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.
14C28N and S30V make quite different stainless knives on paper. S30V favors abrasive edge retention; 14C28N offers much greater toughness and a higher corrosion-resistance rating. Neither is simply the better steel, so the choice starts with what you expect from 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.
| Property | 14C28N | CPM S30V |
|---|---|---|
| Abrasive edge retention | ||
| Toughness | ||
| Corrosion resistance |
Heat treatment, hardness and geometry affect actual knives.
S30V for Repeated Abrasive Slicing
S30V rates 6 for abrasive edge retention, while 14C28N rates 3. For a blade that spends much of its time cutting abrasive packaging, we would favor S30V if the knives have comparable geometry.
A thicker S30V edge can still feel less efficient than a thin 14C28N blade. The wear rating describes resistance to dulling from abrasion, not the force required to make a cut.
Our 14C28N steel profile takes a closer look at its properties and care.
14C28N Has a Substantial Toughness Advantage
14C28N rates 9 for toughness against S30V at 4. That makes 14C28N attractive when the edge needs more resistance to chips, especially in a design intended for a thin, keen edge.
The rating does not prescribe one edge angle for all knives. Use the maker’s guidance and adjust sharpening to the cutting you actually do rather than chasing the thinnest possible bevel.
Our S30V steel profile takes a closer look at its properties and care.
Wet Carry Favors 14C28N in This Pair
The corrosion scores are 8.5 for 14C28N and 7.5 for S30V. Both are stainless steels, but 14C28N has the higher rating here. Dry either knife after use rather than relying on the label alone.
For occasional light cutting, the extra wear resistance of S30V may be less valuable than 14C28N’s combination of toughness and corrosion resistance.
A Workload Choice, Not a Price Ladder
Our preference is S30V for sustained abrasive slicing and 14C28N when toughness is the leading concern. Compare the actual asking prices, handles and grinds before assuming the S30V knife is an upgrade.
A good 14C28N design is not a compromise simply because another knife uses S30V. The properties favor different priorities.
Composition
Our steel composition guide explains the elements and the differences between reported values, ranges and limits.
14C28N: Alleima nominal composition, mass %; selected elements, not a batch analysis. Alleima: 14C28N datasheet.
CPM S30V: Reported composition from Larrin Thomas’s July 2026 table, mass %; not a producer specification or batch analysis. This source lists 0.2% nitrogen for S30V; Niagara’s datasheet does not list nitrogen. Knife Steel Nerds: stainless steel composition table (July 2026).
| Element | 14C28N | CPM S30V |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.62% | 1.45% |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.2% | Not listed |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.6% | Not listed |
| Chromium (Cr) | 14% | 14% |
| Nitrogen (N) | 0.11% | 0.2% |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | Not listed | 2% |
| Vanadium (V) | Not listed | 4% |
Compare Two Knife Steels
Sources and Update Notes
- Dr. Larrin Thomas: knife steel ratings · Property ratings; the scores describe steels rather than individual finished knives.
- Alleima: 14C28N datasheet
- Knife Steel Nerds: stainless steel composition table (July 2026)
