Here, read on for an in-depth look at common knife steels as well as the best knife steels around. It’s an anomaly in the knife world and quite puzzling to use. Enjoy it! In fact, it’s not technically a steel at all, as it uses titanium and nickel. Instead, Vargo titanium uses a unique material called sintered titanium-ceramic alloy. Very interesting insight into pm steels… one question, the appearance of 20cv and m390 microgaphs… It looks like there are a larger amount of smaller carbides as well as the ones that are the maximum size. CTS-204P and CPM-20CV are nearly identical steels made by other manufacturers. Note: Don’t bother with anything less than 8Cr in this series. It boasts an incredible ability to continue cutting long after it seems “dull.” And it’s not made of steel. Spyderco is the only production company using this steel, though Michael Gavik of Gavko knives produced a number of customs in LC 200N. This means consumers should be able to maintain these quality knives at home. Which one is right for you? Everything you need to know to buy the right knife for the job. While quite soft, the metal cuts even when it seems dull because, at the microscopic level, it has a roughness that performs much like a serration. quite possibly the best steel you’ll find on a sub-$30 production knife. Editor’s note: This article was first published in May 2015 and was most recently updated on May 25, 2020. CPM S90V C - 2.30% Mo - 1.0% Cr - 14.0% V - 9.0% M390 Cut aggressive with the edge finish and took some edge damage as expected as all steels have, it was still sharp enough to slice printer paper after testing. It’s soft, with very low carbon content. © Copyright 2021 GearJunkie, All Rights Reserved, The 5 Best Running Hydration Packs & Vests of 2021, Tent Footprint: What It Is and Why You Need One, Fischer Transalp Touring Boot First Look: A Light AT Boot for the Masses, Kings and Queens of Corbet’s Couloir: How to Watch the Competition, Backcountry Giveback: You Can Help Keep This Species From Vanishing, When YETIs Fly: 'Crossroads' Luggage First Look. Spyderco offers this as the high-end steel for many of its evergreen blades, like the Paramilitary 2, Paramilitary 3, Manix 2, and Native 5. Enter before February 8th for your chance to win. I prefer S90V, it just seems to keep its fine edge longer than 20CP and S110V. Below shows the results of CATRA experiments reported by others that I have shown in other articles. It’s a good balance between all three attributes, being relatively hard, tough, and corrosion-resistant. Nitro V is also significantly cheaper than many other steels with this level of performance. LC 200N is an elite performer, with high hardness, high toughness, and off-the-charts corrosion resistance. Today I'm comparing M30, 20CV, S90V and S110V. S90V. But the true calling card of INFI is its insane toughness. But not quite up to super steel status m390, s90v, s110v, 4v, m4? With a high level of edge retention, corrosion resistance, and toughness, it does most everything quite well. Topics: Camping, Explainer Series, Knives, Outdoor. That’s a little too far, but you get the point.). REX 121 is a powder steel produced by Crucible. The edge retention of S30V is still pretty good relative to other knife steels, better than steels like XHP, Elmax, 154CM, 440C, etc. The CF of the Native is stunning in photos and I prefer S90V over S30V, but it's $83 more at retailers. The greatest living knifemaker and one of the greatest knifemakers of all time, Michael Walker, calls AEB-L one of his favorite steels. AEB-L is a non-powder steel produced by Swedish steelmaker Uddeholm. This is an American-made powder steel produced by Crucible and developed specifically for knives with the aid of the knife guru Chris Reeve (maker of the vaunted Sebenza, among other gems). Even though it has very high hardness, it’s also still decently resistant to corrosion and quite tough. Used in knives since at least World War II, 1095 performance varies considerably with an abundance of tweaks in the recipe and heat treat. CPM154 is a truly superior steel. The steel is similar to Sandvik’s 13C26. In nitrogen steels, nitrogen is used as the iron-hardener instead of carbon, thus limiting the possibility of rusting. This is the steel used in Swiss Army knives and is excellent for beginner sharpeners. It’s very similar chemically to RWL 34 and ATS-34. Despite its wonderful performance, XHP is actually not terribly expensive compared to other high-end, all-around performers. They lack the carbon necessary to hold an edge, even during mild use. When it debuted, Sal Glesser described XHP as a combination of D2’s hardness and 440C’s corrosion resistance. Like 154CM, it’s a good compromise between all three steel attributes. NordicTrack wants to give you $7,500 toward your dream adventure. Disadvantages: Very difficult to sharpen. Jan 5, 2019 #1 Ok so I've been trying to talk myself out of buying a benchmade 940 for weeks, but I cant do it. Though technically not a stainless steel — at least 14% chromium, and D2 usually has 12% — it’s relatively corrosion-resistant. This is a nitrogen steel that is extremely corrosion-resistant — so much so that it’s used in knives designed to go in salt water, among the most difficult conditions knives are used in. As of November 2020, this is Spyderco-exclusive steel. Jesse Jarosz, a custom maker from Montana, regularly uses AEB-L. It’s an update of its 12C27 and 13C26 steels, which were developed for use in shaving razors. This grade of steel provides a balance between edge retention, corrosion -resistance, and the ability to be sharpened. These are Chinese-produced steels that recently started showing up in Chinese-made knives. Steels 7Cr and below aren’t worth your time or money. a mix) of carbon and iron that is often enriched with other elements to improve certain characteristics depending on the desired … So we can understand more the Steel, let’s see its chemical composition. Though technically not a stainless steel due to its composition, in use it performs exactly like one. What it is: CPM 20CV is a "Crucible Particle Metallurgy" stainless steel, widely regarded as a "super steel" for its properties and performance. Type 8Cr, the more common formulation, is worse than AUS-8: a little more prone to corrosion and not quite as hard. BD1 is excellent budget steel, very similar in composition and performance to GIN-1, a Japanese steel used a decade ago by Spyderco. The Sage is cheaper, not fluted CF, and has S30V, a compression lock, and wire clip. S90V has less chromium and double the vanadium of its counterpart, allowing it to more wear-resistant and tougher. But it’s very cheap, and, when ground appropriately, it can be a real winner from a value standpoint. There is a powder form, CPM-D2, and PSF27 is also very chemically similar. The high hardness makes it all but impossible to sharpen and machine. S90V. Between the CF Native in S90V and the Sage 5, idk what I would choose. There has been some internet controversy over the grinding and heat treat of this steel. Cold Steel still uses VG-1 on some knives, and, for the money, it does well. Steel is a combination of iron and carbon with other elements. All Rights Reserved. The unique process used to make LC 200N results in a fine-grain structure. So in your opinion. A new steel from Crucible, SPY27 launched in 2020 in the Spyderco Native 5 and Para 3. Time and use have proven this to be quite accurate. This is a powder-metal steel also produced by Crucible. Alongside edge geometry and design, blade steel is a critical element that determines how a knife performs. It’s actually quite good, low-cost steel that performs like midprice steel. S30V VS M390; S30V VS S35VN; S30V VS S90V; S30V VS S110V; S30V VS D2; S30V VS 154CM; S30V VS 20CV; S30V VS VG10; S30V VS 420HC; Conclusion: Reach your true potential; Reach your true potential There is one exception: Buck’s 420HC (Buck and only Buck) is produced using a proprietary heat treatment. S90v has great wear resistance but would make a sub par chopper and m4 is a great overall steel but would make a bad diving knife. This guide explains important features to consider when buying a new knife for the outdoors. 9 thoughts on “M390 vs 20CV vs 204P – 3rd Generation Powder Metallurgy Technology?” andre says: April 1, 2020 at 8:55 pm. Read more…. While not a powder steel, 154CM is widely used in nicer knives. S30V VS Steel . ZDP-189 can tarnish, though not as easily as 3V. This is a midprice steel with matching performance. Advantages: Outstanding edge holding and corrosion resistance, requires little maintenance. However, M390, CTS-204P, and CPM-20CV are all pretty difficult to resharpen, so maintain that edge! In use, it’s very similar to 440C and VG-10. One of the more common stainless steels, and one readily available in lots of different places worldwide, AUS-8 is a decent all-around steel. D2 is a tool steel used in industrial settings. It’s very corrosion-resistant and quite tough. If the knife you’re looking at has a 154CM blade, you’re fine. Sharing in-depth conversations between the world's adventurers, athletes, and outdoorspeople, The GearJunkie Podcast is your inside look into the outdoors industry. Because of its difficulty in sharpening and machining, it’s very rarely used and comes with a high price premium. This is a virtually stain-proof steel suitable for all sorts of aquatic environments. Check out the GiantMouse Vox/Anso ACE Iona Liner Lock Knife at $99, for example. But I’ve found it lacking in hardness, even when compared to cheaper steels like AUS-8. CPM s90v Edge Retention: With a high presence of vanadium and carbon, s90v steel offers extreme edge retention (might be the best in the steel). It was originally developed for use as ball-bearing steel by NASA. Despite its age, it’s a truly superior steel. Support us! But unlike most high-end steels, SPY27 is an easily user-serviceable powder steel. Bohler M390, CTS-204P, and CPM-20CV are all essentially the same steel and sport a near identical composition. Spyderco has produced several production knives with Maxamet, and the steel debuted on the ZT0888. Anthony Sculimbrene authors the blog EverydayCommentary.com. It’s easy to sharpen. I dont see the high carbide steel craze dying soon, its ok since I like to check out the newest steel but I do wish more knives would be made in “simpler” steels with better heat treats. M390 vs S110V: I have a knife with M390. 1095 stains easily and thus is often coated, especially in fixed blades. The heat treatment techniques used by the manufacturer as well as the design of the blade itself play a huge role in the ultimate outcome of knife performance! A Swedish made stainless, 12C27 is composed of an alloy similar to 440A. Timken-Latrobe collaborated with SOG to test 20CV, reporting superior edge retention to S30V. Latrobe at the time was owned by Timken, and 20CV steel began to appear on the Timken website in 2005 [7], and advertised in Blade magazine around the same time [8]. It has an HRc over 70, usually even harder than Maxamet. Also known as Z-Finit, Zapp produces this steel in America. We looked at common steels used by popular knife brands to help you select the right material for your blade. We did the research to help you find the best hunting knife for your needs and budget. 1.9% of Carbon: Carbon is essential in all blades and knives, it gives more toughness, durability to the blade/knife, but the carbon as a component is susceptible to corrosion. Joined Nov 10, 2017 Messages 318 Likes 766 Location New Zealand. Hammering through hickory, digging at roots in sandy soil, and cutting around bone did nothing to chip, dent, or roll the edge of my 3V knives. M390 vs S90V (CPM S90V) M390 Benchmade 20cv is outstanding in my book. Maxamet’s hardness results in incredible edge retention and a nightmarish sharpening and machining experience. INFI is also quite hard and sharpens easily. Read more…. In thick forms, like a fixed blade, 1095 is a tough, low-cost steel. This is a quick comparison between premium steels used in pocketknives. It’s hard enough, tough enough, and stain-resistant enough. Maxamet is one of two current high-hardness kings, with HRc marks in the high 60s approaching 70, a hardness usually only seen in carbide steels. Chris Reeve’s version, which is about two points less hard than others, is quite good. Based on @Bohler communication the M390 steel is composed of:. From next-gen tech to ingenious innovation, our weekly peek at emerging products examines the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design. The S35VN or CPM S35V is a high-end martensitic stainless steel made by @Crucible, high in Carbon, Vanadium, and chromium designed to offer a great balance between toughness, hardness and corrosion resistance.It’s used in long-wearing Specialty cutlery, Plastic Injection and Extrusion Feed Screws and Dies, Wear Components for Food and Chemical Processing, and of … Many custom makers enjoy AEB-L, as it’s easy to machine but still has a high hardness, around 62 HRc. It won’t hang long with high-end powder metal steels (a method of making steel using ultra-pure micrograins of steel that are heated and pressed together). It gets exceptionally sharp, a nod to its origins as a razorblade steel. It’s found on a large number of traditional-style folders. 12C27 Knife Steel. This is a powder steel produced by American steel company Carpenter. Flashlights run the gamut of price and quality. It’s used for combat knives, bushcrafting knives, and other applications where having a supertough blade trumps the need for edge retention and corrosion resistance. The game call brand adds depth and corporate muscle with MeatEater's wide range of hunting and cooking products. Different heat treats have emerged over the years, but one has risen to the top as the best: Bob Dozier’s D2. S110V has a similar Mo content as well so it should still have better corrosion resistance than S45VN. This is a non-powder steel produced by American steel company Carpenter. Read more…. (Some crazy folks clean their Swiss Army knives in a dishwasher. This makes for a great slicing knife and a perfect steel, in my opinion, for a regular-use, everyday-carry folder. BD1 isn’t terribly hard but sharpens easily. Made by @Crucible CPM 20CV is a martensitic stainless steel high in Vanadium, Chromium, and Carbon for excellent wear resistance and corrosion resistance, it’s used for plastic injection feed screws, barrel liners, screw tips, mold cavities, and premium Knives.. 0.7% of Silicon: Gives extra hardness to the steel, and keeps air bubbles from forming in the melting process. Knives are one of our oldest tools, so it makes sense that they have evolved into thousands of styles since the first person chipped one out of stone. But among the steels you’ll find at Cabela’s and the like, this is a pretty good choice. It doesn’t hold an edge well, but it’s so easy to sharpen that you can get it back to razor sharpness in a few minutes. Like S90V, it’s a high-hardness steel, but it’s more balanced than S90V. CPM s90v Corrosion Resistance: Great Corrosion Resistance due to 14% of Chromium, which makes s90v stainless steel (Once steel has more than 10-12% of chromium in it it’s considered stainless steel). So was crucible out to create a new premium steel? XHP is an exceptionally well-balanced steel with excellent all-around attributes. Rowen’s heat treat on ESEE knives that use 1095 is exceptional; Ka-Bar’s is less so. Though the margin of difference between the two is not that great it is noticable. Here, we break down how to choose a flashlight, including best flashlight LEDs, batteries, designs, and more. S110V=26 Maxamet=24 M390=26. This is also a powder-metal steel produced by American steel company Crucible. It’s very hard, tough, and corrosion-resistant. Carpenter produces this powder steel. A Japanese powder steel, ZDP-189 is essentially the polar opposite of 3V — it’s uber-hard instead of uber-tough. It’s not bad, but you can find better in the market at the same price. Furthermore, because of its ultrahigh hardness, Maxamet is very prone to corrosion, probably worse than 1095. I’ve found that most makers harden S30V too much, making it prone to chipping at the edge. These cumulatively have a complicated impact on the characteristics of the resulting alloy vs S90V, i.e. It is a bit below steels like ZDP-189, S90V, and 20CV/M390. GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. CPM S90V Very Aggressive with the edge finish and as with M390 it took some edge damage, but slightly less. The brand Bark River uses A2 in many models. It’s so high in hardness that Maxamet knives usually ship with desiccating packages. Developed by New Jersey Steel Baron, Nitro V is a non-powder steel marketed as an enhanced version of AEB-L. Nitro V, as its name indicates, adds nitrogen to AEB-L’s formula to make the steel even more corrosion-resistant. Like 154CM, there is a newer version, S35VN, which shares many of the same attributes as S30V but is easier to craft into a knife thanks to niobium. Its corrision resistance is equal to or better than 440C. It just takes more work than S90V to get the same results so I'd bet this is what some are seeing. 1. share. D2 has been around for more than 20 years, an eternity in metallurgy terms. A2 is a tool steel renowned for toughness. In choosing the best pocket knife you should pay particular attention to the type of steel used in the blade. It has enough water-fighting properties that it can be used in marine environments. If you need something that soaks up abuse, try 3V. Three main characteristics differentiate steels from one another: corrosion resistance, hardness, and toughness. Read our full Sobata 398 review here. Read more…. In my experience, it will tarnish and discolor quickly. This is one of the better steels on the market. S90V and S30V won't have corrosion issues if not stored in moist, salty environments. As a result, there are no production knives with REX 121 steel, though Ferrum Forge used the steel early on in its custom knives and a Kickstarter knife from the Creely Brothers. Short of purposeful abuse, it’s all but impossible to chip an edge on an INFI blade. The CATRA test, which measures the sharpness and edge life of a blade by comparing it to 440C, rates CPM 20CV 180% better. 420HC doesn’t hold an edge well, but it’s relatively stain-resistant and tough. A proprietary steel and heat treat developed by Busse Knives, INFI is an excellent performer and one of the best steels for big choppers on the market. AEB-L is rarely found on production knives but can be found on custom knives easily. They represent the absolute best performers on the market in terms of their specific attributes. If you’re looking for all all-around best knife steel, you’d be hard-pressed to find one better than Bohler Uddeholm M390. This is a powder-metal steel also produced by Crucible. CPM 20CV is one of the best steels for retaining an edge. CPM S90V® is a unique tool steel made by the Crucible Metallurgy process. Its high hardness and relatively high toughness also make it an excellent choice in cutlery. But in use, I’ve found nothing that withstands the abuse that 3V can take. It’s a very hard steel and is exceptionally difficult to sharpen. GiantMouse Vox/Anso ACE Iona Liner Lock Knife, The 30 Best Memorial Day Sales You Don’t Want to Miss. This is basically a retrofit of a very old steel, adding more carbon to the recipe of 420 (hence the HC for “high carbon”). The benefit of this, of course, is that the steel holds an edge for a very, very long time. But as the market has grown and newer steels have come out, it has fallen in price and prestige. And, of course, integral grip texture offers the traction that … VG-1 is a non-powder steel made by Japanese specialty steelmaker Takefu. Benchmade Knives: 551-1 Griptilian - Gray G-10 - CPM 20CV. Note: There is a powder-metal version called CPM154 that’s purer than the non-powder version, making it easier for knifemakers to grind. But it’s lightyears ahead of the alternatives, specifically titanium-bladed knives. Knifemakers use dozens of steel types to create knife blades. But it doesn’t have great wear resistance and thus doesn’t hold an edge particularly well. S90V and 20CP have similar chemistries, but are made by different foundries. Who uses it: Bark River Knives. They are both difficult to sharpen/reprofile, same as S110V. It’s not a particularly great cutter, being poor at retaining an edge. I won’t go into detail about those here. Edge Retention. Thread starter Nic7364; Start date Jan 5, 2019; Nic7364 Scout. Custom maker Brian Trudeau uses Nitro V, and Massdrop’s Perpetua design is the first production knife to sport it. European steel company Sandvik produces 14C28N, a non-powder metallurgy steel. But SM100 is not widely available, hard to heat treat and grind, and exceptionally expensive. CRKT and Spyderco use BD1. Upgraded blade steel improves edge performance and the layered gray and blue G10 enhance strength. 9Cr is the top end of the series and is quite good — as good or better than AUS-8. But to learn more about these and other attributes, read our related outdoor knife buyer’s guide. But in my experience, it has been nothing but great. Steel is essentially an alloy (i.e. Hello, this is a demonstration of edge sharpness of high end steels achieved with ceramic sharpeners. Because of its abrasion-eating hardness, knives with REX 121 come at an exceptionally high price. it's not as simple as you suggest. Llamas, Sagebrush, Mule Deer: Check Out a Summer Hunt in Nevada, 2020 Rally Season: Watch Subaru's 'Launch Control' Bonus Series, Get Behind the Scenes of Burton's 'One World' Snowboarding Film, Better Living Through Data: InsideTracker Blood Test Maps a Healthier Lifestyle, The Bestselling Gear at Competitive Cyclist This Week, Today's Bargains: 5 Great Deals on Jackets. I’ve found S35VN less chippy even at the same hardness. All three of these steels have chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, and tungsten components and will perform well in myriad tasks. Only a few years ago Elmax was pricey, but competition has driven it down to reasonable levels, making it a decent value. It’s very tough and exceptionally corrosion-resistant. I have no actual experience with S90V, so I invite any who do to comment on it. And while you’ll find it mostly in expensive knives, quite a few approachable M390 blades exist. But if you want to know what the coolest blade material is, for my money, SM100 is it. Generally seen as a slight upgrade to the 440C/VG-10/ATS-34 caliber of steel, it’s a decent all-around steel with good corrosion resistance, decent toughness, and only modest hardness. The Griptilian® with G10! No mainstream companies use SM100, and the niche makers that do usually charge more than $1,000 for knives with SM100 blades. A hunting knife has a single purpose: processing meat after a kill. Note – just because a blade is made from the premium or high-end steels listed above does not automatically mean it’s “better” than the lesser steels. This is a non-powder Japanese steel used primarily in Spyderco knives. And given the recipe, it has a low number of carbides, the extra-hard microcrystals in steel that provide the hardness necessary for a stable and sharp edge. May 25, 2020 | By Anthony Sculimbrene & Sean McCoy. It’s called memory metal because heat can get it to revert back to a previous shape. The higher percentage of vanadium in this steel creates a fine grain structure to better hold an edge. The following are less common steels, but they’re definitely worth tracking down. The Ultimate Guide to Knife Handle Materials. A European powder-metal steel used in higher-end knives, Elmax has an advanced formula, and the result is a very good all-around steel, a generation ahead of formulations like 154CM. It’s tough, but that’s about it. 0.3% of Manganese: Adds a … Still in the range of xhp, elmax,3v? S90V could be called a super steel (at least thats what I call it) while S30V is a great steel and better for ease of sharpening, you will however have to sharpen it more and it wont take as good of an edge as S90V. It’s exceedingly tough and relatively hard, but it’s not stainless. Spyderco and Cold Steel have used it, though Cold Steel recently switched to S35VN due to availability concerns. A2 knives need care taken to avoid rust and are often coated to inhibit corrosion. A lot of custom makers also like S110V, including the great RJ Martin. It is a martensitic stainless steel with a high volume of vanadium carbides for exceptionally good wear resistance. The brand designed it as a carbide replacement. 20cv vs s30v. CPM 20CV. High vanadium … In particular, I have found the ESEE/Rowen 1095 to be less likely to chip and better at holding an edge than the Ka-Bar version — even in knives with the same role, thickness, and blade length. The Vargo Sobata 398 is unlike any other knife on this list.