When choosing a knife—whether for everyday carry, outdoor survival, or professional tasks—the type of steel in the blade matters more than most people realize. Among the most frequently compared steels in the knife world is S30V steel. In this steel S30V guide, we’ll break down the composition, properties, price, uses and the key differences between S30V, CPM S30V and D2—so you can make an informed decision based on what really matters to you.
What is S30V Steel?
S30V steel is a high-end stainless steel made by Crucible Industries, known for its excellent combination of edge retention, corrosion resistance, and toughness. It is a powder metallurgy steel, meaning it is made using a process that ensures a more uniform distribution of carbides, resulting in better overall performance compared to traditional steels. S30V contains high amounts of carbon and vanadium, which contribute to its hardness and ability to hold a sharp edge for long periods, making it a popular choice for premium knives and cutting tools. Its balanced properties make it especially favored in the knife-making industry for both everyday carry (EDC) and professional use
Properties of S30V Steel
- Heat Treatment Response
User-Friendly Austenitizing: Can be fully hardened at temperatures ≤ 2000°F (1093°C), accommodating furnaces with lower maximum temperatures (e.g., Paragon brand furnaces).
Excellent Hardenability: The 2% Molybdenum content allows for slower quenches (e.g., air quenching) while still achieving full hardness.
Hardness Range:
Achieves ≥ 64 Rc with cold treatments.
Easily tempered down to 58–61 Rc (the optimal range for most knives). - Microstructure
Fine Carbide Distribution: Due to Crucible’s Powder Metallurgy (CPM) process, S30V has finer carbides than:
154CM / BG-42 (conventional stainless steels).
Even finer than earlier CPM steels like S60V (440V) and S90V (420V).
Benefit: Finer carbides enhance edge stability, sharpenability, and toughness compared to coarser-carbide steels. - Edge Retention
CATRA Testing Results:
Outperforms: XHP, Elmax, 154CM, 440C.
Slightly Below: ZDP-189, S90V, and 20CV/M390.
Position: Consistently ranks in the upper-mid tier for edge retention among stainless knife steels. - Toughness
Baseline Performance:
~5 ft-lbs (unnotched Charpy) at standard heat treatment (2000°F austenitize + 500°F temper).
Comparable to other premium stainless steels (e.g., 154CM, VG-10), but not exceptional.
Improvement Potential:
Austenitizing at 2025–2050°F + tempering at 400°F could boost toughness to 7–8 ft-lbs at 1–2 Rc higher hardness. - Corrosion Resistance
Rating: “Above Average” for a stainless knife steel.
Comparison:
Better than CPM-154.
Similar to S35VN.
Slightly below S45VN (its successor).
Practical Use: Sufficient for most environments (e.g., EDC, outdoor use). - Legacy & Impact
Ubiquity: Became the industry benchmark for high-end stainless knife steels due to its balanced properties.
Influence: Directly led to the development of:
S35VN (vanadium reduced, niobium added for better toughness).
S45VN (further optimized for corrosion resistance/toughness).
Cultural Impact: Its 2001 release spurred widespread adoption in production/custom knives and inspired metallurgical interest in knife steels.
Steel S30V Pros & Cons
Pros:
Excellent Edge Retention – Thanks to high vanadium content, S30V holds a sharp edge significantly longer than many mid-tier steels.
Good Corrosion Resistance – With 14% chromium, it resists rust well, making it suitable for humid or outdoor environments.
Balanced Toughness – It offers decent impact resistance and chip resistance for a stainless steel in its class.
Fine Carbide Structure – Powder metallurgy process results in uniform carbide distribution, improving both wear resistance and sharpness.
Heat Treat Friendly – Can be hardened effectively at ≤2000°F, making it accessible to custom makers with standard furnaces.
Widely Available – Due to its long-standing popularity, it’s commonly found in both production and custom knives.
Cons:
Moderately Difficult to Sharpen – Hard vanadium carbides make sharpening more time-consuming without high-quality sharpening tools.
Not the Toughest – While reasonably tough, it’s less impact-resistant than newer steels like S35VN or MagnaCut.
Edge Chipping Possible – Under heavy lateral stress or abuse, the fine edge may chip if not properly heat-treated.
Less “Exciting” Today – As newer steels have emerged with improved properties, S30V may seem dated to some enthusiasts.
S30V Chemical Composition
This composition, developed through Crucible’s CPM (Crucible Particle Metallurgy) process, is designed specifically for knife steels, optimizing performance through a fine, even distribution of hard carbides.
S30V Steel Applications
S30V steel is primarily used in high-performance cutting tools due to its excellent balance of edge retention, corrosion resistance, and toughness. Its most common applications include:
Premium Pocket Knives – Favored by major knife brands (e.g., Benchmade, Spyderco) for everyday carry (EDC) blades that stay sharp through heavy use.
Fixed-Blade Knives – Used in hunting, survival, and tactical knives where durability and long-lasting sharpness are essential.
Custom Knives – Popular among custom knifemakers for its reliable heat treatability and fine finish.
Outdoor and Survival Tools – Suitable for demanding environments due to its corrosion resistance and wear strength.
Kitchen Knives (High-End) – Occasionally used in chef knives, especially for users who prioritize edge retention and cutting precision.
S30V Steel Price
For most knife makers in the U.S., expect to pay around $30–$40 per pound for usable CPM S30V stock. Smaller blanks come in around $50 each, while large bulk orders overseas can drop the price dramatically—though they typically require buying massive quantities.
Raw stock pricing (per pound): CPM S30V steel sheet or bar stock typically sells for around $28–$40 per pound in the U.S. knife‑making market
Stock blanks: Pre‑formed blade blanks in S30V commonly cost about $50 for a small 2–3 inch blank.
Raw steel by form and finish: Mill‑finish sheet starts around $25 /lb, ground finishes can range from $31–$37 /lb depending on thickness and precision .
Wholesale and bulk pricing: On platforms like Alibaba, raw CPM S30V is available in bulk for as low as $1–$1.70 per kg (~$0.45–$0.77 per lb), though this generally requires large‐scale tonnage orders.
What is CPM?
CPM stands for Crucible Particle Metallurgy, a specialized steel manufacturing process developed by Crucible Industries. Unlike traditional casting, this method involves: Atomizing molten steel into fine powder particles. Compacting and sintering (heating without melting) the powder under high pressure/temperature to form a solid billet.
CPM S30V vs S30V, What’s the Difference?
No difference – these terms refer to the exact same steel. The naming variations arise from labeling conventions, not material composition:
CPM S30V: Full name emphasizing the manufacturing process (Crucible Particle Metallurgy).
S30V: Abbreviated shorthand commonly used in marketing or blade markings 1410.
Why the Confusion?
Misinterpretation: Some assume “S30V” denotes a non-CPM variant, but Crucible Industries confirms S30V is exclusively made via CPM 25.
Inconsistent Labeling: Knife manufacturers may use either term (e.g., Spyderco uses both on different models), but steel composition remains identical 411.
Performance Myths: Rare claims of differences in sharpening or edge retention stem from heat treatment variations by knife makers, not the steel itself 111.
CPM S30V vs S30V, What’s the Difference?
No difference – these terms refer to the exact same steel. The naming variations arise from labeling conventions, not material composition:
CPM S30V: Full name emphasizing the manufacturing process (Crucible Particle Metallurgy).
S30V: Abbreviated shorthand commonly used in marketing or blade markings 1410.
Why the Confusion?
Misinterpretation: Some assume “S30V” denotes a non-CPM variant, but Crucible Industries confirms S30V is exclusively made via CPM 25.
Inconsistent Labeling: Knife manufacturers may use either term (e.g., Spyderco uses both on different models), but steel composition remains identical 411.
Performance Myths: Rare claims of differences in sharpening or edge retention stem from heat treatment variations by knife makers, not the steel itself 111.
S30V Steel vs D2, What’s the Difference?
| Property | D2 Steel | S30V Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | Higher carbon, lower chromium and vanadium. | Lower carbon, but richer in vanadium and chromium (via powder metallurgy). |
| Hardness | 58–62 HRC, depending on heat treatment. | 58–64 HRC; typically in the 58–61 range for knives. |
| Edge Retention | Good, designed for wear resistance, but dated. | Excellent – 30–40% better edge retention than D2 (CATRA ~650 vs. ~450–500). |
| Toughness | Decent, but prone to micro-chipping under stress. | Better due to uniform carbide distribution from CPM process. |
| Corrosion Resistance | Semi-stainless (12% chromium); rusts if not maintained. | True stainless (14% chromium); very good resistance even in moist environments. |
| Sharpening Ease | Can be tricky due to large carbides and harder wear resistance. | Easier to sharpen due to fine, uniform microstructure. |
| Manufacturing | Conventional steelmaking. | Crucible Particle Metallurgy (powder metallurgy). |
| Price | Budget-friendly ($15–$20 wholesale). | Premium pricing ($40–$100 wholesale). |
| Best Use Cases | Outdoor tools, budget knives, hard-use gear with occasional maintenance. | Premium EDC, kitchen knives, tactical blades, and high-end folders. |
D2 vs S30V Steel: Which is Better
When choosing a knife—whether for everyday carry, outdoor survival, or professional tasks—the type of steel in the blade matters more than most people realize. In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences between S30V and D2—including composition, performance, sharpening difficulty, price, and use cases—so you can make an informed decision based on what really matters to you.