20CP or M390?

DeathBySnooSnoo · #1

Which do you prefer and why?

michaelm466 · #2

M390, I find it a little easier to sharpen with equal edge holding. Although I wouldn't complain seeing either one in a sprint run (especially a Manix 2 or Manix 2 XL, or a 20CP Military)

kbuzbee · #3

If I have this right, 20CP is second gen PM (S90V is first gen) and M390 is third gen, the biggest difference being partical size/purity/distribution consistency. So you would expect M390 to be, marginally, the best of the lot, all other things being equal (blade, edge, grind, heat treat etc)

Ken

Donut · #4

I want to say that the chemistry behind it has more to do with how the steel performs than the size of the particles. 20CP is similar to S90V in chemistry, M390 is different than both. I'm thinking that the chemistry plays a role in the size of the particles and the "generation" of the steel. As far as I know, only Bohler refers to "generation" in reference to the particle size.

M390 and 204P are the only steels we've heard particle size or generation in reference to, and those are both similar chemistry.

Now... I've heard people say that they prefer a steel that is easier to sharpen and I can understand that, but I'm not someone who likes a steel for being easy to sharpen. I might recommend it to someone else for that reason, but I won't lean towards a steel for ease of sharpening.

And, for my "on topic" statement, I have sharpened M390 twice, and haven't used it enough to dull it, but I haven't used 20CP much at all. I don't have much of an opinion on either.

Evil D · #5

My understanding is that M390 is just slightly under 20CP in edge retention, but is slightly easier to sharpen. I didn't find 20CP at all hard to sharpen, or at least no harder than ZDP.

Jet B · #6

I don't have anything in 20CP, but M390 is ballin. Great steel! You might get bored with it if you really enjoy sharpening your knife.

JNewell · #7

NEVER MIND, brain fart - crossed 20CP with 204P! :rolleyes:

So what's available out there in the production (not custom) world in 20CP?

kbuzbee · #8

JNewell wrote:So what's available out there in the production (not custom) world in 20CP?

DeathBySnooSnoo · #9

Perhaps I should clarify why i am asking...

I have a 20CP and a M390 Para2. My financial situation dictates that I sell one...

If you had to choose, one to keep and one to sell, which would it be?

And don't base it on color, because whatever I don't sell...I am going to dye.

chuck_roxas45 · #10

I'd sell the one I can get the most money for. Another option is to put them both up for sale for the same price and when one sells, withdraw the one that's left. You can't go wrong with either. I do find that my 20CP holds a working edge just noticeably longer than the M390. OTOH, the M390 is a dream to touch up. If you don't use it much, a few passes on a strop will maintain that hair whittling edge.

maa14 · #11

M390. Not extremely hard to sharpen and It holds its edge for a LONG time. When it comes time to touch it up, it is easy, then that edge lasts another LONG time.

chuck_roxas45 · #12

maa14 wrote:M390. Not extremely hard to sharpen and It holds its edge for a LONG time. When it comes time to touch it up, it is easy, then that edge lasts another LONG time.

Just curious Maa14, you have any experience with 20CP?

eloreno · #13

I've used both extensively, and I much prefer M390. It definitely sharpens quite a bit easier, it seems to take a "finer" edge, and retention seems to be about the same. M390 also seems less "chippy"
If I could have one or the other, it would be an easy choice.

Luckily I don't!!

JNewell · #14

Ayyyiiiee. Crossed 204P and 20CP! :o

mikerestivo · #15

DeathBySnooSnoo wrote:Perhaps I should clarify why i am asking...

I have a 20CP and a M390 Para2. My financial situation dictates that I sell one...

If you had to choose, one to keep and one to sell, which would it be?

And don't base it on color, because whatever I don't sell...I am going to dye.

I have both and could not choose between the two if I had to. I thought about keeping one and selling one but I can't decide either.

Donut · #16

If it were me, I'd probably keep the 20CP. M390's are easier to get ahold of, not that many Gray Para's are selling. So, if you wanted to get one back, the M390 would be easier to get.

maa14 · #17

chuck_roxas45 wrote:Just curious Maa14, you have any experience with 20CP?

Sorry but no, would like to though but I just like m390's sharpenability(if that is a word) and it doesn't chip out very easily. it just seems like 20cp would chip out much easier and what I have seen from reviews and from people who cut a lot of cardboard, it does.

410ericb · #18

DeathBySnooSnoo wrote:Perhaps I should clarify why i am asking...

I have a 20CP and a M390 Para2. My financial situation dictates that I sell one...

If you had to choose, one to keep and one to sell, which would it be?

And don't base it on color, because whatever I don't sell...I am going to dye.

Not sure but when you do sell it to me!! ;-)

410ericb · #19

Nudge nudge wink wink!

michaelm466 · #20

DeathBySnooSnoo wrote:Perhaps I should clarify why i am asking...

I have a 20CP and a M390 Para2. My financial situation dictates that I sell one...

If you had to choose, one to keep and one to sell, which would it be?

And don't base it on color, because whatever I don't sell...I am going to dye.

In that case, I'd keep the 20CP, its the only production knife I know of in 20CP, where as M390 is fairly easy to come buy now days (I have like 7 different knives in M390), also the light grey will be easier to dye I would guess. I haven't had any "chipping out" with my 20CP PM2, i've even accidentally dropped it from 2ft up point first into a steel sink and just got a small rolled tip, no chipping or breakage at all like I thought would happen.