S35VN and M390 are both touted as some of the best steels out there, but if you’re looking to find the differences between the two, look no further.
S35VN and M390 are both great steels. The main differences between the two are ease of sharpening and edge retention. S35VN is easier to sharpen, but doesn’t have as good edge retention. M390 has better edge retention, but is harder to sharpen. It’s hard to go wrong with either of these steels.
There’s the quick answer, but let’s see what else we can learn about these steels.
S35VN
S35VN, or CPM-S35VN, is kind of like the slightly tougher brother of S30V. The “S” in S35VN denotes “stainless,” while the “V” denotes “vanadium” and the “N” denotes “niobium.”
Each of these do different things. The stainless, fairly obviously, means that it’s stainless and won’t rust very easily. The vanadium helps to improve wear resistance and strength. The niobium also helps to improve the wear resistance and strength, it just makes it slightly better than S30V.
S30V can sometimes chip, but the niobium in S35VN helps to fix that. That’s the main difference between the two.
S35VN is kind of like the jack of all trades of steel. It’s got great corrosion resistance, toughness, edge retention, and ease of sharpening. It’s hard to go wrong with it.
M390
M390 (sometimes also called Bohler M390 or Bohler Uddeholm M390) is considered to be a “super steel.” If that sounds appealing to you, then this steel is probably for you.
On a chemical and production level, steels like CPM-20CV and Carpenter CTS-204P are both pretty similar to M390. Generally, though, M390 is going to be a more popular steel you’ll encounter in comparison to the other steels.
M390 has great edge retention–among the best in the knife industry. It’s also got some pretty decent toughness and corrosion resistance. The thing it’s slacking on, though, is ease of sharpening. It’s not going to be the toughest thing out there in terms of sharpening, but it’s still pretty difficult.
The main downside to M390 is the price. Because of its premium qualities and near-mythical label, it’s a pretty expensive steel. Because of that, you’re unlikely to find a lot of knives that will have it.
What are the Differences?
The main differences between the two are price, edge retention, and ease of sharpening. S35VN is cheaper and easier to sharpen, but its edge doesn’t last as long. M390 has a super long-lasting edge, but it’s harder to sharpen and more expensive.
Another difference between the two is commonality: S35VN is more common than M390.
Generally, knife companies will only do limited runs for versions of their knives with M390. So, if you want a knife with M390, you’re likely going to have to shop around on secondary markets like eBay or wait for a limited run from one of the companies.
Or, you can look around for some of the more permanent runs from companies, but the companies you’re more familiar with aren’t as likely to have those. Either way, it’ll cost you a pretty penny.
Basically if you need a cheap, easy-to-sharpen knife, go with the S35VN. If you want something higher quality (and higher price) that you may or may not have to wait for, then go for M390 (or put it on your wishlist if it’s not available yet).
Recommended Knives
If you’re looking for some new knives in either S35VN or M390, here’s a couple you could check out.
SOG Seal XR – S35VN
The SOG Seal XR is a sweet knife by SOG. It’s got an XR lock, a thumbhole, and a flipper that you can all use to open up the knife. It’s got a really smooth action that feels like assisted opening (but isn’t) and it can be opened up in reverse grip using your pinkie.
It’s got a clip point blade, S35VN steel, and a glass-reinforced nylon handle. If you’re looking for a slick knife that makes you feel like some kind of spec ops guy, this is for you.
Kizer Mini Sheepdog – S35VN
The Kizer Mini Sheepdog has a couple different variants. The one linked is the Ki3488A1, which has S35VN steel and a titanium handle.
The Kizer Mini Sheepdog has a cleaver blade, a frame lock, and a smooth, ball bearing pivot that makes opening it feel like it’s assisted. It’s the smaller version of the Kizer Sheepdog, coming in at an overall length of 5.77 inches. (The Kizer Sheepdog is 7.75 inches.)
Overall, if you’re looking for a smooth, cleaver-bladed knife, this one’s for you.
Pro-Tech Sprint – S35VN
The Pro-Tech Sprint is an automatic knife. This means that you’ll need to check your local laws to make sure you can actually own this, but that pretty much goes with everything.
The Sprint has an S35VN blade and is a push-button auto. So, you press the button and the blade comes flying out. To close it, you hold the button and bring the blade back in. This one has a spear point, flat grind blade. It’s a nice little knife, coming in at 5 inches. If you’re looking for an auto, check this one out.
Benchmade Bugout – M390
Here’s an M390 for you. The Bugout is one of Benchmade’s more popular knives. This one’s got a drop point, flat grind blade, thumb studs, the AXIS lock, and an aluminum handle. There’s not much else to say, really. It’s a Benchmade, and it’s in M390… if that sounds like something for you, then go for it.
GiantMouse ACE Sonoma – M390
Here’s another one in M390, this one by GiantMouse. The ACE Sonoma’s got a drop point, flat grind blade, a flipper, a titanium handle, and a frame lock. It’s also got a ball bearing pivot, which means it’s got a super smooth opening that will feel assisted.
It’s an overall solid knife. Check it out here.
If you’re interested in reading more on knife steels and their differences, we’ve got a whole bunch. Check them out here.