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It’s safe to say that MagnaCut steel took the knife world by storm after its introduction in 2021. The steel offers incredible hardness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance, making it perfect for outdoor blades. It didn’t take long before every major knife manufacturer had at least one MagnaCut option.
Believe the hype. We’ve been quite impressed with what we’ve seen during testing of blades utilizing MagnaCut. Thus, we felt that it was time to assemble a comprehensive list of the best MagnaCut knives.
A Brief History of MagnaCut
MagnaCut was developed by Pennsylvania metallurgist Larrin Thomas in 2021. At the time, he worked on sheet steel for the automotive industry, but he was a die-hard steel nerd in his spare time. Thomas longed to come up with his own unique steel type, but according to his blog, he didn’t want to come up with just any steel. It had to offer something unique to the knife world.
Fortunately, writing frequently about steel helped him slowly develop an idea. He ended up looking closely at MagnaCut CPM 4V, a carbon steel. This led Thomas to come up with an idea for a new steel with reduced chromium carbide. There’s more to it than that, but we won’t go into all the technical aspects. He breaks it all down to an extreme level on his blog for the curious.
Thomas presented his ideas to Crucible Steel, which developed the first batch of MagnaCut. The new steel proved extremely tough, with excellent edge retention qualities. Thanks to a lack of chromium carbide, it also proved highly corrosion-resistant. Knifemakers were quickly enamored with the new steel; the rest was history.
Key Considerations
MagnaCut is a highly reliable steel, especially for outdoor applications. It’s ideal for hunting, fishing, and camping. The steel's corrosion resistance has led to companies like Benchmade basing their entire water lines on it. In short, knife enthusiasts have little to worry about regarding the quality of this steel. Thus, we considered other features when choosing the best MagnaCut knives for this list.
- Ergonomics: MagnaCut is excellent for many tasks, but quality handles and scaling can enhance performance even more. We looked for knives that offered a comfortable grip and wouldn’t slip in wet conditions.
- Case Use: This type of steel excels for hunting, fishing, and camping knives. Thus, we looked at mid-sized folders and fixed blades that could be useful for those tasks. We also considered a few knife types for EDC purposes.
- Blade Style: This steel type is usually best for drop-point outdoor knives. Although we tested mainly knives in that style, we considered a full range of blade types to suit any need.
Best Magnacut Knife Top Picks
- Best Overall: CRKT Redemption
- Best Budget: Hogue Deka
- Best EDC: Benchmade Mini Adira
- Best Hunting: Montana Knife Company Stonewall Skinner
- Best Lightweight: Benchmade Mini Osborne
- Best Assisted Opening: Benchmade PSK Axis Assist
- Best Fishing: Montana Knife Company Flathead Fillet
Best Overall: CRKT Redemption
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Everything about the Redemption makes it a winner. This knife is a collaboration between Columbia River Knife and Tool and Hogue Knives on a Ken Onion design. My knife came with a hair-popping edge straight from the box. I love the tolerances of this knife. It has been built with a silky smooth bearing in the pivot. Flipping this knife open is effortless and can be done with or without engaging the crossbar lock. I’ve spent hours just flipping the blade since I got it. It’s a fun fidget device that opens and closes with one hand. Just pull down the crossbar, and gravity takes over. I found it extremely helpful on EDC tasks in which I had only one hand free. Aesthetically, this is also just a beautiful knife. It has an old-school look with the flair of modern knife tech.
The only downside of this knife is that some state knife laws could restrict it. Although most states are eliminating such laws, this knife won’t pass the famous “wrist flick” test. Some law enforcement may not like the blade shape, either. It’s not double-edged, but it does look like a defensive knife. That little quirk aside, this is an outstanding knife, and the $225 price point feels incredibly fair compared to other MagnaCut options.
Best Budget: Hogue Deka
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Because MagnaCut is a premium steel, finding a cheap option is challenging. Hogue’s Deka is an excellent EDC knife that can frequently be found for $150 or less. Most impressive here is the weight. This knife disappears into a pants pocket thanks to being only 2.10 ounces. Its 3.25-inch blade is sized just right for package ripping, zip ties, rope, and more. It could also field dress a deer in a pinch.
The scaling on this knife is a little slick. It’s puzzling that most of the texture is in the rear of the handle rather than the front, which would be more helpful. There are aftermarket scaling options, but that does increase the price point. However, this isn’t a deal-breaker for us. This is the perfect option for anyone who wants a solid all-around MagnaCut knife that won’t also break the bank.
Best EDC: Benchmade Mini Adira
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The Benchmade Mini Adira is part of Benchmade’s new water line. These knives successfully won best of category at the ICAST sportfishing trade show. That’s no coincidence because the quality of the build is top-notch. I’ve found this to be an excellent fishing knife. The edge easily sliced fishing lines, including heavy braids, during my tests. Though designed for water use, it is a fantastic EDC knife. I’ve sliced cardboard, rope, plastic, and more with it effortlessly. The jimping and finger grooves impart optimal control of the blade tip.
I have noticed that the handle might feel a little short to anyone with larger hands. Additionally, I wish that there was a bit more texture at the bottom of the handle. It’s not a big deal because the knife is so functional and practical. The price point also feels very fair for what is being offered here.
Best Hunting: Montana Knife Company Stonewall Skinner
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Montana Knife Company is quickly becoming one of my favorites, and the Stonewall Skinner is one reason why. This gorgeous sheepsfoot fixed blade is beautifully balanced and comes with one of the sharpest factory edges I’ve ever tested. I love the balance of this knife. The 4.5-inch blade will field dress and quarter anything from whitetails to an enormous bull elk. I found the G-10 handle to feel incredibly natural in the hand. There’s just enough texture to keep from slipping when one’s hands are slick with blood.
This knife comes with a premium price tag that’s tough to swallow. I also naturally like to place my thumb on a fixed blade’s spine. Subsequently, the Stonewall Skinner feels like it could use some jimping. However, I fully expect this knife to last through years of use and abuse in the field. It will likely be my go-to hunting knife for many seasons to come.
Best Lightweight: Benchmade Mini Osborne
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The Osborne has been in the Benchmade lineup for a while. However, they recently started offering it in MagnaCut, and it’s a match made in heaven. This knife comes in under 3 ounces, making it a joy to carry all day. I own a lot of Benchmade knives, but this one has the slimmest profile I’ve ever seen. It makes it a highly comfortable EDC carry option. The unique reverse Tanto excels at piercing. It handled some of my cardboard-ripping tests handily. I still haven’t had to sharpen this blade. Osborne’s tolerances are also excellent; this knife can be flipped open with one hand, adding to its practicality.
My only complaint is about the stock aluminum scales. They have a beautiful look, but the surface feels a little slick. I think everyone’s mileage may vary. Otherwise, this is a slick-looking and practical EDC knife perfect for many users.
Best Assisted Opening: Benchmade PSK Axis Assist
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The PSK Axis Assist is another new offering from Benchmade that impressed me greatly during my testing. It uses a simple assisted-opening Axis lock to pop the blade open, which can be easily done with one hand. I love the factory edge on this knife. It effortlessly sliced foam, cardboard, paracord, and other materials during my tests. I still haven’t needed to touch up the edge. Combine that with good ergonomics, and this is another excellent EDC knife. This knife is big and is best for people with larger hands. It’s probably the beefiest handle I’ve ever seen on an assisted opening knife.
At $400, this knife is a big pill to swallow. It’s also a little bulky for pocket carry, and the profile is much wider than I expected. However, these are acceptable tradeoffs, given the quality of construction. This knife is built to withstand years of hard work.
Best Fishing: Montana Knife Company Flathead Fillet
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The Flathead Fillet is the best filet knife I own, and I have several of the latest models available. This knife was a collaboration between MKC and Huk apparel. They clearly designed it to be used and abused while fishing. I’ve fileted dozens of fish with mine this summer without touching the blade. The flex in the blade is perfect, and I have no doubt this knife could transition perfectly into a butchering tool during deer season. The Flathead Fillet takes corrosion resistance to an extreme level. MagnaCut already has incredible rust resistance. However, Huk and MKC stepped things up by giving this knife a Cerakote finish. The blade on mine still looks brand new despite cleaning dozens of fish this year.
That Cerakote finish does help drive up the price point to $300, which is a lot for a filet knife. I also noticed that the sheath is a bit quirky. The blade tip tends to hang up inside unless walked back slowly. However, I can deal with that because the rest of the knife is built so well. This is ideal for the hunter or fisherman tired of junk filet knives. The Flathead is built to last through years of heavy abuse.
How To Choose The Best MagnaCut Knives
Choosing the best MagnaCut knife candidates for this article was not easy. This premium steel has brought out the best of many knifemakers. Subsequently, I have yet to handle a MagnaCut knife that I felt had no target audience. The quality of every MagnaCut knife that I’ve tested has been off the charts. These high-end knives are built to work hard, especially in wet conditions.
Price Range
MagnaCut knives are not cheap. This high-end steel commands a premium price point, and we couldn’t find any under $100. Expect to pay $200 – $350 for a good MagnaCut knife. Part of that cost comes from the fact that this is American steel. Pennsylvania-based Crucible Industries provides more of this steel for knife manufacturers, which leads to almost all MagnaCut knives being manufactured here, which adds to the costs.
Sharpening
Most users consider MagnaCut an easy-to-sharpen steel. In terms of sharpening, it is often compared to D2 or CPM154. The big draw to MagnaCut is that the edge retention qualities are comparable to S30V. However, most knife enthusiasts agree that MagnaCut is significantly easier to resharpen than S30V or S90V. Still, it pays to have a good sharpener on hand. We prefer something with a diamond stone as opposed to a ceramic stone.
Fixed vs. Folding
In my experience, MagnaCut excels in both fixed and folding platforms. However, I would prefer a fixed blade for applications in which frequent water exposure is expected. Although this steel's corrosion resistance is excellent, keeping a fixed blade dry is easier. There is also less concern over the internal mechanisms. Folding blades are better for EDC applications, whereas fixed blades make for a better camping or survival knife.
Blade Type
We have briefly touched on this, but the blade shape is essential for determining its usefulness. Simple drop points work well for hunting and EDC tasks like package opening and rope cutting. Clip points have a finer tip, which is better for delicate cuts and carving. Sheepsfoot blades excel at food prep and butchering tasks. Spearpoint and Tanto knives are better for piercing and are often used in defense.
Why Trust Us
We tested many MagnaCut knives for inclusion in this piece. The blades were tested in real-world scenarios, such as fishing, hunting, and camping. I also frequently used them for EDC tasks around the home. These tests showed me first-hand the steel’s edge retention qualities. In addition to real-world testing, I have reviewed knives professionally for the last decade. This has led me to understand what makes a good knife and a bad one. I have also developed my own rigid testing standards by which every blade in this article had to test to be included.
Final Thoughts
It was hard to decide on the best MagnaCut knives for this article, mainly because I tested some excellent knives. Manufacturers have stepped up their game with this knife steel, and I think that it will be hard to go wrong with any MagnaCut knife for years to come. At the end of the day, CRKT’s Redemption blew me away with its versatility and slick mechanisms. The $220 price point also makes it the best value in MagnaCut today. My runner-up is the Montana Knife Company Stonewall Skinner for its excellent craftsmanship and ergonomic handle. I have a feeling that it will be a hunting buddy for me for years.
FAQs
Q: What is so good about MagnaCut?
A: MagnaCut holds an impressive edge while being quite manageable to sharpen. It is an incredibly balanced and tough steel, slightly more affordable than other high-end steels. The metal's composition has proven to have extreme corrosion-resistant qualities, making it an excellent option for outdoor knives.
Q: Is MagnaCut steel hard to sharpen?
A: It depends on the user and the stone used. However, most people find MagnaCut very manageable when it comes to sharpening. It’s arguably much more manageable to sharpen than steels like S30V or S90V while offering the same edge retention qualities. Most experienced knife enthusiasts compare it to CPM154 or D2 in sharpening.
Q: What is MagnaCut steel worth?
A: As mentioned, MagnaCut is a high-end knife steel that commands a premium price. Expect to pay $120 to $500 for a knife that utilizes it. It varies depending on the manufacturer and type of knife. However, this steel is usually produced in the United States, increasing prices.
