S45VN vs MagnaCut Steel Comparison

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S45VN vs MagnaCut Steel Comparison over a blurred abstract steel background

S45VN has a small abrasive edge-retention advantage over MagnaCut in the published ratings. MagnaCut gives you higher toughness and corrosion resistance. We would put more weight on those larger differences than on S45VN’s half-point wear advantage when choosing a knife for varied everyday use.

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.

Dr. Thomas’s property ratings. Separate scales, not physical percentages or an overall score.
Property	CPM S45VN	CPM MagnaCut
Abrasive edge retention	5.5	5
Toughness	4	7
Corrosion resistance	8	9.5

Heat treatment, hardness and geometry affect actual knives.

Keep the Small Wear Advantage in Perspective

S45VN rates 5.5 for abrasive edge retention, compared with MagnaCut at 5. That is a small published difference, not a reason to expect a dramatic change in sharpening frequency. A particular knife’s geometry and heat treatment can easily become more important to the buying decision.

For mostly dry slicing, S45VN remains a sound option. If you already like an S45VN knife, the table does not give you an edge-retention reason to replace it with MagnaCut.

For more on S45VN, see our S45VN steel profile.

Where MagnaCut Makes the Stronger Case

Original MagnaCut rates 7 for toughness and S45VN 4. Their corrosion-resistance scores are 9.5 and 8 respectively. These differences favor MagnaCut when wet carry or chipped edges are a concern, while still leaving the knife’s construction and edge geometry to consider.

S45VN’s datasheet describes a design aimed at improved wear and corrosion resistance over S35VN. That history does not make it a higher-performing version of MagnaCut; the two have different balances of properties. Compare what you need from the knife rather than treating steel names as successive grades on a ladder.

For more on MagnaCut, see our MagnaCut steel profile.

Care and Sharpening

Both are stainless and need ordinary care. Remove salt or food residue and dry them after use. We would prefer MagnaCut for frequently damp carry when the knife designs are otherwise comparable, without presenting S45VN as unsuitable for everyday pockets.

Diamond or cubic boron nitride (CBN) abrasives are useful options for both. The small wear-rating gap is not enough to promise an obvious sharpening-speed difference. If you are deciding between two finished knives, bevel thickness and the condition of the edge are more useful details to inspect.

Which Version Would We Buy?

At the same price and in the same knife design, we would generally choose MagnaCut for its broader balance. We would choose S45VN without hesitation when it comes in the model we prefer or offers a worthwhile saving for ordinary slicing.

If your priority is substantially longer abrasive cutting, this particular switch is unlikely to deliver the dramatic difference you may be looking for. Use our knife steel guide to compare a wider range before paying for a change that does not match your goal.