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S35VN is a stainless knife steel with a practical balance for everyday carry. It gives up a little abrasive edge retention compared with S30V in exchange for a higher toughness rating. That makes it worth considering for a pocket knife you use regularly, especially when long wear life is only one part of what you want.
What Is CPM S35VN?
CPM S35VN is a powder metallurgy stainless steel developed as a refinement of S30V. Its composition includes niobium alongside vanadium, chromium and molybdenum. The changed carbide balance was intended to improve toughness while retaining useful wear resistance. S35VN and S30V are related grades, not two names for the same steel.
Our S30V profile explains the other side of that tradeoff.
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 S35VN |
|---|---|
| Abrasive edge retention | |
| Toughness | |
| Corrosion resistance |
Heat treatment, hardness and geometry affect actual knives.
Explore CPM S35VN’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 S35VN
- Abrasive edge retention
- 5
- Toughness
- 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 S35VN’s ratings are shown above. Enable JavaScript to select another steel, or browse the full ratings table.
Edge Retention and Everyday Use
S35VN scores 5 for abrasive edge retention in Dr. Larrin Thomas's ratings, compared with 6 for S30V. For cutting cardboard, cord and other wear-heavy materials, S30V has the higher rating. For a mix of small daily jobs, the comfort of the handle and how easily the blade passes through material may matter more to you than that difference.
What the Toughness Difference Means
Its toughness rating of 5 is higher than S30V's 4. That is useful context if you are weighing resistance to edge damage against wear resistance. It does not guarantee a chip-free edge: blade geometry, heat treatment and the way the knife is used still matter. S35VN is a reasonable middle ground, rather than the toughest stainless choice available.
Sharpening and Rust Care
Diamond or cubic boron nitride (CBN) abrasives are useful for sharpening S35VN, particularly when repairing an edge or changing its angle. For a touch-up, follow the existing bevel and use light finishing passes to remove the burr. A toughness improvement over S30V does not by itself tell you how quickly a particular knife will sharpen.
With a corrosion-resistance rating of 7.5, S35VN offers stainless convenience for everyday use. Clean off food or salt residue and dry the blade before storage. For repeated saltwater exposure, look at the corrosion resistance of the whole knife, including its hardware.
Is S35VN Still a Good Choice?
Yes. If an S35VN knife has the size, grind and handle you like, a newer steel name is not a reason to dismiss it. Compare the complete knife and its price before paying for a small change in alloy. If you already own one that performs well, the most useful upgrade may be a sharper edge rather than a replacement knife. For the wider range of options, see our knife steel guide.
Composition
Our steel composition guide explains what the elements do and how to read these values.
CPM S35VN: Selected nominal/typical values, mass %; not a batch certificate or complete analysis. Niagara Specialty Metals: CPM S35VN.
| Element | CPM S35VN |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 1.4% |
| Niobium (Nb) | 0.5% |
| Chromium (Cr) | 14% |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 2% |
| Vanadium (V) | 3% |
