When choosing a high-performance knife, you will often hear about S30V and S90V steel. S30V is known as the standard for quality because it offers an excellent mix of features. S90V is famous for holding an edge for a very long time.
For knife brands and sellers, the question is not which steel is “better.” It’s about finding the best balance for a specific knife and its user. This article will take a close look at both steels to help you decide.
Understanding the steels: What are S30V and S90V?
What is CPM S30V steel?
Crucible Industries developed S30V, working with the famous knifemaker Chris Reeve. It was one of the first steels made from a fine powder, a modern process that creates very high-quality steel. Its mix of elements was carefully planned to give a great combination of edge holding, rust resistance, and toughness. For years, top brands like Spyderco and Benchmade have trusted it. Because it does everything well, S30V is a great choice for many types of knives.
What is CPM S90V steel?
S90V is also a powder steel made by Crucible. It was designed with one main goal: to resist wear better than almost any other steel. It has a lot of carbon and vanadium, which form very hard particles. This gives S90V some of the best edge holding you can find. It is often used in special edition or high-end knives where cutting is the most important thing.
S30V vs. S90V: Chemical composition breakdown
The biggest difference between these steels is their amount of Vanadium and Carbon. S90V has more than twice the vanadium of S30V. This is what gives it such great wear resistance.
| Element | S30V (%) | S90V (%) | Primary Role in Performance |
| Carbon (C) | 1.45 | 2.30 | Foundation of hardness and wear resistance. |
| Chromium (Cr) | 14.00 | 14.00 | Key for corrosion resistance; also forms carbides. |
| Vanadium (V) | 4.00 | 9.00 | Core Difference: Forms ultra-hard vanadium carbides, the main driver of wear resistance. |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 2.00 | 1.00 | Increases toughness, strength, and corrosion resistance. |
| Nitrogen (N) | 0.1-0.2 | – | (Small amount in S30V) Refines grain, slightly improving toughness and corrosion resistance. |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.50 | 0.50 | Improves hardenability and strength. |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.50 | 0.50 | Enhances strength and wear resistance. |
Key Takeaway: S90V’s recipe is all about resisting wear. Its high vanadium and carbon create a large volume of very hard particles. S30V’s recipe is all about balance. It uses enough vanadium for great edge holding, but adds molybdenum to make it tougher and better at resisting chips.
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Performance comparison: S30V Steel vs. S90V Steel
This table combines ratings from Knife Steel Nerds with industry-standard hardness and sharpening data, visualized with scores and star ratings.
| Performance Metric | S30V | S90V | Winner & Key Takeaway |
| Edge Retention | 6.0/10 ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ | 9.0/10 ★★★★★★★★★☆ | S90V The undisputed king of wear resistance, with a massive advantage. |
| Toughness | 4.0/10 ★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆ | 3.5/10 ★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ | S30V More chip-resistant, offering a higher safety margin for hard-use tasks. |
| Corrosion Resistance | 7.5/10 ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ | 7.5/10 ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ | Tie Both are excellent stainless steels capable of handling wet environments. |
| Ease of Sharpening | 5.0/10 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ | 2.0/10 ★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ | S30V Though challenging, it is far more user-friendly than S90V and can be maintained with conventional abrasives. |
| Hardness (HRC) | 58-61, up to 64 HRC | 59-61, up to 66 HRC | S90V S90V has higher potential hardness, but both are in the very high hardness category. |
Key performance differences
Edge retention
S90V holds its edge much longer than S30V. This is because it has a very high 9% vanadium content, more than double the amount in S30V. Vanadium creates tiny, hard particles inside the steel. These particles are excellent at resisting wear from cutting. If you need a knife that stays sharp for a very long time, S90V is the clear choice.
Toughness and chip resistance
S30V is the tougher steel by design. Its internal structure is finer, which helps it resist chipping from impacts. Users often report that S90V’s edge can get tiny chips if used roughly. This makes S30V a more durable and reliable choice for all-around use. It offers a good balance of toughness and hardness.
Corrosion resistance
Both steels are great at resisting rust. They each contain 14% chromium, which makes them stainless. In daily use, you will not notice a difference in how they handle moisture.
Ease of sharpening
S90V’s great edge holding comes with a trade-off: it is very difficult to sharpen. The same hard particles that resist wear also fight against sharpening stones. You will likely need diamond sharpeners for S90V. S30V is much easier to work with. It can be sharpened with common ceramic or water stones. This is an important detail for long-term satisfaction with your knife.
Hardness (HRC)
The two steels have a similar hardness, often around 59-61 HRC. But they feel very different in use. S90V has so many hard particles that it resists wear much better. This means it will stay sharp longer, even if its HRC number is the same as S30V.
Price analysis
S90V is a much more expensive steel. For knife makers, the raw steel costs more. It is also harder on factory tools because it wears out belts, drills, and cutters faster. This increases the time and money needed to make the knife.
Recommended use cases: Choosing the right steel for the job
EDC and folding knives
- S30V: A perfect choice for a high-end daily carry knife. It has a good mix of edge holding (6/10), toughness (4/10), and easy sharpening (5/10). This makes it a great all-around tool for various tasks.
- S90V: Best for the expert user who wants a knife that stays sharp above all else. They mostly do clean slicing and are willing to pay more for top-tier edge retention (9/10).
Hunting, camping, and survival knives
- S30V: The clear winner here. In the outdoors, toughness is key. S30V’s higher toughness score (4 vs 3.5) means it’s less likely to chip when processing game or hitting something hard.
- S90V: Not recommended. It’s more likely to chip during hard tasks. It’s also extremely difficult to sharpen in the field (2/10), which can be a serious problem.
Tactical knives
- S30V: The better choice. Tactical knives need to be tools you can trust. S30V’s toughness makes it more reliable if you need to pry or hit something.
- S90V: Too brittle for this kind of work. It was not designed for the rough use a tactical knife might see.
Kitchen knives
- S30V: A great choice for an all-purpose chef’s knife. It’s easy to clean, tough enough for small bones, and holds a good edge.
- S90V: Can be used for special slicing knives. It will stay sharp longer than almost any other knife for clean cuts. However, you should avoid hitting bones or hard cutting boards to prevent chips.
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Related Reading
Partner with Keganico to make the smart choice
S30V and S90V are both great steels, but they are for different types of customers. For knife sellers and OEM partners, the choice is clear:
- Use S30V for strong, all-purpose premium knives for the mainstream market.
- Use S90V for top-tier knives that focus on cutting, aimed at expert users who need the best edge retention.
No matter your choice, using the right material and high-quality manufacturing are the keys to a successful product.
Ready to build your next knife line? When you partner with Keganico, you get:
- Expert Knowledge: We help you choose the right steel. Our expert heat treatment will get the best performance from S30V or S90V.
- Reliable Steel Supply: We have a strong supply chain. We can get you S30V or the rarer S90V so your production stays on track.
- Precision Manufacturing: We are skilled at working with tough steels like S90V. We use modern tools and our experience to make a quality product.
- Full OEM Service: We handle everything for you, from design to production and quality control. We make it easy to build your own brand.
Contact us today to discuss your project. Let our expertise and manufacturing skill help you launch the perfect product.
