Cruwear and M390 are two premium knife steels that are known for being top-tier. Many companies known for making high-quality knives such as Benchmade and Spyderco use these two types of steel. In this article, we will see which steel is better, why one steel is better, and what are the best qualities of each steel.

Here is the short answer:

Cruwear and M390 perform somewhat similarly, but Cruwear is tougher, slightly more wear-resistant, and less corrosion-resistant. If you were to need a tough knife for camping or bushcraft then Cruwear would be the better choice as long as you can keep it dry.

Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can go more in-depth and look at each steel, which steel is better, and the best knives in each steel.

M390

M390 is a steel that is considered a super steel. A super steel means that the steel is high quality in almost all you can measure a knife steel on. 

M390 is a good steel in all regards, but it is best known for its edge retentive abilities. M390 is so good that it is often compared to steels such as S110V, which is considered to be the most edge-retentive steel out there. 

Like all steel, however, M390 has its downsides. Because M390 holds a good edge, it is very difficult to sharpen. So it will take a while for your knife to lose its edge, when it does go dull it will be a chore to resharpen it. 

Here is what M390 is made of:

• 1.9% of Carbon
• 0.7% of Silicon
• 0.3% of Manganese
• 20% of Chromium
• 1% of Molybdenum
• 0.6% of Tungsten
• 4% of Vanadium

Each component in the steel does different things: The carbon increases strength, the chromium increases corrosion resistance and edge retention, the molybdenum increases hardenability (which basically means that it’s easier to harden, and thus easy to manufacture), and vanadium improves wear resistance and strength. Tungsten, similar to vanadium, reduces grain size of the steel, which improves wear resistance and strength. Niobium and magnesium increase the steel’s hardness

Cruwear 

Cruwear, much like M390, is a super steel. Cruwear is known for its toughness, edge retention, and wear resistance. Cruwear is used for both tools and knives.

Cruwear’s biggest downside is its corrosion resistance. Cruwear is a steel that doesn’t not have very good corrosion resistance and it is very easy for the steel to rust if it is not taken care of. But as long as you keep your knife well-oiled and out of wet environments you will be fine.

On the other hand, Cruwear’s biggest upside is that it is very well balanced between its hardness, edge retention, toughness, and wear resistance. This means that Cruwear is a very good steel that is great for pretty much any task you could ever use a knife for. 

Here is what Cruwear is made of:

• 1.1% Carbon

• 7.5% Chromium
• 1.6% Molybdenum
• 0.35% Manganese
• 1.1% Silicon

• 2.4% Vanadium
• 1.15% Tungsten

Which steel is better?

Now that we have looked in depth at each steel, we can compare the two in-depth to see which one is better. 

When you compare the corrosion resistance of each steel, you will find that M390 is better at keeping rust at bay. M390 has over twice as much chromium as Cruwear so it has more corrosion remittance. If you need a knife for tasks where you will be in and around water then you will want M390.

Wear resistance is another thing that these steels are not equal at. Cruwear is more wear-resistant steel, mainly because it is a tool steel and all tool steels are known for being incredibly wear-resistant. 

If you were to compare the toughness of the two steel then you would see that Cruwear is more rigid steel. As mentioned earlier, Cruwear is a tool steel so it is bound to be very tough and very wear-resistant. So when you need steel for a tough task such as batoning then you will want Cruwear.

What is the best knife in each steel?

Picking the best knives for each steel can be difficult, so here are our top picks for each steel.

Benchmade ANONIMUS (Cruwear)

The Benchmade ANONIMUS is a bushcraft knife that is great for camping and survival. The ANONIMUS is a fixed blade that weighs 6 ounces, has a 5-inch blade, and has a 4.83-inch G-10 handle. If you’re looking for a Cruwear bushcraft knife this is the knife for you. 

Check this knife out here (link to Benchmade)

Benchmade Adamas (Cruwear)

The Adamas is a heavy-duty folding knife that is great for heavy tasks. The Adamas weighs 6 ounces, has a 4-blade, and has a G-10 handle. Overall the Adamas is a very good EDC knife that is great for any EDC task.

Check out this knife here (link to Amazon)

Benchmade Bugout (M390)

The Benchmade Bugout is a knife that is great for camping. This lightweight folding knife weighs only 1.85 ounces so it won’t drag you down with its weight. The Bugout is a great knife for anyone who wants a high-quality, comfortable, and lightweight EDC knife.

Check out this knife here (link to Amazon) 

Conclusion

M390 and Cruwear are both phenomenal steels, they are both super steels that perform great for any task. However, there are times when you would want one steel over the other. Cruwear has slightly better toughness, and wear resistance, but M390 has better corrosion resistance. Either steel you choose is sure to outperform most other steels in their class.