Why is S35VN your favorite steel?

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It is interesting that so many people seem to decide a steel’s worth based on the YouTuber they follow. The people that watch YouTubers cutting cardboard or rope will also hyperfocus on only those metrics.
 
VorpelSword said:
So what happened to the Magnicut formulation? Did that pan out as a well balanced steel intentionally designed for cutlery? Or did the S45VN alloly surpass it in some way?

Some of this steel-swapping seems to be faddish or hype driven.
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Full Disclosure:

Back in October of 2024, I bought our son a Large Sebenza 31 (in Magnicut) for his 45th birthday. He is delighted with it and his brothers-in-law are adequately impressed.
 
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My thoughts are that S35vn is a super steel. As such with the “newer” super steels it is now considered in the middle of the pack somewhere.

If I’m buying a brand new knife I’ll splurge to get Magnacut or 1 of the other newest steels. Because why not if I can afford it.?

If I see a used knife in the classifieds for a good $ deal. I have no problems buying it with s35vn.

But I wouldn’t pay high end price for a knife with that steel any longer. Why because that steel is cheaper for companies to get than the new stuff.

To me companies still charging high end prices with now middle tier steel are just fattening their wallets but that is okay also since this is ‘Merica’ and that’s the dream.

Just not getting my 2 cents😎.
 
adluginb said:
My thoughts are that S35vn is a super steel. As such with the “newer” super steels it is now considered in the middle of the pack somewhere.

If I’m buying a brand new knife I’ll splurge to get Magnacut or 1 of the other newest steels. Because why not if I can afford it.?

If I see a used knife in the classifieds for a good $ deal. I have no problems buying it with s35vn.

But I wouldn’t pay high end price for a knife with that steel any longer. Why because that steel is cheaper for companies to get than the new stuff.

To me companies still charging high end prices with now middle tier steel are just fattening their wallets but that is okay also since this is ‘Merica’ and that’s the dream.

Just not getting my 2 cents😎.
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This is exactly how I feel. I think S35VN is a superbly balanced steel, but I won't pay the same for it as I would Magnacut. It's just evolution pretty much. I remember when ATS-34 & VG10 were super steels. Now they're the bare minimum.
 
I have a few CRKs in s35vn and they are probably the poorest performing steels that I own. I love them as they were gifts from the wifey and still hold a weekend spot in the pocket on special occasions. But for an all day work blade, I’ll grab a different knife.
 
JTR357 JTR357 and adluginb adluginb I share the sentiment as well, in an all other things being equal scenario. However, if you have two knives, one in MagnaCut, and one in S35VN (or even 8Cr13MOV), I will take the one in the "lesser" steel, even at a higher price, if the higher price is justified in other ways, such as particular handle materials I really like (Suretouch, Ameragrip and Grip-Tec™ come to mind), outstanding design, and especially special attention to ergonomics. But again, that's only if the knife in the "inferior" steel offers these things where the other knife does not.

Hypothetically. Not thinking of any models in particular at the moment.
 
Lesknife said:
S35vn and Magnacut are my two favorites, both take a very keen edge very quickly and easily. Both have performed excellent with no problems at all even in hard use out in the rough. I expect they will outlast me.
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Those two feel the same to too, in actual use and sharpening. I’m happy with either in a folder. Hand me 2 Sebenzas in those steels and I’d be unable to tell which was which in use.
 
XJ-linux said:
Those two feel the same to too, in actual use and sharpening. I’m happy with either in a folder. Hand me 2 Sebenzas in those steels and I’d be unable to tell which was which in use.
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Same. I have a small Sebenza 31 in S35VN & a Large Inkosi in Magnacut. I don't use either one "hard", but they get used & I've yet to notice a difference.
 
David Mary said:
JTR357 JTR357 and adluginb adluginb I share the sentiment as well, in an all other things being equal scenario. However, if you have two knives, one in MagnaCut, and one in S35VN (or even 8Cr13MOV), I will take the one in the "lesser" steel, even at a higher price, if the higher price is justified in other ways, such as particular handle materials I really like (Suretouch, Ameragrip and Grip-Tec™ come to mind), outstanding design, and especially special attention to ergonomics. But again, that's only if the knife in the "inferior" steel offers these things where the other knife does not.

Hypothetically. Not thinking of any models in particular at the moment.
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I can relate to most of this, especially you being a knife maker & knowing from a different perspective on how steels work & edges hold, but I can't for the life of me ever accept 8Cr13MOV as being an acceptable knife steel for anything over $30. It's just total crap from my experience & I use my cheaper knives for work. ONE cut on fibrous materials & it's dull as a spoon.
 
I think it's a great "mature" super steel. I have an Inkosi in it as well as a couple of Cold Steel knives. Perfectly fine in terms of balancing function and premium performance. I will pay a bit more for it when you are talking about something along the lines of a Cold Steel where a model comes in S35VN or a more cost effective AUS10. I won't pay the same rate for it if I can get it in Magnacut. It's not that I have been able to tell much of a difference, it's the principle of part of the allure of MC is how it's the newest and the bestest.
 
I have one knife in S35V blade steel and while that is a very limited sample size the blade steel holds an edge a reasonable length of time and is easy for me to sharpen on my ceramic bench stone.
The same can be said of the Magnacut blade that I have from Buck knives but the edge lasts longer between touch ups.
 
RE: The "newer" super steels and CRk. A YouTube video interview at a blade show has Tim Reeve saying that now their consumer oriented knives are offered in Magnicut for its balanced properties, but their military oriented knives have 45VN for its higher performance in a more demanding environment, choosing to Carcoat the blades for corrosion protection.
 
If I remember correctly, S35vn was an attempt to make a more balanced knife steel. I don’t recall it being meant to be the top steel in any category.
 
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