S30V Knife Steel – Benchmade & Spyderco’s Premium Option

S30V knife steel is a premium-grade material known for its exceptional balance between toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance. Produced by Crucible Industries, a reputable company in the knife steel industry for many decades, S30V employs a state-of-the-art powder metallurgy process that ensures a high level of uniformity and performance in the finished product. Since …

Read more

Is 440C a Good Knife Steel? Analysis & Review

At A Glance440C is considered a good knife steel, due to its balanced blend of hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. As a mid-range stainless steel from the 440 series, it has a high carbon content of over 1%, ranking it among the highest carbon steels in its series. The high carbon content and other …

Read more

Is 154CM a Good Knife Steel? (Trial & Review)

At A Glance154CM is considered a good steel for knives due to its impressive balance of toughness, hardness, and corrosion resistance. Originally developed by Crucible Industries for jet engine turbine components in the 1970s, it has gained popularity in the knife-making industry. The composition of 154CM steel includes elements like carbon, chromium, and molybdenum, which …

Read more

Is CPM S35VN a Good Knife Steel? (Facts & Opinions…)

At A GlanceCPM S35VN is considered an excellent steel for knives due to its high toughness, hardness, and corrosion resistance. CPM S35VN steel offers exceptional edge retention and ease of sharpening, making it more versatile and user-friendly compared to other steels like CPM S30V. Despite its premium-grade status and cost, its easier machinability results in …

Read more

154CM vs S30V: Complete Knife Steel Comparison & Experience

At A GlanceIn a head-to-head comparison between 154CM and S30V knife steels, both options offer advantages and disadvantages depending on the user’s needs. S30V boasts superior hardness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance, making it a harder steel that delivers more bang for the buck. However, 154CM wins in terms of toughness (fracture resistance) and ease …

Read more

S45VN vs MagnaCut – Which Is A Better (Tougher) Knife Steel?

At A GlanceS45VN, an evolution of the popular S35VN and S30V steels, is recognized for its robust toughness and excellent edge retention due to its high carbon and vanadium content. On the other hand, Magnacut, a recent introduction by Crucible Industries, is lauded for its remarkable balance of corrosion resistance, toughness, and edge retention, with …

Read more

AUS 8 vs 8CR13MOV – Knife Steel Comparison & Review

At A GlanceAUS 8, developed by Aichi Steel Corporation, is lauded for its toughness, edge retention, and ease of sharpening. Conversely, 8CR13MOV, a Chinese stainless steel, is a cost-effective option known for its decent corrosion resistance, good edge retention, and relative ease of sharpening. AUS 8’s balanced properties make it suitable for a range of …

Read more

M390 vs N690 – Premium Knife Steel Comparison

At A GlanceBohler’s M390 and N690 are both esteemed knife steels with distinct strengths. M390 is a highly hard and corrosion-resistant steel known for remarkable edge retention, although it can be difficult to sharpen. It’s often used in premium knives. N690, offering good toughness and corrosion resistance and easier to sharpen, is a more cost-effective …

Read more

M390 vs S90V – Knife Steel Shootout (My Opinion…)

At A GlanceBohler-Uddeholm’s M390 and Crucible Industries’ S90V are two high-performing blade steels. M390, often referred to as “super steel,” is recognized for its hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. S90V stands out for its edge retention and wear resistance, albeit being harder to sharpen. Though both are premium options, M390 is typically more expensive …

Read more

m390 vs ELMAX – Which Makes Better Blades?

At A GlanceM390, developed by Austrian steel company Bohler, is a martensitic chromium steel known for excellent corrosion and wear resistance, commonly referred to as a “super steel.” On the other hand, ELMAX is a high chromium-vanadium-molybdenum alloyed steel from Swedish manufacturer Uddeholm, designed for high wear resistance and good corrosion resistance. M390 excels in …

Read more