63 i think? thanks for the info guys!

There has never been any indication, or at least confirmation, that Spyderco changed the heat treat on CPM-M4. I believe Gayle Bradley mentioned in a youtube video that around 62 is fine (under correction will have to watch the video again).

I believe the HRC zone is between 62-64 HRC. So anything in that range is acceptable for a production knife.

Brock O Lee · #3

I found this a few weeks ago while searching for the same thing:

Mule

Military

Gayle Bradley

(The Mule is also mentioned further down in the last 2 threads)

gull wing · #4

I do like Spyderco M4, it performs better than "other" production knives in M4. I do know some "other" brands don't harden the M4 as much as Spyderco does. I think that's why it performs to my liking.
........................and that's worth the patina.

CrimsonTideShooter · #5

I absolutely love Spyderco's M4. I've used it in the form of the Gayle Bradley and also the M4 Manix 2. In my experience M4 gets ridiculously sharp with little effort, and it holds that razor edge MUCH longer than most carbide rich steels like S30V, S90V, etc. (notice I didn't say it would hold an edge longer overall, just the very fine razor edge) Fine grain structure and high hardness will do that I reckon.

Popsickle · #6

So here's my question... If I get a custom would 64 be good or should I try to get 65?

Zenith · #7

Popsickle wrote:So here's my question... If I get a custom would 64 be good or should I try to get 65?

Depends, what are you planning to use it for?

How good the custom maker's heat treat is? Because even if doing everything right for aimed hardness of 65 HRC a slight variable such as 1 degree celsius in the corner of the furnace and where the blade is located in that furnace can give you 64 HRC. Same can go for when cooling, vacuum and atmosphere can give a 1-2 HRC difference.

Talk to the maker and hear what he feels comfortable with, what can he do, what will suite the design parameters. Once you go into customs, talk more with the maker then going on internet recommendations.

CrimsonTideShooter · #8

Popsickle wrote:So here's my question... If I get a custom would 64 be good or should I try to get 65?

That's really high. Who's the maker? To be able to go that high he must have one heck of a set up.

I'd go for Spyderco's target, which is 62-64. Seems to be the best compromise of all desired traits in my opinion, although it would be fun to see how it performs that hard.

Jake Hoback runs his M4 at 57. I had money in hand at blade to buy one of his A10s in M4, and when he told me that I politely said no thanks.

lambertiana · #9

When they first came out, Gayle tested one and found it to be close to 65. Other comments from Sal led me to believe that the first run was that hard. I don't know if the current production is that high.

chuck_roxas45 · #10

lambertiana wrote:When they first came out, Gayle tested one and found it to be close to 65. Other comments from Sal led me to believe that the first run was that hard. I don't know if the current production is that high.

I'd like to see a link please.

Zenith · #11

Some links in this thread. I see in my post and video 64HRC is what Gayle Bradley mentions.

Best would be to get to a knife maker and test a blade on a HRC machine, but what calibration is required is important. Even some dust on a blade can affect results apparently.

Anyway the link.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showt ... aichung-TW

chuck_roxas45 · #12

Zenith wrote:Some links in this thread. I see in my post and video 64HRC is what Gayle Bradley mentions.

Best would be to get to a knife maker and test a blade on a HRC machine, but what calibration is required is important. Even some dust on a blade can affect results apparently.

Anyway the link.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showt ... aichung-TW

So apparently there are GB's with the 64 Rc M4. I wonder if I can feel the difference between the two(the lower Rc GB).

CrimsonTideShooter · #13

chuck_roxas45 wrote:So apparently there are GB's with the 64 Rc M4. I wonder if I can feel the difference between the two(the lower Rc GB).

Wasn't it just the first run of those? (or so I heard?) I'd love a GB at 64, just to try it out!

chuck_roxas45 · #14

CrimsonTideShooter wrote:Wasn't it just the first run of those? (or so I heard?) I'd love a GB at 64, just to try it out!

Hehehe. Yep, I would too. We are steel heads after all. :D

JNewell · #15

CrimsonTideShooter wrote:Wasn't it just the first run of those? (or so I heard?) I'd love a GB at 64, just to try it out!

AFAIK, no one has ever reported tests on later runs. I have a pair of the very first production and my son has another (all without the GB logo, from the first hundred or so knives made). I can tell you that M4 at 64-65 Rc is pretty slick stuff. :spyder: