We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. Any products or services put forward appear in no particular order. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
S90V is a stainless knife steel aimed at keeping a working edge through abrasive cutting. It is worth considering if you do plenty of slicing and would rather sharpen less often, even if each sharpening session takes more effort. Its main compromise is toughness, so it suits controlled cutting better than work that repeatedly damages the edge.
What Is CPM S90V?
CPM S90V is a powder metallurgy stainless grade developed by Crucible, originally known as CPM 420V. Its high vanadium content produces hard carbides that contribute to wear resistance. S90V and S110V are different alloys; the larger number in a steel name is not a universal measure of knife quality.
Performance Ratings
For the science, we turn to Dr. Larrin Thomas of Knife Steel Nerds, who has kindly allowed us to share his ratings here.
| Property | CPM S90V |
|---|---|
| Abrasive edge retention | |
| Toughness | |
| Corrosion resistance |
Heat treatment, hardness and geometry affect actual knives.
Explore CPM S90V’s Tradeoffs
Choose a steel above to highlight its position and see all three exact ratings below. The full map fits your screen.
Stainless
CPM S90V
- Abrasive edge retention
- 9
- Toughness
- 3.5
- Corrosion resistance
- 7.5
All 48 rated materials. Numbers group steels at identical coordinates; colors describe stainless classification, not corrosion scores. Neither direction means a universally better knife.
CPM S90V’s ratings are shown above. Enable JavaScript to select another steel, or browse the full ratings table.
Why Choose S90V for Edge Retention?
S90V scores 9 for abrasive edge retention, compared with 6 for S30V and 6.5 for M390. That makes it a useful option for repeated slicing of wear-heavy materials such as cardboard. These ratings indicate relative material behavior, not a promise about the number of boxes a knife will cut.
A good grind still matters. Edge geometry determines how the knife enters and passes through the material, while wear resistance helps it retain useful sharpness. Neither one replaces the other.
Where S90V Is Less Forgiving
Its toughness rating of 3.5 means it is not the steel to choose primarily for resistance to chipping. Keep the cut straight and avoid contact with hard objects such as staples. If your edge usually fails by chipping rather than wearing dull, a tougher steel may solve the more important problem.
Sharpening and Rust Care
Diamond or cubic boron nitride (CBN) abrasives are especially useful for S90V's vanadium-rich carbide structure. Use a coarse grit for repair or a major bevel change, then refine the edge and remove the burr. Trying to do all that work on a very fine stone is likely to be frustrating.
S90V is stainless, with a corrosion rating of 7.5. Wipe away residue, rinse after exposure to salt or acidic food and dry the knife before storing it. Stainless care is simpler than caring for many non-stainless steels, but it is not maintenance-free.
Is S90V Right for Your Knife?
S90V makes the most sense when wear is your main concern and you already have suitable sharpening equipment, or are willing to get it. For occasional package opening, its advantage may matter less than handle comfort, blade shape and price. Our knife steel guide helps compare that choice with tougher or easier-maintenance alternatives.
Compare S90V vs MagnaCut in the comparison tool to see their ratings side by side.
Composition
Our steel composition guide explains what the elements do and how to read these values.
CPM S90V: Niagara typical composition, mass %; selected elements, not a batch analysis. Niagara Specialty Metals: CPM S90V.
| Element | CPM S90V |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 2.3% |
| Chromium (Cr) | 14% |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 1% |
| Vanadium (V) | 9% |
