Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1220°C(2228°F)
Soak Time5 minutes
Tempering
Temperature560°C(1040°F)
Time60 minutes
Cycles3x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
62 - 64 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness6/10
Edge Retention8/10
Corrosion Resistance2.5/10
Ease of Sharpening4.5/10
Overall Score21/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Invented by W. Breelor in USA in 1937 - tungsten-molybdenum HSS
- 2Most popular HSS worldwide - replaced T1 due to superior properties
- 3Historical lineage: Mushet steel (1868) → T1 (1910) → M2 (1937)
- 4Composition: ~6% tungsten, ~5% molybdenum, ~4% chromium, ~2% vanadium
- 5Achieves 64+ HRC hardness - among the hardest knife steels
- 6Red hardness - maintains edge at temperatures that soften other steels
- 7Not stainless (only 4% Cr) - requires regular oiling
- 8Finer grain structure than most tool steels due to W+Mo carbides
- 9Custom makers favor it for fine slicing knives with very thin edges
- 10CPM M4 has largely replaced M2 in factory production
Famous Uses
Bark River Bravo 1 M2
Custom high-performance fixed blades
Industrial cutting tools
Similar Steels
Not Recommended For
- Влажная среда (ржавеет активно)
- Начинающие (сложная ТО)
- Тонкие кухонные ножи