Neither steel is universally "better," but they cater to different priorities. M390 offers superior edge retention and rust resistance, making it ideal for corrosion-prone environments and long periods of hard use. S30V is slightly tougher, meaning its edge resists chipping better, and it is significantly easier to sharpen.
S35VN is often referred to as the ultimate "Goldilocks" steel. It isn't the absolute best at any single thing, but it is excellent at everything. It is tougher than M390, easier to sharpen, and holds an edge far longer than budget steels like 440C or D2.
Disadvantages of Böhler M390
Wear and tear resistant namely also means hard to modify. As such you need more time to modify it, but your sanding belts will also wear out a lot faster. A knife made from M390 steel is therefore often more expensive than a knife made from a different type of steel.
Does M390 chip or wear out quickly? Under normal use, M390 is highly wear-resistant and chip-resistant. However, like any high-hardness steel, misuse can lead to micro-chipping, especially at overly thin edge geometries or when used for prying or twisting.
MagnaCut offers the highest toughness, with 8 to 10+ ft-lb in Charpy testing, while maintaining strong corrosion resistance despite lower chromium content. M390 prioritizes edge retention through high carbide volume, but has lower toughness and is more prone to microchipping.
Steel that does not rust is called stainless steel. It doesn't rust because it contains at least 11% chromium. When exposed to oxygen, the chromium forms an invisible, self-healing shield of chromium oxide that prevents the underlying iron from oxidizing and rusting.
Cutting boards made of glass, granite, ceramic, or your dinner plate may look stylish or convenient, but they are the fastest way to destroy a knife's edge. These surfaces are harder than your knife's steel. So every time your blade contacts them, it suffers microscopic edge deformation, chipping, or even rolling.
Yes, M390 is considered a "hard" steel to sharpen. Because it is a premium powder-metallurgy stainless steel loaded with vanadium carbides, it is extremely wear-resistant. It takes longer to abrade and will dull standard sharpening stones quickly, but it is very manageable with the right tools.
Advantages of M390 Steel
It often outperforms D2 by 2-3 times in standardized cutting tests. With around 20% of chromium, M390 exhibits true stainless properties, so this knife suits the best when used in wet or humid environments. It has good resilience even with regular exposure to corrosive materials.
Neither steel is objectively "better" overall; they simply excel at different things. The choice depends on your priorities: German steel is better for heavy-duty durability and low maintenance, while Japanese steel is better for razor-sharp precision and edge retention.
The hardest knife steels in the world are extreme high-speed tool steels. They achieve hardness ratings above 70 HRC (Rockwell C scale) and rely on dense carbide structures for unparalleled wear resistance.
M390 belongs to the premium stainless PM class, alongside steels like 20CV and CTS-204P. These steels are often treated as near-equivalents, with differences depending more on heat treatment than chemistry. Compared to simpler stainless steels, M390 offers superior edge retention but demands more from sharpening tools.
The best steel for an Everyday Carry (EDC) knife balances edge retention, corrosion resistance, toughness, and ease of sharpening. Because there is no single "perfect" steel, the best choice depends on your budget and how hard you use your knife.
Böhler M390 is a premium "super steel" known for exceptional edge retention and corrosion resistance. Its direct metallurgical equivalents are CPM-20CV (manufactured by Crucible Industries) and CTS-204P (manufactured by Carpenter). All three share nearly identical chemical compositions and performance profiles.
High-end production knives using powdered metallurgy steels like S30V, S35VN, or M390 actually outperform traditional Damascus in specific metrics. They achieve 64-65 HRC hardness with superior corrosion resistance and zero delamination risk.
Whether MagnaCut is "better" depends entirely on how you use your knife, as they prioritize different performance traits.
CPM-S90V is one of the steels that are really difficult to sharpen, but once sharpened the blade edge will maintain the same sharpness level for quite some time.
Knives with M390 Stainless Steel
In the high-end folding knife community, the original "Holy Trinity" refers to three legendary American makers who pioneered the modern premium tactical folder. Together, their designs set the gold standard for durability and precision.
Ceramic knives retain their sharpness the longest. Made from zirconium oxide, they stay sharp up to ten times longer than steel, but are brittle and can easily chip if dropped or used on hard items. For a durable blade with incredible edge retention, high-carbon Japanese steel (like SG2 or ZDP-189) is the premier choice.
The ideal sharpening angle for a butcher knife is 15∘15 raised to the composed with power𝟏𝟓∘ to 20∘20 raised to the composed with power𝟐𝟎∘ per side (creating an overall edge angle of 30∘30 raised to the composed with power30∘ to 40∘40 raised to the composed with power40∘). This range provides a balance of razor-sharp slicing performance and edge durability.
Platinum and palladium are both widely considered to be approximately 30 times rarer than gold in the Earth's crust. Because of their scarcity, they are highly sought after for both investment purposes and demanding industrial applications like catalytic converters and hydrogen fuel cells.
Yes, but it is best used as a temporary solution. The original formula is designed to displace water and provides short-term protection, but dedicated anti-rust products are better for long-term use.
Stainless steel and chlorine do not belong together. Quite the contrary. We can safely say that chlorine and chlorine products are among the greatest enemies of stainless steel - certainly of the most commonly used quality, SS 304.
Nitro V is highly corrosion-resistant and easy to sharpen, with good toughness and edge retention. S35VN holds an edge longer and is tougher, but is harder to sharpen and more expensive. M390 offers the best edge retention and wear resistance, but is less tough and much harder to sharpen than Nitro V.