20CV vs MagnaCut

20CV holds an edge longer; MagnaCut is tougher and is easier to sharpen. Choose 20CV for edge retention, MagnaCut for toughness.

20CV vs MagnaCut ratings20CV: Edge retention 8/10, Toughness 4/10, Corrosion resistance 9/10, Ease of sharpening 3/10; MagnaCut: Edge retention 7/10, Toughness 8/10, Corrosion resistance 9/10, Ease of sharpening 5/10Edge retention8 / 7Toughness4 / 8Corrosion resistance9 / 9Ease ofsharpening3 / 520CVMagnaCut

Who wins each property

20CV vs MagnaCut: rating differencesEdge retention: 20CV 8, MagnaCut 7; Toughness: 20CV 4, MagnaCut 8; Corrosion resistance: 20CV 9, MagnaCut 9; Ease of sharpening: 20CV 3, MagnaCut 5← MagnaCut better20CV better →Edge retention+1Toughness−4Corrosion resistancetieEase of sharpening−2

Side by side

20CVMagnaCut
TypePowder metallurgy stainless steelsPowder metallurgy stainless steels
Hardness59–62 HRC61–64 HRC
Edge retention8/107/10
Toughness4/108/10
Corrosion resistance9/109/10
Ease of sharpening3/105/10
Price tierPremiumPremium
MakerCrucibleCrucible (designed by Larrin Thomas)
20CV vs MagnaCut hardness20CV: 59-62 HRC; MagnaCut: 61-64 HRC55 soft60 mid65 very hard507059–6261–64

Composition

Element20CVMagnaCut
Carbon (C)1.91.15
Chromium (Cr)2010.7
Vanadium (V)44
Molybdenum (Mo)12
Tungsten (W)0.6—
Niobium (Nb)—2
Nitrogen (N)—0.2
Manganese (Mn)0.30.4
Silicon (Si)0.30.4
Phosphorus (P)—0.03
Sulfur (S)—0.03
20CV vs MagnaCut composition20CV: C 1.9%, Cr 20.0%, V 4.0%, Mo 1.0%, W 0.6%, Mn 0.3%, Si 0.3%; MagnaCut: C 1.15%, Cr 10.7%, V 4.0%, Mo 2.0%, Nb 2.0%, N 0.2%, Mn 0.4%, Si 0.4%, P 0.03%, S 0.03%0%5%10%15%20%25%Carbon (C)1.91.15Chromium (Cr)2010.7Vanadium (V)44Molybdenum (Mo)12Tungsten (W)0.6–Niobium (Nb)–2Nitrogen (N)–0.2Manganese (Mn)0.30.4Silicon (Si)0.30.4Phosphorus (P)–0.03Sulfur (S)–0.0320CVMagnaCut

Property by property

Edge retention

20CV holds an edge longer: 8/10 against 7/10 for MagnaCut, a 1-point gap.

Toughness

MagnaCut is tougher: 8/10 against 4/10 for 20CV, a 4-point gap. Typical hardness: 59–62 vs 61–64 HRC; harder blades trade toughness for edge holding.

Corrosion resistance

Both rate 9/10 for corrosion resistance. Chromium: 20% vs 10.7%, though what matters is the chromium left in solution, not the total.

Ease of sharpening

MagnaCut is easier to sharpen: 5/10 against 3/10 for 20CV, a 2-point gap.

Knives in each steel

20CV

KnifeBrandBladeWeightLockList priceBuy
WE Knife Elementum TitaniumWE Knife2.96"3.31 ozTitanium frame lock$207Blade HQ
Demko AD20.5 20CV Clip PointDemko3.125"3.7 ozShark Lock$265Blade HQ
Fällkniven G1z Garm FighterFällkniven3.58"3.2 oz——Blade HQ

MagnaCut

KnifeBrandBladeWeightLockList priceBuy
Zero Tolerance 0562CFZero Tolerance3.5"5.5 ozTitanium frame lock$375Blade HQ
Chris Reeve Knives Large Sebenza 31Chris Reeve Knives3.61"4.7 ozReeve Integral Lock$500Blade HQ
Hogue DekaHogue3.25"2.1 ozABLE Lock$184.95Blade HQ
Benchmade Adamas 275GY-03Benchmade3.82"6.54 ozAXIS lock$325Blade HQ
Kershaw Link 1776OLSWKershaw3.25"4.7 ozLiner lock$209.99Blade HQ

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FAQ

Which is better, 20CV or MagnaCut?

20CV holds an edge longer; MagnaCut is tougher and is easier to sharpen. Choose 20CV for edge retention, MagnaCut for toughness.

Which is harder, 20CV or MagnaCut?

20CV is typically run at 59–62 HRC and MagnaCut at 61–64 HRC.

Is 20CV or MagnaCut more rust resistant?

Neither: both rate 9/10. Both are powder metallurgy stainless steels.

Related comparisons

Full steel pages: CPM 20CV · CPM MagnaCut