S35VN / CPM S35VN in stock
Yes, it is a premium stainless, the refined successor to S30V and extremely common on premium production and custom folders. Crucible's CPM S35VN runs about 1.4% carbon, 14% chromium, 3% vanadium, 0.5% niobium and 2% molybdenum at 58 to 61 HRC. The niobium substitution gives it a finer, more uniform carbide structure and better toughness than S30V.
Crucible replaced some of S30V's vanadium with niobium. Niobium carbides are smaller and more evenly distributed, which improves toughness, makes the steel easier to machine and grind, and leaves edge retention essentially intact.
The result is a steel that does everything S30V does with fewer of its rough edges, which is why it became so common on premium production and custom folders.
Edge retention is very good, corrosion resistance is good, toughness is respectable. It is a steel that rarely gives you a reason to complain in any single direction.
It still benefits from diamond or ceramic abrasives. The carbides are finer than S30V's, but they are still vanadium and niobium carbides.
CPM MagnaCut is the newer design that pushed the frontier further, particularly on corrosion resistance and toughness at the same hardness. S35VN remains excellent and typically costs less.
If you want one premium steel that does not surprise you, S35VN is a very defensible choice.
The grid below shows S35VN / CPM S35VN listings from Böker Plus, Buck and Case, chosen from the catalog when this answer was written. Each one carries S35VN / CPM S35VN 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 S35VN / CPM S35VN in the Steel Lab.
