CPM S35VN vs M390: Which Premium Knife Steel Is Right for You?

Understanding Your Options in Premium Blade Steel

When shopping for a high-end folding knife, two blade steels dominate the conversation: CPM S35VN and M390. Both are premium powder metallurgy steels used by top manufacturers — including Artisan Cutlery — but they serve slightly different needs. This guide breaks down the real-world differences so you can choose the right steel for your everyday carry.

What Makes a Steel "Premium"?

Premium knife steels balance four key properties:

• Edge Retention — How long the blade stays sharp under normal cutting
• Toughness — Resistance to chipping and breaking under impact
• Corrosion Resistance — How well the steel withstands moisture
• Sharpenability — How easily the edge can be restored

CPM S35VN: The All-Rounder Gold Standard

Developed by Crucible Industries, CPM S35VN adds niobium to refine carbide structure for improved toughness without sacrificing edge retention.

• Edge Retention: Excellent — holds a working edge through extended use
• Toughness: Very good — resists chipping better than S30V
• Corrosion Resistance: Good — stainless enough for daily carry
• Sharpenability: Good — takes a keen edge with standard stones

CPM S35VN is ideal for an all-purpose EDC folding knife. Artisan Cutlery uses it across flagship models including the Fragarach, Santee, and Trust.

M390: The Super-Steel for Edge Retention

Made by Böhler-Uddeholm, M390 is known for extreme wear resistance and corrosion resistance.

• Edge Retention: Outstanding — among the best of any stainless steel
• Toughness: Moderate — more prone to micro-chipping under lateral stress
• Corrosion Resistance: Excellent — virtually stainless
• Sharpenability: Challenging — requires diamond abrasives

Artisan Cutlery offers M390 variants of models like the Andromeda and Apache Nomad with premium handle materials.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Property	CPM S35VN	M390
Edge Retention	Good	Excellent
Toughness	Very Good	Moderate
Corrosion Resistance	Good	Excellent
Ease of Sharpening	Good	Difficult
Price Premium	Moderate	Higher
Best For	Daily EDC all-rounder	Edge retention maximizer

Which Should You Choose?

Choose CPM S35VN if...

• This is your primary EDC knife used daily for varied tasks
• You sharpen your own knives with conventional stones
• You want a great balance of performance and value
• You occasionally push your knife hard

Choose M390 if...

• You hate sharpening and want maximum time between touch-ups
• You live in a humid or coastal environment
• You have a rotating collection where each knife sees lighter use
• You own diamond sharpening equipment

Our Recommendation

For most users, CPM S35VN is the smarter choice. It delivers 90-95% of the edge retention of M390 with significantly better toughness and easier maintenance. You’ll spend less time sharpening and more time using your knife.

If you’re a steel enthusiast or want the absolute best edge retention, M390 is a legitimate upgrade — especially with premium handle materials like titanium and Fat Carbon.

The bottom line: You can’t go wrong with either. Choose S35VN for the best all-around daily driver, or M390 for the ultimate edge-holding machine.

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