When collectors and serious EDC users talk about premium steels, three names come up again and again: S35VN, S45VN, and M390. Here's what makes them worth the price.
What Makes a Steel "Premium"?
Premium steels deliver a combination of properties that budget and mid-range steels can't match simultaneously — exceptional edge retention, good toughness, solid corrosion resistance, and the ability to take and hold a very fine edge. They're also more expensive to produce and harder to work with, which is why you find them on higher-end knives.
S35VN
CPM S35VN is one of the most respected steels in the knife world, and for good reason. Developed by Crucible Industries in collaboration with knife maker Chris Reeve, it was specifically designed to be an improvement on S30V — better toughness, easier to sharpen, and with excellent edge retention. It's a benchmark steel that many makers use as their standard for mid-to-high-end production knives.
If you're new to premium steels, S35VN is an excellent starting point. It's forgiving, performs consistently, and is widely available.
S45VN
S45VN is the next evolution from Crucible — a refinement of S35VN with improved edge retention and a finer grain structure. The result is a steel that takes a sharper edge and holds it longer, while maintaining the toughness that made S35VN so popular. It's becoming increasingly common on premium production folders as makers upgrade their steel offerings.
M390
Bohler M390 is an Austrian stainless steel that has become a collector favorite worldwide. It offers outstanding corrosion resistance — among the best of any premium steel — combined with excellent edge retention and the ability to take a mirror polish. M390 is a top choice for knives that will see wet environments or be displayed as collector pieces where appearance matters.
The trade-off: M390 is harder to sharpen than S35VN or S45VN, requiring diamond stones or quality whetstones to maintain properly.
How They Compare
- Best edge retention: M390 ≥ S45VN > S35VN
- Best toughness: S35VN > S45VN > M390
- Best corrosion resistance: M390 > S45VN ≥ S35VN
- Easiest to sharpen: S35VN > S45VN > M390
Next week: MagnaCut — the steel that's rewriting the rules. Browse our full collection to find knives featuring these premium steels.