S30V / CPM S30V in stock
Yes, it is the original mainstream premium powder steel. Crucible's CPM S30V runs about 1.45% carbon, 14% chromium, 4% vanadium and 2% molybdenum at 58 to 61 HRC. Edge retention is very good thanks to a high vanadium carbide content; toughness is moderate and it can be chippy if ground thin or over-hardened.
S30V was co-developed by Crucible with Chris Reeve Knives specifically as a knife steel, which was unusual at the time. It became the benchmark that every subsequent premium stainless has been measured against.
The powder-metallurgy process gives a fine, even carbide distribution that a conventionally melted steel of the same composition would not achieve.
The vanadium carbides that give it wear resistance also make it slow on a stone. Diamond abrasives are effectively required if you want to reprofile; ceramic will maintain an existing edge.
Corrosion resistance is good but not exceptional, because a lot of chromium is bound into carbides. Wipe it dry.
S35VN is the direct successor: Crucible substituted niobium for some of the vanadium, giving a finer carbide structure, better toughness and easier machining. If you are choosing between them today, S35VN is the refinement.
S30V is not obsolete. It is a proven steel with a very long track record.
The grid below shows S30V / CPM S30V listings from Gerber, chosen from the catalog when this answer was written. Each one carries S30V / CPM S30V in its own specification table, and its price is read from the live catalog every time the site is built.
The full reference entry, with the published composition and hardness range and every listing we carry in it, is S30V / CPM S30V in the Steel Lab.