As many have already mentioned, George is a g eat presenter. You should start hosting the Blade HQ videos. I like the way this video was made. I make a lot of my knife purchases off the information that was given in the past, by other informed presenters. You seem to have what it takes to carry on the high quality videos we were used to. Great job George!!!
He's giving very bad information here. Based on data, he is just trying to sell knives. He could say anything and you'd buy it despite the real information. His job is to sell knives, not test and compare them.
@@donrichter3523 lionsteel m390 is dog water and doesn't perform as m390 should. Ie your paying more for less. A lot less. How do you not know this? How does bhq not know this? Sounds like they dont know much about knives or just trying to sell them.
My M4 in M4 (blue micarta) that I bought from you guys within 5 minutes of it dropping. It's my EDC fixed blade that works amazingly well, really fits my daily work on my farm. Handles everything
I have had this knife for the last 2 hunting seasons with the olive wood handle and I love it. I use it for processing game and nothing else but it's a phenomenal blade.
I think that knife would be a pretty good balance for hunting (field dressing and skinning). Even though it's the same size as many of my folders, have you ever tried cleaning out a folder after field dressing, skinning, and quartering a deer or wild hog? I'll stay with the small fixed blade knives for those chores.
100% agree. That buttery-smooth bearing action will be toast after skinning anything, and losing your bearings in the woods would be a sad day. -George
I bought an M4 years ago. I went through a dozen similar knives, and never had one for more than a month or two before my eyes start to roam looking for a new one. I haven't even considered looking at another one since I had it. Although looking at MagnaCut steel specs, I probably would if one came out that wasn't too expensive.
@@BladeHQ If you end up getting them to do it, I'd love to know about it early enough that I could purchase one before they sell out. I wish there was an "if you get one of these still non-existent knives in let me know" lists.
nice flint rod! 1 question how do you get rid of the scortch marks after using it on ur favorite blade! the burn black lines wont come off and i dont want to buff it and remove the coat the knife has
Hi George, you're so right, Molletta's designs just work - they are excellent! The Lionsteel M4 is a great knife! I actually bought 3 of them because it's such a great size for an edc fixed blade, and the wood handles are so beautiful - I couldn't choose just one! I got the M4 in santos, walnut, and olive wood. I actually like ALL of the Lion Steel fixed blades (as well as their SR-11 folder in titanium). Lionsteel has excellent: designs, quality, fit/finish, steels, and sheaths. Even with all of this, they are reasonably priced - what a great value! Hey Benchmade, are you paying attention?
After Ben left a while ago, I decided BHQ didn't have knife experts worth listening to. I'm glad I clicked on this and the "Camping" blades videos. George here actually speaks like he knows something about knives. I'll need to see a lot more before I proclaim him to be a counterpart to Knifecenter's DCA, but George talks like a knife guy, not a salesman trying to convince me to buy something because the literature says to. Well done, BHQ!
a folder that is very close to the m4 is the coldsteel ultimate hunter in s35. i have both. m4 is my hunting carry knife and my edc is the coldsteel ultimate hunter
Some people collect knives based on their shape. Some collect knives based on their materials. I collect knives that originate from various countries. The M4 will most likely be my first Italian-made knife.
What do you guys think of this vs the Benchmade saddle mountain skinner in s30v for a survival knife? S30v seems less fragile and likely to snap if buttoning and still rust resistant
S30V gives you more toughness than M390, but the Saddle Mountain is .03" thinner than the M4. I imagine you'd end up with similar toughness either way. The thinner stock and longer blade on the Saddle Mountain might also give you added slicing power for food and wood processing. It gets my seal of approval! -George
Thanks for the great videos, would you recommend the M4 or the M2M, difficult decision, just looking for an "all-purpose" camping fixed blade, most likely will not use either for wood batoning, just cooking, food slicing, wood shaving, minor bushcraft, etc- your thoughts?
all i know is that every leather sheath ive owned has had mold cuz i sweat a lot i use my knife not just in land but in water and well i always use it so i changed to the same material as that one and it is built to last. i still have the one i first purchased while the leather one i had to replace 4 times
Great show as always. I have a question. I purchased the Penguin for my daughter want to know what mini EDC pouch will it fit in because I refuse to get the Garage Mighty Pouch for $300 when it's an $40 purchase any time they're in stock
I have the Blade HQ exclusive M4, it came stock with the micarta handles. I got the sheath from Armatus Carry Solutions, and they make one for the M5 as well. Best of luck with the micarta handles though! -George
Off topic... But Lionsteel makes some knives in K490... Not K390, but K490. K490 is in between M4 and 3V as far as toughness and wear resistance goes ( more than double the toughness than M4 at similar hardness - per Bohler) and more edge retention than 3V.... Kind of a proprietary Bohler Cru-Wear / 4V type of steel.... Just hope they decide to do a version of the M4-M5 or T4-T-5 in it with a darker wood handle. However... A Lionsteel M4 in CPM-M4 is a great option all the toughness you need with a great higher end steel
I have ordered one of these due to to good slicing ability and edge retention. No reason to baton especially with such a small blade, that this the job of an axe. I never use my knives for batoning. Cheers
I can't speak to the M1, I haven't used it, but I did think the M4's edge was a bit thick. I took it to my Work Sharp Precision Adjust sharpener and reprofiled the edge back a bit, and that took my cutting performance into the stratosphere. But to answer your question, perhaps a little!
@@DRNKonTIDE ....I don't like v edges. I convex every knife I get with my Ken onion grinder attachment. It takes them all into the stratosphere. Bark river is the brand that introduced me to convex edges. I have never looked back.
@@PlantDaddy1991 lionsteel heat treat is the worst in the business for m390. All the cut testing show that and even lionsteel themselves had testing that showed that, so it was confirmed as such from them. M390 on fixes blades is only there to sell product because its a popular steel that people generally dont know anything about other than its popular.
M390 is def though enough for a fixie if you convex the edge. Moletta knew he had to leave a thick spine. I have brutally batoned through a third of toughest bog-like log that just wouldn’t give but dispelled any fears of lack of toughness
should upgrade their ordering process, one doesn't find out you cant purchase in ones state until after entering in credit card and address info...maybe pre-check with a zip code
@@tacticalcenter8658 I’m very careful with buying my blades. I buy nothing out of state over 150 except WE knives so that usually cuts out a lot of m390
I have one and I love it except for one thing it is too thick at the edge that’s why I want it offered in a hollow grind to make it sharp at the age and stay sharp for 200 sharpenings and still be able to get a razor edge there is no problem with offering two different edge types no extra work just do it and I bet you get a lot of people wanting to buy😢
@@spike-- because of the heat treat protocol they used. Ie austenitizing temp, the soak time, quenching method and temper temps. They also didn't use liquid nitrogen. With the wrong protocol, it doesn't matter what rc it reaches. Microstructure matters.
@@spike-- you are ignorant. No one that buys something would want to say anything about what they bought. And the proof is in the pudding. Facts are facts.
i produce to much body oil so my fingers when opening it will leave my fingerprint in a rainbow print on the knife and if i dont wipe it it will start to rust after 6 hours with little rust spots starting to form
So what happened to the great people that did these shows prior? The presently plump, bearded friends from the Utahs? I related to those two. These new QVC people……..I just don’t click with.
Some of our older hosts outgrew their pots here at Blade HQ and are off to new adventures. I'm plump, and I'm from Utah, and two-out-of-three ain't bad! Sorry, a beard just isn't in the genes. Call me two-for-three. -George
@@BladeHQ Think it's fair to point out that George has been around for a bit and has had prior appearances.. so there's that. But can he grow a beard.. hrmmmm
I don't think M390 belongs on any knife but that's my opinion. Most all knife makers run it far too soft and the sharpening and cutting performance of this steel is not at all up to the hype. Its the steel no one wanted but we were all forced to have.
I agree, M390 is good steel, but I don't think it's perfect by any means. We see it on a lot of knives, especially foreign-made knives like this one, because it offers good performance and is usually available. I, too, wish we could see more variety! -George
@@BladeHQ lionsteel m390 is not good performance. How do you not know this? Oh you want to sell knives and don't care about knowing what the community has found out by using and testing them. Goto my RUclips about page and goto the link on microstructure. You'll have some great content on information of m390, heat treatment and more.
When it comes to fixed blades, I need a good heat treated high carbon 1095 steel. Why is that, because I at times will use my blade as a pry bar, thats why US Armed Forces trust it.
I do love me some 1095. When I go camping and am likely to do something potentially irresponsible with my knife, I almost always grab my ESEE 6. Thanks for watching! -George
Too thick for my taste. 2mm is perfect for me. Thin enough to do kitchen duty while tough enough to do light batoning. Mora 511 lt write small northern hunter for examples
Three issues with this knife for bushcrafting. First, if you're going into the woods you need at least a five inch blade. Second, you definitely need a 90 degree spine. Third, you need a scandi grind.
@@BladeHQ I get it a knife is good looking but its main purpose is a knife it's used to cut stuff ... Now a beautiful woman is a thing of beauty the two can not be interchanged unless she stole your knife lol
Hey everyone, it's George! I'll be in the comments for the next little bit, ask any questions you have!
The Return of the King. Good to see you again my dude!
As many have already mentioned, George is a g eat presenter. You should start hosting the Blade HQ videos. I like the way this video was made. I make a lot of my knife purchases off the information that was given in the past, by other informed presenters. You seem to have what it takes to carry on the high quality videos we were used to. Great job George!!!
He's giving very bad information here. Based on data, he is just trying to sell knives. He could say anything and you'd buy it despite the real information. His job is to sell knives, not test and compare them.
You can’t just leave it that he’s giving bad info. If you think so, tell us what this bad info is!
@@donrichter3523 lionsteel m390 is dog water and doesn't perform as m390 should. Ie your paying more for less. A lot less. How do you not know this? How does bhq not know this? Sounds like they dont know much about knives or just trying to sell them.
Great to have you back man
👊
My M4 in M4 (blue micarta) that I bought from you guys within 5 minutes of it dropping. It's my EDC fixed blade that works amazingly well, really fits my daily work on my farm. Handles everything
Finally someone who knows and looks like he really loves knives
I have had this knife for the last 2 hunting seasons with the olive wood handle and I love it. I use it for processing game and nothing else but it's a phenomenal blade.
And George!!!!!! Good to see you back in the fold..........
👊
More videos hosted by George, please!
We'll see what we can do!
-George
I liked the video and the knives. I remember George from Sales and Grails in the old school knife banters. Great to see you again George.
Nice job George. I also always love seeing you guys come up with some great exclusives.
I got a Bradford Guardian 3 in M390. I've been carrying it pretty much every day for a few months.
I think that knife would be a pretty good balance for hunting (field dressing and skinning). Even though it's the same size as many of my folders, have you ever tried cleaning out a folder after field dressing, skinning, and quartering a deer or wild hog? I'll stay with the small fixed blade knives for those chores.
100% agree. That buttery-smooth bearing action will be toast after skinning anything, and losing your bearings in the woods would be a sad day.
-George
I bought an M4 years ago. I went through a dozen similar knives, and never had one for more than a month or two before my eyes start to roam looking for a new one. I haven't even considered looking at another one since I had it.
Although looking at MagnaCut steel specs, I probably would if one came out that wasn't too expensive.
A MagnaCut LionSteel M4 would be legendary. I'll pitch it to the powers that be!
-George
@@BladeHQ If you end up getting them to do it, I'd love to know about it early enough that I could purchase one before they sell out.
I wish there was an "if you get one of these still non-existent knives in let me know" lists.
It exists but it's an exclusivity Knivesandtools in the Netherlands
I have the M4 satin/green micarta and the Armitus Carry sheath. Great combo, BHQ should definitely carry the sheath.
Amen, brother!
-George
George is solid. Go with him!
nice flint rod! 1 question how do you get rid of the scortch marks after using it on ur favorite blade! the burn black lines wont come off and i dont want to buff it and remove the coat the knife has
Hi George, you're so right, Molletta's designs just work - they are excellent! The Lionsteel M4 is a great knife! I actually bought 3 of them because it's such a great size for an edc fixed blade, and the wood handles are so beautiful - I couldn't choose just one! I got the M4 in santos, walnut, and olive wood. I actually like ALL of the Lion Steel fixed blades (as well as their SR-11 folder in titanium). Lionsteel has excellent: designs, quality, fit/finish, steels, and sheaths. Even with all of this, they are reasonably priced - what a great value! Hey Benchmade, are you paying attention?
After Ben left a while ago, I decided BHQ didn't have knife experts worth listening to. I'm glad I clicked on this and the "Camping" blades videos. George here actually speaks like he knows something about knives. I'll need to see a lot more before I proclaim him to be a counterpart to Knifecenter's DCA, but George talks like a knife guy, not a salesman trying to convince me to buy something because the literature says to. Well done, BHQ!
Hopefully George will stick around. Love the info he provides
I have everything lionsteel makes in my humble opinion One of the best knife company period, and please get them to get kydex sheaths .
a folder that is very close to the m4 is the coldsteel ultimate hunter in s35. i have both. m4 is my hunting carry knife and my edc is the coldsteel ultimate hunter
Best BHQ video in a loooong time. Nice to see a familiar face.
Lionsteel fanboy here. Simply great knives all around.
Some people collect knives based on their shape. Some collect knives based on their materials. I collect knives that originate from various countries. The M4 will most likely be my first Italian-made knife.
Good video George! 👍 You know your stuff! Are you still in Utah?
Or did BHQ moved everything to Virginia?
Thank you! Yes still in Utah.
I didn't take lion steel seriously I initially thought they made mall ninja stuff but I gave them and chance and learned that make pretty solid stuff.
I've been thinking about snagging an M1 or an M4 in M4. Such a great steel and takes a wicked sticky edge
Interesting! Thanks for the overview ✅🔪
What do you guys think of this vs the Benchmade saddle mountain skinner in s30v for a survival knife? S30v seems less fragile and likely to snap if buttoning and still rust resistant
S30V gives you more toughness than M390, but the Saddle Mountain is .03" thinner than the M4. I imagine you'd end up with similar toughness either way. The thinner stock and longer blade on the Saddle Mountain might also give you added slicing power for food and wood processing. It gets my seal of approval! -George
Thanks for the great videos, would you recommend the M4 or the M2M, difficult decision, just looking for an "all-purpose" camping fixed blade, most likely will not use either for wood batoning, just cooking, food slicing, wood shaving, minor bushcraft, etc- your thoughts?
I don't see why it wouldn't be awesome on a fixed blade!!!!I don't personally have any with it.... but man it's good on all my folders
So… an M4 in M4 or M4 squared?
all i know is that every leather sheath ive owned has had mold cuz i sweat a lot i use my knife not just in land but in water and well i always use it so i changed to the same material as that one and it is built to last. i still have the one i first purchased while the leather one i had to replace 4 times
Great show as always. I have a question. I purchased the Penguin for my daughter want to know what mini EDC pouch will it fit in because I refuse to get the Garage Mighty Pouch for $300 when it's an $40 purchase any time they're in stock
George, I have an M5...where did you get those micarta handles on the M4? Where did you get that kydex sheath? I want same for my M5
I have the Blade HQ exclusive M4, it came stock with the micarta handles. I got the sheath from Armatus Carry Solutions, and they make one for the M5 as well. Best of luck with the micarta handles though! -George
I like this George guy 👍🏻 really good video
I like you too, Gary!
-George
Awesome videos, great job
Off topic... But
Lionsteel makes some knives in K490...
Not K390, but K490.
K490 is in between M4 and 3V as far as toughness and wear resistance goes ( more than double the toughness than M4 at similar hardness - per Bohler) and more edge retention than 3V.... Kind of a proprietary Bohler Cru-Wear / 4V type of steel.... Just hope they decide to do a version of the M4-M5 or T4-T-5 in it with a darker wood handle.
However... A Lionsteel M4 in CPM-M4 is a great option all the toughness you need with a great higher end steel
K490 is rad stuff, we've only seen it on the LionSteel T6 so far. I haven't been able to take it out for a spin yet, but I can't wait!
-George
@@BladeHQ I mirror all your statements. I'd love to see it on the B40 or B41.... The T-6 while I'm sure it's a great knife, isn't my typical style
@@BladeHQ is this real? Or a Hoax ? ⬆️⬆️⬆️
@@ashmerch2558 Not real sorry
Comprehensive and fair. Great video.
I have ordered one of these due to to good slicing ability and edge retention.
No reason to baton especially with such a small blade, that this the job of an axe.
I never use my knives for batoning.
Cheers
Good to see you on camera again George. Do you think the lionsteel m1 is too thick behind the edge?
I can't speak to the M1, I haven't used it, but I did think the M4's edge was a bit thick. I took it to my Work Sharp Precision Adjust sharpener and reprofiled the edge back a bit, and that took my cutting performance into the stratosphere. But to answer your question, perhaps a little!
@@DRNKonTIDE ....I don't like v edges. I convex every knife I get with my Ken onion grinder attachment. It takes them all into the stratosphere. Bark river is the brand that introduced me to convex edges. I have never looked back.
I'm a sucker for the Jade handles.
I have the M4 in magnacut.
nice job, George!
I too went with the kydex.
M390 has been on fixed blades for quite a while now.
M390 is great when heat treated good. 99% is done poorly and lionsdoes it worse than anyone else.
@@tacticalcenter8658, okay? Thanks for the non-response.
@@PlantDaddy1991 lionsteel heat treat is the worst in the business for m390. All the cut testing show that and even lionsteel themselves had testing that showed that, so it was confirmed as such from them. M390 on fixes blades is only there to sell product because its a popular steel that people generally dont know anything about other than its popular.
@@tacticalcenter8658, I didn't ask. Do you even need me for this conversation?
@@PlantDaddy1991 its RUclips. Anyone can comment. Chill. This is America. Dont like it? Gtfo
M390 is def though enough for a fixie if you convex the edge. Moletta knew he had to leave a thick spine. I have brutally batoned through a third of toughest bog-like log that just wouldn’t give but dispelled any fears of lack of toughness
Hey What happend my order David Was contacting me??
damn that's a sexy knife, I'll have to pick one up
Yep. George does quite well .
should upgrade their ordering process, one doesn't find out you cant purchase in ones state until
after entering in credit card and address info...maybe pre-check with a zip code
I’m a knife junky. I’ll take all blades in m390. I won’t us it like I would my condor straight back. But cool to show someone a hunk of m390.
M390 is poorly heat treated in most brands. Lionsteel is heat treated worse than the other brands.
@@tacticalcenter8658 I’m very careful with buying my blades. I buy nothing out of state over 150 except WE knives so that usually cuts out a lot of m390
I like this guy
Consider with the same chemistry, Spyderco Zoomer in 20CV. So this isn't the first outdoors fixed blade in such an alloy as M390
Lionsteel m390 performance is like 8cr13mov. Spyderco m390 is actually heat treated well and performance is exceptional. Heat treat matters.
There was no giveaway
I'm looking at the M5 maybe the M6
That M5 is awesome, definitely on my wish list!
-George
I have one and I love it except for one thing it is too thick at the edge that’s why I want it offered in a hollow grind to make it sharp at the age and stay sharp for 200 sharpenings and still be able to get a razor edge there is no problem with offering two different edge types no extra work just do it and I bet you get a lot of people wanting to buy😢
Not unusual to see this type of steel on a fixed blade SOG used 20CV years ago and that’s equivalent to M390.
In the right application, M390 on a fixed blade is excellent. Blanket statements like that are usually quite laughable.
Lionsteel m390 is heat treated poorly and overpriced.
As long as the heat treat is good it's fine. But too many makers are only taking m390 to 58-59 HRC
Lionsteel is around 60hrc but they perform like 8cr13mov because of the heat treat protocol that they use. Its the worst m390 in the industry.
@@tacticalcenter8658
Why?
@@spike-- because of the heat treat protocol they used. Ie austenitizing temp, the soak time, quenching method and temper temps. They also didn't use liquid nitrogen. With the wrong protocol, it doesn't matter what rc it reaches. Microstructure matters.
@@tacticalcenter8658
Strange. I have two knives from them and I don't see the problem.
@@spike-- you are ignorant. No one that buys something would want to say anything about what they bought. And the proof is in the pudding. Facts are facts.
Made in Italy?
Correct.
Where’s what’s his face ?
Love the feel of the m4 but will not hold a edge the steel is to soft
Try s390 so mutch stronger, ot cpm 125
i produce to much body oil so my fingers when opening it will leave my fingerprint in a rainbow print on the knife and if i dont wipe it it will start to rust after 6 hours with little rust spots starting to form
So what happened to the great people that did these shows prior? The presently plump, bearded friends from the Utahs? I related to those two. These new QVC people……..I just don’t click with.
Some of our older hosts outgrew their pots here at Blade HQ and are off to new adventures.
I'm plump, and I'm from Utah, and two-out-of-three ain't bad! Sorry, a beard just isn't in the genes. Call me two-for-three.
-George
@@BladeHQ Think it's fair to point out that George has been around for a bit and has had prior appearances.. so there's that. But can he grow a beard.. hrmmmm
I don't think M390 belongs on any knife but that's my opinion. Most all knife makers run it far too soft and the sharpening and cutting performance of this steel is not at all up to the hype. Its the steel no one wanted but we were all forced to have.
I agree, M390 is good steel, but I don't think it's perfect by any means. We see it on a lot of knives, especially foreign-made knives like this one, because it offers good performance and is usually available. I, too, wish we could see more variety!
-George
@@BladeHQ lionsteel m390 is not good performance. How do you not know this? Oh you want to sell knives and don't care about knowing what the community has found out by using and testing them.
Goto my RUclips about page and goto the link on microstructure. You'll have some great content on information of m390, heat treatment and more.
When it comes to fixed blades, I need a good heat treated high carbon 1095 steel. Why is that, because I at times will use my blade as a pry bar, thats why US Armed Forces trust it.
I do love me some 1095. When I go camping and am likely to do something potentially irresponsible with my knife, I almost always grab my ESEE 6. Thanks for watching! -George
Too thick for my taste. 2mm is perfect for me. Thin enough to do kitchen duty while tough enough to do light batoning. Mora 511 lt write small northern hunter for examples
Please just make George the presenter for all your videos. I might start watching your channel again.
"we think m390 belongs on a fixed blade, because we like to sell you more stuff that you don't really need but just gotta have"
I'd listen to your boy better get them kydex sheaths that's if you guys like money if you guys don't like money well then don't listen to your boy
Three issues with this knife for bushcrafting. First, if you're going into the woods you need at least a five inch blade. Second, you definitely need a 90 degree spine. Third, you need a scandi grind.
I have one if these and they throw sparks far better than you might think.
Wrong, wrong and wrong. Those are all opinions. And you know what they say.
@@michaelcervantez3570 It only took you a year to respond??
Bro no knife should ever be called pretty ..... What the f**$$
All knives are a thing of beauty.
@@BladeHQ I get it a knife is good looking but its main purpose is a knife it's used to cut stuff ... Now a beautiful woman is a thing of beauty the two can not be interchanged unless she stole your knife lol
Hard disagree
Why? Does that damage your masculinity?