M390 vs. S90V?

RevDevil said:
Yes, I found this too. When I sharpened S90V it seemed to perform better with a toothier (300-400 grit) edge than M390 at the same grit. But when both are taken up to 1000 grit and higher, M390 seems to perform much better and holds it's edge for a really long time, while S90V is still sharp, it's not as razor sharp due to the carbide overload. I guess I am not too much of a risk taker when reprofiling, I tend to stick with a 40 degree edge, sometimes 50 depending on what knife it is.
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Yeah Rev, I rarely take my S90V beyond a 500# shapton glass stone. That toothy edge just performs so well for my uses as a work knife
 
With Benchmade running the S90V at 59-61, it should outperform M390, especially with a relatively coarse edge, which has been my experience. FWIW and IIRC, Spyderco has generally run S90V in the same HRC range.
 
I really cannot speak to the difference between both steels in the edge retention department because they are much beyond the majority of knives I own. Both hold an edge at a level of thin and at a level of extended usage that most steels are nowhere near. Both seem to have their own preferences on edge finishing in which the edge does best with one style finish (for M390, I think a highly polished finish and I am playing around with the 5k/10k Choseras on it). From what I have read, which one has better edge retention seems to depend on a few Rockwell Hardness points determined by how hard the maker takes one of their steels versus the other.

I do, however, feel M390 is much easier to sharpen and I find it to have dramatically better corrosion resistance than S90V (and for that matter, as good as corrosion resistance as any non-'marine steel' I own). And I am very happy with M390's toughness.

I am really liking S110V tho as I find it much easier to sharpen than S90V, for whatever reason.
 
From what I have been mucking around with M390, S90V and S110V, S90V & S110V has upper edge in wear resistance. That Vanadium sure gives toothy grains within the carbide grain matrix.

S110V is easier than S90V to sharpen, thanks to Niobium. It creates smaller grain and evenly places it. Perhaps atomic size within steel matrix are far better suited with Vanadium, manganese, and molybdenum alloy.
 
RevDevil said:
Yes, I found this too. When I sharpened S90V it seemed to perform better with a toothier (300-400 grit) edge than M390 at the same grit. But when both are taken up to 1000 grit and higher, M390 seems to perform much better and holds it's edge for a really long time, while S90V is still sharp, it's not as razor sharp due to the carbide overload. I guess I am not too much of a risk taker when reprofiling, I tend to stick with a 40 degree edge, sometimes 50 depending on what knife it is.
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I’ve noticed that Benchmade only sharpens to a certain grit with s90v, for that reason. Pretty smart, actually. I bought a custom Bugout with s90v, and the edge, very sharp, was held back in terms of a fine polished edge that m390 can handle.
 
theoretically shouldn't S90v be the best stainless small blade knife steel at an hrc of 60 to 61 so long as you don't use it to pry things? I mean it's wear resistance is off the charts and barring a near zero edge I wouldn't think there's risk of chipping on most materials without the rare mishap of hitting something hard in whatever you're cutting that's contaminating the medium.
 
With hunting in the picture, I’d take the Manix just based on blade design, but a good fixed blade is in order for hunting. M390 seems very well done, but from personal experience, my BM Altitude (S90V) made it through an entire cow elk in the field (skinned and quartered, ready for the pack out) and was still shaving arm hair.
 
Rockwelledge75 said:
theoretically shouldn't S90v be the best stainless small blade knife steel at an hrc of 60 to 61 so long as you don't use it to pry things? I mean it's wear resistance is off the charts and barring a near zero edge I wouldn't think there's risk of chipping on most materials without the rare mishap of hitting something hard in whatever you're cutting that's contaminating the medium.
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Yes, sir. From conception, they should have only considered s90v. The steel would have fit perfectly with the idea of the Bugout, which is basically weightless, but performs perfectly as an every day pocket knife.
 
In reading through the replies from folks who have experience with both steels, it seems to me that both steels are close to each other in characteristics. Based on those replies, if it were me raying to decide, it would come down to the knife itself rather than the steel.
 
I've had both steels in use for several years now

Either one is a great choice. In fact: I'd hate to live on the differences between them!
 
Keyman said:
S90V or M390?
Absolutely no contest here
S90V all the way.
When heat treated correctly S90V is the closest thing to M2 (for edge retention) that I can find.
JM2C
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I love M2, but I'm curious why you think S90V is close to M2 for edge retention. Larrin has S90V at 61.5 Rc getting almost 800 TCC. M2, even at almost 64 Rc gets less than 500 cuts.
 
Have it had a Manix2 and Military in S90v and many, many others in m390 I would give the edge retention to S90v. It seems like I never had to sharpen them.
 
So let's throw S110V into the fracas...
How does it stack up?
 
Twindog said:
I love M2, but I'm curious why you think S90V is close to M2 for edge retention. Larrin has S90V at 61.5 Rc getting almost 800 TCC. M2, even at almost 64 Rc gets less than 500 cuts.
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My own personal experience carrying and using both steels in an edc role. I Love M2. I became aware of M2 when BM was retiring it’s use in their production process. So my only exposure to M2 (as far as use goes) was through BM , about 4-5 different models, probably 10-12 knives total.
Now as I said before, since that time S90V is the closest thing to M2 I have used.
The S90V knives I’ve used probably amount to about 6-8 knives of various manufacturers.
Don’t get me wrong, M390 is great.
Most of my current lineup is cpm-20cv
I have no complaints
Numbers are the truth, I respect that.
However, when discussing personal preference perception is everything.
Your cuts may very.
 
I’d personally take the S90V just to have something different. M390/20CV is the go-to for a nice knife in today’s world and I would like to see that change a bit. Don’t get me wrong, it’s obviously a very good steel, but I would personally like to see some others there.

For example, I would personally really like to see CPM M4, 4V, 3V, and 14C28N more commonly on high end folders.

14C28N is especially underrated, considering how dang similar it is to the highly regarded LC200N.

I would love an elegant, simplistic folder in 3V. Because of it’s toughness, that means it can handle a thinner edge with more stability. Why do 3V knives have to be bulky workhorse styles or fixed blades??

I do know of the 3V Hinderer wharncliff and the 3V Kizer Critical, but sadly neither of those appeal to me. 😒
 
I have recently fallen in love with S90v on my 535-3 Bugout. I do have one knife with M390 that sharp impressed me but S90v just wants to cut and cut. It also stops up to shaving after doing a good bit of work quite easily.
 
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