S30V vs S45VN
S45VN is tougher, resists corrosion better and is easier to sharpen, and the two tie on edge retention. The biggest gap is toughness (5/10 vs 4/10). S30V is the cheaper steel (mid-range vs premium price tier).
Who wins each property
Side by side
| S30V | S45VN | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Powder metallurgy stainless steels | Powder metallurgy stainless steels |
| Hardness | 58–61 HRC | 59–61 HRC |
| Edge retention | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Toughness | 4/10 | 5/10 |
| Corrosion resistance | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Ease of sharpening | 4/10 | 5/10 |
| Price tier | Mid-range | Premium |
| Maker | Crucible | Crucible |
Composition
| Element | S30V | S45VN |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 1.45 | 1.48 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 14 | 16 |
| Vanadium (V) | 4 | 3 |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 2 | 2 |
| Niobium (Nb) | — | 0.5 |
| Nitrogen (N) | — | 0.15 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.03 | 0.03 |
Property by property
Edge retention
Both rate 6/10 for edge retention. Vanadium: 4% vs 3%; more vanadium carbide generally means more wear resistance.
Toughness
S45VN is tougher: 5/10 against 4/10 for S30V, a 1-point gap.
Corrosion resistance
S45VN resists corrosion better: 8/10 against 7/10 for S30V, a 1-point gap. Chromium: 14% vs 16%, though what matters is the chromium left in solution, not the total.
Ease of sharpening
S45VN is easier to sharpen: 5/10 against 4/10 for S30V, a 1-point gap.
Knives in each steel
S30V
| Knife | Brand | Blade | Weight | Lock | List price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benchmade Bugout 535 | Benchmade | 3.24" | 1.85 oz | AXIS lock | $200 | Blade HQ |
| Benchmade 940 Osborne | Benchmade | 3.4" | 2.9 oz | AXIS lock | $300 | Blade HQ |
| Benchmade Griptilian 551-S30V | Benchmade | 3.45" | 3.88 oz | AXIS lock | $175 | Blade HQ |
S45VN
| Knife | Brand | Blade | Weight | Lock | List price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spyderco Para 3 | Spyderco | 2.93" | 3.4 oz | Compression lock | $263 | Blade HQ |
| Spyderco Paramilitary 2 | Spyderco | 3.45" | 3.8 oz | Compression lock | $279 | Blade HQ |
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FAQ
Which is better, S30V or S45VN?
S45VN is tougher, resists corrosion better and is easier to sharpen, and the two tie on edge retention. The biggest gap is toughness (5/10 vs 4/10). S30V is the cheaper steel (mid-range vs premium price tier).
Which is harder, S30V or S45VN?
S30V is typically run at 58–61 HRC and S45VN at 59–61 HRC.
Is S30V or S45VN more rust resistant?
S45VN (8/10). Both are powder metallurgy stainless steels.