Blade Steel Comparison Chart
This blade steel comparison puts 10 of the most popular knife steels side by side, from premium powder steels like MagnaCut and M390 to budget favorites like D2 and 8Cr13MoV. Tap any column header to sort the chart by the property that matters most to you.
| Steel | Edge Retention | Toughness | Corrosion Resistance | Ease of Sharpening | Price Tier | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPM MagnaCut | 7 | 8 | 9 | 5 | $$$ | All-around premium EDC |
| CPM-S30V | 7 | 5 | 7 | 4 | $$$ | Long-lasting working edge |
| CPM-S35VN | 6 | 6 | 7 | 5 | $$$ | Balanced premium EDC |
| Böhler M390 / CPM-20CV | 8 | 4 | 9 | 3 | $$$$ | Maximum edge retention |
| D2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | $ | Budget edge holding |
| 14C28N | 3 | 8 | 8 | 9 | $$ | Tough, low-maintenance budget blades |
| VG-10 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | $$ | Kitchen and slicing |
| 8Cr13MoV | 2 | 6 | 5 | 9 | $ | Entry-level beater knives |
| 420HC | 2 | 7 | 7 | 10 | $ | Outdoor utility, field sharpening |
| AUS-8 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 8 | $ | Budget all-rounder |
How to Choose the Right Blade Steel
Every blade steel comparison comes down to trade-offs. The steels that hold an edge longest usually give up some toughness and take more effort to sharpen, while the easiest steels to sharpen dull faster. No steel wins every column in the chart, so the right choice depends on how you use your knife and how much maintenance you’re willing to do.
Start With How You Use Your Knife
If most of your cutting is opening boxes, breaking down cardboard, and cutting tape or cord, edge retention is the column to watch. Cardboard is surprisingly abrasive, and steels like M390, 20CV, S30V, and MagnaCut go noticeably longer between sharpenings.
If you baton wood, pry, or use your knife hard outdoors, prioritize toughness instead. Tough steels like MagnaCut, 14C28N, and 420HC are much less likely to chip or snap than harder, carbide-heavy steels like D2 or M390.
Consider Where You Carry
Sweat, humidity, salt air, and food acids all cause rust. If you pocket-carry all day, spend time near the water, or cut food with your EDC, pick a steel with a high corrosion score such as MagnaCut, M390, or 14C28N. D2 is only semi-stainless and will spot if it’s left wet, so it rewards owners who wipe their blades down.
Be Honest About Sharpening
High-vanadium steels like M390, S30V, and S35VN are packed with extremely hard vanadium carbides. That’s why they hold an edge so long, but it also means they sharpen slowly on conventional stones, and you’ll want diamond plates or a guided system when they finally dull. If you’d rather do a quick touch-up on a basic stone, 420HC, 8Cr13MoV, 14C28N, and AUS-8 all sharpen easily.
Match the Steel to Your Budget
Powder metallurgy steels like MagnaCut, S30V, S35VN, and M390 cost more to produce and usually appear on higher-priced knives. Budget steels like 8Cr13MoV, D2, and 14C28N dominate the lower price ranges, and 14C28N in particular performs well above its price. For a first knife, a well-made 14C28N or D2 folder is a better buy than a premium steel in a poorly built knife.
Heat Treatment Matters as Much as the Steel
The ratings in this chart assume a good heat treatment, and that’s true of any blade steel comparison you’ll find online. A well-treated 14C28N can outperform a poorly treated S30V, and budget D2 in particular varies widely from brand to brand. A maker’s reputation for consistent heat treatment is just as important as the steel listed on the spec sheet.
Quick Picks
Want the short version of this blade steel comparison? Here’s where each steel comes out on top:
- Best all-around: CPM MagnaCut
- Longest edge retention: Böhler M390 / CPM-20CV
- Best budget steel: 14C28N
- Best budget edge holding: D2
- Easiest to sharpen: 420HC
- Best for wet or humid conditions: MagnaCut or M390
Blade Steel FAQ
What is the best all-around knife steel?
For most people, CPM MagnaCut. It combines high toughness, excellent corrosion resistance, and good edge retention in a single steel, a balance older steels forced you to trade away. It was designed by metallurgist Larrin Thomas and released in 2021, and it has quickly become the go-to steel for premium EDC knives. If you want the longest possible edge life and don’t mind harder sharpening, M390 or 20CV is the alternative.
Is MagnaCut worth the price?
If you want one knife that handles everything with minimal maintenance, yes. If your cutting is mostly light tasks and you touch up your edge regularly, a budget steel like 14C28N gets you most of the way there for a fraction of the cost.
Is D2 a good knife steel?
D2 is a solid budget steel that holds an edge better than most steels in its price range. The trade-offs are lower toughness, only moderate rust resistance, and quality that varies a lot with heat treatment. It’s a great value if you keep your knife dry and don’t use it for prying or heavy impacts.
Is D2 better than 8Cr13MoV?
For edge retention, yes, and the difference is noticeable. 8Cr13MoV is tougher, more rust resistant, and much easier to sharpen, though. Choose D2 if you want an edge that lasts longer, or 8Cr13MoV if you want a low-maintenance beater that’s quick to touch up.
What is the difference between S30V and S35VN?
S35VN was developed by Crucible as an improvement on S30V. It swaps some of the vanadium for niobium, which gives it a finer structure, slightly better toughness, and easier sharpening, at the cost of slightly lower edge retention. In real-world use the difference is small.
Is M390 the same as 20CV?
Nearly. Böhler M390 is made in Austria and CPM-20CV is made in the United States, but their compositions are almost identical and they perform essentially the same. In any blade steel comparison, you can treat them as interchangeable.
What knife steel is easiest to sharpen?
In this chart, 420HC is the easiest, followed by 14C28N and 8Cr13MoV. These steels have low carbide content, so they respond quickly to basic stones, pull-through sharpeners, and field sharpening.
Which knife steel is most rust resistant?
Of the steels in this chart, MagnaCut and M390/20CV offer the best corrosion resistance. For saltwater or diving knives, specialty steels like H1 and LC200N go even further and are close to rustproof.
Does heat treatment matter more than the steel?
It often matters just as much. The same steel can perform very differently depending on how it was hardened and tempered, which is why reputable makers with consistent heat treatment are worth paying attention to.