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S110V and MagnaCut suit different priorities. S110V is the stronger candidate for long runs of abrasive cutting; original MagnaCut trades some of that wear resistance for substantially more toughness. Both are highly corrosion resistant, so this choice is mainly about how you use the edge.
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.
The toughness score of 7 is for original Crucible MagnaCut. In written feedback to KnifeInformer, Dr. Thomas provided a toughness rating of 8.5 for Erasteel MagnaCut; his January 2026 testing explains the differences between the two versions. This table uses the original version.
| Property | CPM S110V | CPM MagnaCut |
|---|---|---|
| Abrasive edge retention | ||
| Toughness | ||
| Corrosion resistance |
Heat treatment, hardness and geometry affect actual knives.
S110V for Repeated Abrasive Cutting
S110V rates 8 for abrasive edge retention, against 5 for original MagnaCut. If cardboard or similarly abrasive material makes up much of your cutting, S110V offers a clear reason to choose it. Those scores describe resistance to wear, not a guarantee that every S110V knife stays sharp longer than every MagnaCut knife.
A thin blade that moves easily through the material is still worth prioritizing. Buying a thicker knife solely for S110V can leave you with more cutting resistance, even if the steel wears slowly.
Our CPM S110V steel profile looks more closely at its wear-focused role.
MagnaCut Gives the Edge More Margin Against Chipping
Original MagnaCut rates 7 for toughness and S110V 3. That is the larger tradeoff behind S110V’s wear resistance. For varied cutting where an edge may encounter harder material unexpectedly, we would generally lean toward MagnaCut when blade geometry and heat treatment are comparable.
The higher score does not turn a folding knife into a pry bar. A thin or very acute MagnaCut edge can still chip, while a well-supported S110V edge can serve well in controlled slicing.
The MagnaCut steel profile explains the original and Erasteel rating versions.
Which Fits Your Knife?
We would pick S110V for a dedicated slicer used on abrasive material, especially if you already have suitable sharpening equipment. We would choose MagnaCut for a more mixed workload where toughness matters as much as wear.
Corrosion is a smaller separator here: MagnaCut rates 9.5 and S110V 9. Both still deserve cleaning and drying. The steel designation alone does not establish the corrosion resistance of a knife’s screws, liners or other hardware.
Composition
S110V values follow Niagara’s composition table, which lists 3% niobium; later prose on that sheet says 3.5%. We use the table rather than combining the two figures. Our steel composition guide explains the elements and source differences.
CPM S110V: Niagara typical composition for the later S110V formulation, selected elements. Niagara Specialty Metals: CPM S110V.
CPM MagnaCut: Niagara typical composition, mass %; selected elements, not a batch analysis. Niagara Specialty Metals: CPM MagnaCut.
| Element | CPM S110V | CPM MagnaCut |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 2.8% | 1.15% |
| Chromium (Cr) | 15.25% | 10.7% |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 2.25% | 2% |
| Vanadium (V) | 9% | 4% |
| Niobium (Nb) | 3% | 2% |
| Cobalt (Co) | 2.5% | Not listed |
| Nitrogen (N) | Not listed | 0.2% |
Compare Two Knife Steels
Sources and Update Notes
- Dr. Larrin Thomas: knife steel ratings · Property ratings, not a test of these finished knives.
- CPM S110V composition reference
- MagnaCut composition reference
- Larrin Thomas: S110V history and properties
