CPM-154 and S30V are two very common premium steels that are used by a lot of companies that are known for making good knives. But how do the steels compare to each other? Which one is better? And why is one better? In this article, we will answer all those questions and more.
Here is the short answer:
CPM-154 and S30V are two steels that perform very similarly. However, S30V is slightly better at holding an edge and is slightly tougher. Other than edge retention and toughness, both steels are pretty much the same and it will be very difficult to tell the difference.
With the short answer out of the way, we can now take an in-depth look at each steel, see what each steel performs best at, which steel is best, and which knives are best in each steel.
S30V
S30V is a steel that is known for being a good all-around steel. S30V is a premium steel that will work well for pretty much any task you could need a knife for.
The biggest upside to S30V is that it is great for all tasks you could need a knife steel for. S30V is a steel that is overall good steel. It is not lacking in any areas and it is not overly good in any areas.
The full name for S30V is CPM-S30V, the CPM stands for Crucible Particle Metallurgy, which is a process where the particles in the steel are reduced in size. Reducing grain size will increase wear resistance, edge retention, and make the steel tougher. It also will decrease the chances of soft spots in the steel.
Here is what S30V is made of:
- 1.45% carbon
- 14% chromium
- 2% molybdenum
- 4% vanadium
Each of those do different things: The carbon increases strength (it’s important to note that at high levels, carbon leads to brittleness, which means easy chipping and breaking), the chromium increases corrosion resistance, the molybdenum increases hardenability (which basically means that it’s easier to harden, and thus manufacture), and vanadium improves wear resistance and strength.
CPM-154
CPM-154 is a steel that is very similar to S30V. CPM-154 is a good all-around steel that can be used for just about anything.
Much like S30V, CPM-154 is a steel that can be used for pretty much any task you could need a knife for. However, CPM-154 is not as edge retentive as S30V nor as tough.
Like any steel with CPM in the name, CPM-154 goes through the Crucible Particle Metallurgy processes.
Here is what CPM-154 is made of:
- 1.05% Carbon
- 14% Chromium
- 4% Molybdenum
- 0.5% Manganese
- 0.8% Silicon
- 0.03% Phosphorus
- 0.03% Sulfur
- 0.4% Vanadium
- 4% Tungsten
Tungsten, sulfur, manganese, phosphorus, and silicon all increase wear resistance or strength.
Which steel is best, and why?
Now that we have looked at each of the steels, we can see which one is better and when you would want one over the other.
If you are looking for a steel that is corrosion resistant, S30V would be a better choice. S30V is a stainless steel that is known for having great corrosion resistance.
When it comes to edge retention S30V is the better steel. S30V has more carbon so it is better at keeping an edge. However, because S30V has more carbon it will be more prone to chipping.
If you were to compare the two steel’s toughness, you would find that S30V is a more tough steel. S30V is more balanced and is a harder steel so it is better for applications where you would need a tough knife such as batoning.
Our favorite knives in each steel
It can be difficult to choose the right knives in either steel. So to make it easier, here are the knives that are our favorite.
Benchmade Steep Country (S30V)
The Benchmade Steep Country is a fixed-blade knife that is lightweight and perfect for backpacking. The Steep country has a 3.5-inches fixed blade and a Santoprene handle that ensures that the knife won’t slip out of your hand even in rainy conditions. The Steep Country is perfect for backpacking as it is a strong knife and weighs only 3.0 ounces.
Check out this knife here (link to Amazon)
Kershaw Blur (S30V)
The Kershaw Blur is an EDC (EveryDay Carry) knife that is completely ambidextrous. The Blur has assisted opening so there is no worry of your knife not opening when you need it. Overall, if you are looking for a great EDC knife then this is a great knife to look at.
Check out this knife here (link to Amazon)
Kershaw Leek (CPM-154)
The Kershaw Leek is an affordable EDC knife that is sleek and lightweight. The Leek has carbon fiber handle scales that are lightweight, comfortable to hold, and cool to look at. If you are looking for a new EDC knife this a great option that you can’t go wrong with.
Check out this knife here (link to Amazon)
Conclusion
Both CPM-154 and S30V are premium steels that are great for any purpose you could need a knife for. That being said, the better of the two steels is S30V. S30V has better corrosion resistance, is tougher, and has better edge retention. However, both steels will be very hard to tell apart so it is not a huge deal which steel you choose.