So here are my (practical) thoughts about Sebenza MagnaCut

PiterM

PiterM

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That took me a good bit longer than expected, but I was simply involved in other projects recently. But anyway, thanks to Alex's generosity I was able to play with Sebenza in MagnaCut for full 3 months last summer. I tried to put together my observations based on some notes during daily use, also against other knives. For technical/scientific analsis you can easily google some amazing articles. For me the quesion is: is MagnaCut as good as expected (based on all that internet hype) and worth waiting?

For the record: this Sebenza was heat treated to 62 HRC, but Tim told me they plan to go slightly higher to 63-64 HRC. Should be interesting

I can say I really checked well how good it is at cutting / edge retention, especially compared to S35VN, S45VN, Elmax, LC200N, and m390. To some extent also vs K390. For regular cutting (food, rope, whittling) it's clearly better than S35VN. Seems to hold edge also longer than my Inkosi in S45VN and some of my Elmax folders too, but the difference is not so big. Compared to m390 (TRC Knives, Spyderco) it's more or less the same... maybe m390 in TRC holds the edge even longer? I know how it sounds, but really, m390 is amazing in edge holding.

Toughness... well, I tried some batoning, notching in hardwood, etc. so I can compare it against other folders. But honestly, comparing it to my big fixed blades in 3V or Vanadis 4E makes little sense and it's more like a feeling than a real fact. It seems to be as tough as my 4" custom puukko in Vanadis 4 Extra (with an edge thin enough to compare it to Sebenza). My 3V knives (Benchmade Leuku, CRK Impofu) both have a considerably thicker cutting edge, so it's hard to compare them. With the same geometry maybe it'd be similar? I'd need a 5-6 inch fixed chopper in MagnaCut to determine that. But for sure it's way tougher than S45VM, m390, S35VN, and other classic folder steels... with the same or better edge holding. And that is amazing!

Ease of sharpening? harder than S35VN or SPY27, easier than S90V or 3V. I'd say similar to S45VN. Just make sure you strop it well. Overall it's not too demanding, most of us would sharpen it easily.

Corrosion resistance - full, absolute, the best.

Conclusions: it's awesome steel, it combines super toughness, edge retention, and rust resistance. Are there and tougher steels? Sure! Even 3V is probably tougher. Are there steels with better edge retention? Yeah, K390 or imho even m390 with superb heat treatment. Are there steels more rust resistan? Well, maybe H1, I don't know. But is there any other steel that combines all these aspect together and still can be sharpened by most knife enthusiasts? NOT! Than's the magic of MagnaCut, it's awesome in all these aspects. That said... don't wait for the MagnaCut, buy & use what you want. S45VN and m390 are just as aswesome as they were yesterday. Life is too short to wait for the perfect steel.

Anyway, here's a full article: https://packconfig.com/review/sebenza-magnacut-magic-just-happened

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You definitely know how to photograph them!

Regardless of performance real world, they will sell out instantly for the first year or so. Magnacut seems to have a mythical reputation.
 
well… or untill there’s something new on the horizon, like MagnaCut-X with toughness above 3V or stainless K390 ;)

BTW, I still use my Micarta S31 in S35VN more than my Inkosi in S45VN. Even if I know this S45VN is superior. But I don’t care and I just enjoy micarta inlays so much!
 
Been anxiously awaiting this review for a while! Thanks for putting the MC through the paces, documenting it and taking some fabulous photos! Can't wait until CRK starts offering it! Until then, like you said, I'll continue enjoying my other variants of steel!
 
PiterM PiterM this is so mean to post this before they are even available! Makes me want one so badly…

Seriously though, great review and photos!

-Mike
 
Haha! Well, there’s just a handfull of luck ones. But you know what? S45VN can still hold an edge ;)
 
Thanx Piter, great writeup.

Is this a confimation that CRK will switch to MC in the near future?
 
353 said:
Is this a confimation that CRK will switch to MC in the near future?
Click to expand...
Define ’near’ please… 2023 maybe? Late 2023? Just my guess, I have zero idea. But full switch from S35VN to S45VN took them about two years from first prototypes to full production as far as I remember.
 
Depends on heat treat but I would venture MagnaCut is better than Vanex. Think stainless 4V. Spyderco feel comfortable making MC a salt knife. Only higher wear resistance or easier to sharpen would trump MC in a folder.
 
Of course it was not scientific experiment but as I said I used MC on a boat for 2 weeks (incl. fishing, cleaning catch, cutting wet rope, kitchen stuff, etc.). It was in humid environment (or just wet) almost all the time. After two weeks the blade didn't exposed even a single slightest dark spot of stain or rust. In my book MC is simply totally rustproof. I cannot see any way to make it rust except on very clear purpose by treatment with some specially prepared chemicals etc. (which can be done to any steel I believe). It's the new "SALT approved" material by Spyderco and I'm sure Sal did his job well with R&D in Golden.

If I'd need more rust resistance than MC or LC200N - I'd simply use Stellite 6K, Talonite or Terravantium (or other non-ferrous) knife.
 
See at this rate, I'm never going to buy a CRK.

When I first got into knives, like most, my $50 Spyderco Centofante III was expensive to me, and I couldn't fathom a $425 CRK.

Then later on I got into that price point but CRK was using S30V and S35VN at RC 58-59 when most everyone else had upgraded at that price point.

I was just about to get into them when they switched to S45VN, and I said, self, let's just wait for the update. Still don't have one.

Now here we are with another update. Hopefully Larrin doesn't invent any more super steels before CRK changes over.
 
S45VN is no slouch. Even S30V shows slightly better wear resistance according to knife steel nerds. Granted that might be at equal Rockwell hardness. I don’t care about corrosion resistance, they will only go so far with wear resistance so really steels aren’t moving ahead like people think especially in a folding knife.

For a large chopper or something you might ding the edge regularly on Magnacut is exciting. To be honest I’m still fine with INFI for big knives
 
I quite like S30V and bought one after S45VN was fairly available. I do care about steels but the small incremental improvements above S30V don’t motivate me much. I guess I don’t push S30V to it’s limits and probably wouldn’t appreciate the small improvements. If I wanted another Sebenza right now I’d get the one I like and wouldn’t be choosy on blade steel. That’s just me though.
 
Looking at Larin's articles, there doesn't seem to be a very big difference between Magnacut and Vanax, other than the fact that Magnacut can be run 3-4 points harder. But unless I'm missing something, Vanax at hrc 60 and Magnacut at hrc 64 have very similar toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance. Which begs the question ... if this particular balance is so desirable, why hasn't everyone been clamoring for Vanax? Perhaps it's just too costly relative to Magnacut? Or?
 
I've looked at Larrin's chart more than once. And not that I'm a numbers guy, but Vanax and Magnacut do look pretty similar. I have a much older S30V large Sebenza that I'm really pretty happy with. That knife will be with me forever. But lately I've been rocking a Quiet Carry Drift with Vanax. It probably stays sharper than most of my other pocket knives. And if I use it in the kitchen and it gets forgotten in a pan of water, its spotless when I get back to it.
Back when I worked construction my Sebenza would come of of my sweaty back pocket with some topical corrosion spots.
I think its nice when knife manufacturers give their customers blade options. I'd take a hard look at buying another Sebenza if it offered Magnacut.
 
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