Elmax vs M390
Elmax is tougher and is easier to sharpen; M390 holds an edge longer and resists corrosion better. Choose Elmax for toughness, M390 for edge retention.
Who wins each property
Side by side
| Elmax | M390 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Powder metallurgy stainless steels | Powder metallurgy stainless steels |
| Hardness | 60–62 HRC | 60–62 HRC |
| Edge retention | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Toughness | 5/10 | 4/10 |
| Corrosion resistance | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Ease of sharpening | 4/10 | 3/10 |
| Price tier | Premium | Premium |
| Maker | Uddeholm (voestalpine) | voestalpine Bohler Edelstahl |
Composition
| Element | Elmax | M390 |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 1.7 | 1.9 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 18 | 20 |
| Vanadium (V) | 3 | 4 |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 1 | 1 |
| Tungsten (W) | — | 0.6 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.8 | 0.7 |
Property by property
Edge retention
M390 holds an edge longer: 8/10 against 7/10 for Elmax, a 1-point gap. Vanadium: 3% vs 4%; more vanadium carbide generally means more wear resistance.
Toughness
Elmax is tougher: 5/10 against 4/10 for M390, a 1-point gap.
Corrosion resistance
M390 resists corrosion better: 9/10 against 8/10 for Elmax, a 1-point gap. Chromium: 18% vs 20%, though what matters is the chromium left in solution, not the total.
Ease of sharpening
Elmax is easier to sharpen: 4/10 against 3/10 for M390, a 1-point gap.
Knives in each steel
Elmax
| Knife | Brand | Blade | Weight | Lock | List price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fällkniven F1x Elmax | Fällkniven | 4.02" | 7.8 oz | — | — | Blade HQ |
| Fällkniven R2 Scout | Fällkniven | 3.15" | 4.7 oz | — | — | Blade HQ |
| Fällkniven U2 Elmax | Fällkniven | 2.52" | 1.6 oz | Lockback | — | Blade HQ |
M390
| Knife | Brand | Blade | Weight | Lock | List price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benchmade Narrows | Benchmade | 3.43" | 2.41 oz | AXIS lock | $525 | Blade HQ |
| Microtech Ultratech Gen IV S/E | Microtech | 3.55" | — | OTF automatic | $367 | Blade HQ |
| WE Knife Suisei | WE Knife | 3.28" | 3.55 oz | Liner lock | $350 | Blade HQ |
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FAQ
Which is better, Elmax or M390?
Elmax is tougher and is easier to sharpen; M390 holds an edge longer and resists corrosion better. Choose Elmax for toughness, M390 for edge retention.
Which is harder, Elmax or M390?
Elmax is typically run at 60–62 HRC and M390 at 60–62 HRC.
Is Elmax or M390 more rust resistant?
M390 (9/10). Both are powder metallurgy stainless steels.