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CPM 20CV is a stainless powder steel that combines useful abrasive edge retention with strong corrosion resistance. It fits a knife used mainly for slicing, especially if you want to spend less time dealing with rust. Its properties are close to M390's, so the knife's shape, heat treatment and ergonomics are often the more useful deciding factors.
What Is CPM 20CV?
20CV began as Latrobe's Duratech 20CV; the CPM-branded version came later. It belongs to the same closely related group as Böhler M390 and Carpenter CTS 204P. These steels have similar alloy designs, but the shared chemistry does not make every finished knife interchangeable.
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 20CV |
|---|---|
| Abrasive edge retention | |
| Toughness | |
| Corrosion resistance |
Heat treatment, hardness and geometry affect actual knives.
Explore CPM 20CV’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 20CV
- Abrasive edge retention
- 6.5
- Toughness
- 3.5
- Corrosion resistance
- 9
Same position; corrosion ratings may differ:
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 20CV’s ratings are shown above. Enable JavaScript to select another steel, or browse the full ratings table.
Edge Retention and Corrosion Resistance
20CV has an abrasive edge-retention rating of 6.5 and a corrosion-resistance rating of 9. It is a sensible combination for repeated cutting where both a lasting edge and stainless care are useful. S90V offers more abrasive wear resistance in the ratings, while 20CV has the higher corrosion rating.
For day-to-day cutting, keep blade geometry in view. A thin edge can slice efficiently, but it also needs to be appropriate for the material and force involved. Choosing the steel does not settle that design decision.
How Tough Is 20CV?
20CV's toughness rating is 3.5, the same as M390's. It is best approached as a cutting steel rather than a reason to use a thin blade for rough leverage. If you frequently chip an edge, consider a tougher steel or a more supportive edge geometry before prioritizing wear resistance.
Sharpening and Rust Care
Diamond or cubic boron nitride (CBN) abrasives are useful for sharpening 20CV's hard carbides. Use a consistent angle and an appropriate starting grit, and remove the burr before judging the result. Touching up an edge while it still cuts reasonably well is easier than waiting until it needs substantial repair.
Its stainless rating is reassuring, but rinse and dry the knife after wet or dirty work. Salt and residue left around the pivot or under the handle can still cause trouble, including on parts made from other materials.
Choosing Between 20CV and Similar Steels
There is little reason to reject a knife you like simply because it uses 20CV instead of M390. Their ratings are tied, and differences in the finished knives can matter more than the names on the blades. Compare the handle, grind, dimensions and maker support. Our knife steel guide covers the broader choices.
Compare M390 vs 20CV 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 20CV: Niagara typical composition, mass %; selected elements, not a batch analysis. Niagara Specialty Metals: CPM 20CV.
| Element | CPM 20CV |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 1.9% |
| Chromium (Cr) | 20% |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 1% |
| Vanadium (V) | 4% |
| Tungsten (W) | 0.6% |
