Two popular knife steels created by the same company, Crucible Industries, are S110V and S45VN. These steels are even in the same lineup. However, they were created for different uses in mind. So in this article, we will compare these two to how they differ.
Short Answer:
S110V is known for its unmatched edge retention and corrosion resistance, making it ideal for prolonged use on softer objects. S45VN, on the other hand, maintains a balance between edge retention, toughness, and ease of sharpening, making it a versatile choice for a variety of applications.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look closer at each steel, their composition, how they compare in-depth, and the best knives in each steel.
In-Depth Look at S110V
S110V is a premium stainless steel developed by Crucible Industries made to have extreme wear resistance.
Here is what S110V is made of:
- 2.8% Carbon
- 15.2% Chromium
- 2.2% Molybdenum
- 9% Vanadium
- 2.5% Cobalt
- 3% Niobium
Edge Retention: S110V is known for its outstanding edge retention, maintaining a sharp edge through extensive use and abrasive materials. This makes it an excellent choice for tasks requiring prolonged cutting performance.
Corrosion Resistance: With its high chromium and cobalt content, S110V offers excellent corrosion resistance, making it suitable for use in humid or marine environments.
Toughness: While S110V is highly wear-resistant, it is not the toughest steel. It is more prone to chipping under heavy use as its high carbon content makes it a fairly brittle steel.
Spyderco Native 5 – S110V
The Spyderco Native 5 is a lightweight carry knife that is perfect for EDC or backpacking. It has an FRN (fiberglass reinforced) handle making it lightweight and durable. The Spyderco Native 5 also has a thumb hole opening design making it nearly impossible to snag your pocket when you draw your knife.
Check out this knife here (link to Amazon)
In-Depth Look at S45VN
S45VN is an advanced stainless steel developed by Crucible Industries as an easier-to-sharpen improvement over S35VN. It aims to provide a well-rounded performance suitable for a wide range of applications.
Here is the composition of S45VN:
- 1.45% carbon
- 14% chromium
- 4% vanadium
- 2.00% molybdenum
- 3.00% Vanadiumniobium
- 0.37% niobium
Edge Retention: S45VN offers excellent edge retention, comparable to other high-end stainless steels such as S30V or S35VN. However, this steel will not have the edge retention of a steel like S90V.
Corrosion Resistance: With its decent chromium content and balanced alloy composition, S45VN provides good corrosion resistance, suitable for use in wet humid environments.
Toughness: S45VN strikes a good balance between hardness and toughness. It is less prone to chipping compared to harder steels like S110V, yet it won’t roll like softer steels like 8Cr13MoV.
Spyderco Para Military – CPM-S45VN
The Para Military is perhaps Spyderco’s most popular knife. It’s got Spyderco’s signature thumb hole for opening (which won’t snag on your pocket), a reversible pocket clip, a G10 handle, and Spyderco’s smooth-opening compression lock. This version comes in S45VN. It’s a solid workhorse of a knife that will keep going no matter what you put it through.
Check it out here (link to Amazon).
In-Depth Comparison
Edge Retention: S110V excels in edge retention, maintaining sharpness for extended periods even with heavy use. S45VN also offers excellent edge retention, though slightly less than S110V. However, keep in mind that S45VN will hold a tougher edge that is better for things such as chopping.
Corrosion Resistance: Both steels provide excellent corrosion resistance. S110V has a slight edge due to its higher chromium and cobalt content, making it more suitable for corrosive environments.
Toughness: S45VN has better toughness compared to S110V. It is less prone to chipping and can withstand impact and heavy use better, making it more versatile for bushcraft or chopping through tough objects.
Ease of Sharpening: S45VN is easier to sharpen than S110V because S45VN was, after all, manufactured to be an easy-to-sharpen steel. Also S110V being extremely edge retentive will make it harder to sharpen.
Conclusion
Both S110V and S45VN are premium steels but they have their different uses. S110V is the go-to steel for applications that require extreme edge retention and corrosion resistance. S45VN, with its balanced properties, offers excellent performance in edge retention, toughness, and ease of sharpening.