MagnaCut vs S35VN

MagnaCut holds an edge longer, is tougher and resists corrosion better, and the two tie on ease of sharpening. The biggest gap is toughness (8/10 vs 5/10). S35VN is the cheaper steel (mid-range vs premium price tier).

MagnaCut vs S35VN ratingsMagnaCut: Edge retention 7/10, Toughness 8/10, Corrosion resistance 9/10, Ease of sharpening 5/10; S35VN: Edge retention 6/10, Toughness 5/10, Corrosion resistance 7/10, Ease of sharpening 5/10Edge retention7 / 6Toughness8 / 5Corrosion resistance9 / 7Ease ofsharpening5 / 5MagnaCutS35VN

Who wins each property

MagnaCut vs S35VN: rating differencesEdge retention: MagnaCut 7, S35VN 6; Toughness: MagnaCut 8, S35VN 5; Corrosion resistance: MagnaCut 9, S35VN 7; Ease of sharpening: MagnaCut 5, S35VN 5← S35VN betterMagnaCut better →Edge retention+1Toughness+3Corrosion resistance+2Ease of sharpeningtie

Side by side

MagnaCutS35VN
TypePowder metallurgy stainless steelsPowder metallurgy stainless steels
Hardness61–64 HRC58–61 HRC
Edge retention7/106/10
Toughness8/105/10
Corrosion resistance9/107/10
Ease of sharpening5/105/10
Price tierPremiumMid-range
MakerCrucible (designed by Larrin Thomas)Crucible
MagnaCut vs S35VN hardnessMagnaCut: 61-64 HRC; S35VN: 58-61 HRC55 soft60 mid65 very hard507061–6458–61

Composition

ElementMagnaCutS35VN
Carbon (C)1.151.4
Chromium (Cr)10.714
Vanadium (V)43
Molybdenum (Mo)22
Niobium (Nb)20.5
Nitrogen (N)0.2—
Manganese (Mn)0.40.5
Silicon (Si)0.40.5
Phosphorus (P)0.030.03
Sulfur (S)0.030.03
MagnaCut vs S35VN compositionMagnaCut: 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%; S35VN: C 1.4%, Cr 14.0%, V 3.0%, Mo 2.0%, Nb 0.5%, Mn 0.5%, Si 0.5%, P 0.03%, S 0.03%0%5%10%15%Carbon (C)1.151.4Chromium (Cr)10.714Vanadium (V)43Molybdenum (Mo)22Niobium (Nb)20.5Nitrogen (N)0.2–Manganese (Mn)0.40.5Silicon (Si)0.40.5Phosphorus (P)0.030.03Sulfur (S)0.030.03MagnaCutS35VN

Property by property

Edge retention

MagnaCut holds an edge longer: 7/10 against 6/10 for S35VN, a 1-point gap. Vanadium: 4% vs 3%; more vanadium carbide generally means more wear resistance.

Toughness

MagnaCut is tougher: 8/10 against 5/10 for S35VN, a 3-point gap. Typical hardness: 61–64 vs 58–61 HRC; harder blades trade toughness for edge holding.

Corrosion resistance

MagnaCut resists corrosion better: 9/10 against 7/10 for S35VN, a 2-point gap. Chromium: 10.7% vs 14%, though what matters is the chromium left in solution, not the total.

Ease of sharpening

Both rate 5/10 for ease of sharpening.

Knives in each steel

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

S35VN

KnifeBrandBladeWeightLockList priceBuy
Zero Tolerance 0450CFZero Tolerance3.25"2.45 ozTitanium frame lock$295Blade HQ

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FAQ

Which is better, MagnaCut or S35VN?

MagnaCut holds an edge longer, is tougher and resists corrosion better, and the two tie on ease of sharpening. The biggest gap is toughness (8/10 vs 5/10). S35VN is the cheaper steel (mid-range vs premium price tier).

Which is harder, MagnaCut or S35VN?

MagnaCut is typically run at 61–64 HRC and S35VN at 58–61 HRC.

Is MagnaCut or S35VN more rust resistant?

MagnaCut (9/10). Both are powder metallurgy stainless steels.

Related comparisons

Full steel pages: CPM MagnaCut · CPM S35VN