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M390 steel is a premium powder-metallurgy stainless steel from Böhler. In knives, it is valued for long edge retention, high wear resistance, strong corrosion resistance, and excellent polishability. It is not the toughest steel in the modern “super steel” group, but when the heat treatment and edge geometry are right, M390 remains one of the benchmark choices for premium folders, EDC knives, hunting knives, and collector-grade custom knives.
Yes. M390 is one of the best stainless blade steels for users who want a knife that stays sharp for a long time and needs less corrosion maintenance than many tool steels. Its strongest use case is a medium-duty knife with a fine, controlled edge: premium EDC folders, slicing-oriented fixed blades, hunting knives, and high-end production or handmade knives.
The tradeoff is toughness. M390 has a high carbide volume, so it should not be treated like CPM 3V, CruWear, 5160, or other impact-oriented steels. It performs best when the maker avoids overly thin, fragile edges and when the owner uses diamond or CBN sharpening media instead of low-grade pull-through sharpeners.
M390 is a corrosion-resistant martensitic chromium steel produced by powder metallurgy. Böhler markets it under the MICROCLEAN name, which refers to the clean, controlled steelmaking route used to produce a refined and consistent carbide structure. In practical knife language, that means M390 can deliver high wear resistance, good stainless behavior, and a very clean finish when it is heat-treated and ground correctly.
M390 was originally developed for demanding industrial wear applications, including plastic mold tooling, machine knives, food-processing components, and other cutting/wear environments. Knife makers adopted it because the same properties that help an industrial tool resist abrasive wear also help a blade keep a sharp working edge.
The current Böhler composition for M390 does not list cobalt. The key elements are carbon, chromium, vanadium, molybdenum, tungsten, silicon, and manganese.
| Element | Approx. % | Role in Knife Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon | 1.90% | Supports high hardness and carbide formation for edge retention. |
| Chromium | 20.00% | Improves stainless behavior and forms chromium carbides that increase wear resistance. |
| Vanadium | 4.00% | Adds hard vanadium carbides for abrasion resistance and helps refine the structure. |
| Molybdenum | 1.00% | Improves hardenability, corrosion resistance, and high-temperature stability. |
| Tungsten | 0.60% | Contributes to wear resistance and hot strength. |
| Silicon | 0.70% | Supports deoxidation and strength. |
| Manganese | 0.30% | Supports deoxidation and processing consistency. |
Powder metallurgy is one reason M390 works as well as it does in knives. In conventional steelmaking, large carbide segregation can make a highly alloyed steel difficult to grind, polish, and finish cleanly. Powder metallurgy reduces that problem by atomizing molten steel into powder, then consolidating that powder into a dense billet. The result is a more uniform distribution of carbides than a comparable conventionally cast high-alloy stainless steel.
For a blade, this matters in four ways:
Most quality M390 knife blades are run around 60–62 HRC. Some custom and high-end production makers push M390 higher, often around 62–63 HRC, but hardness alone does not prove that the knife is better. A blade at 62 HRC with good geometry and a controlled temper can outperform a harder blade with poor edge stability or excessive retained austenite.
For buyers, the practical question is not only “What is the HRC?” It is also: how thick is the blade behind the edge, what edge angle is used, how clean is the heat treatment, and what kind of cutting is the knife built for?
M390 blade heat treatment can be tuned in different ways depending on the maker’s goal. A corrosion-biased protocol and a maximum-wear protocol are not exactly the same thing. Böhler’s own heat-treatment recommendations show different tempering regions for highest corrosion resistance and highest wear resistance, with subzero treatment recommended in some protocols to reduce retained austenite.
| Heat-Treat Goal | What It Prioritizes | Knife Buyer Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion-focused treatment | Better stainless behavior and good working hardness. | Best for humid carry, food use, coastal environments, and knives that may see acidic residue. |
| Wear-focused treatment | Maximum abrasion resistance and long edge life. | Best for cardboard, rope, packaging, synthetic materials, and long intervals between sharpening. |
| Poor or uncontrolled treatment | Can leave the blade too soft, too chippy, or inconsistent at the edge. | The reputation of experienced knife makers matters more than the steel name stamped on the blade. |
M390 is a high-edge-retention stainless steel. It does not win every category, and it should not be sold as an indestructible blade steel. Its real advantage is the combination of long wear life, good stainless behavior, high finish quality, and enough toughness for normal cutting tasks.
| Property | M390 Rating | Practical Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Edge retention | Very high | Excellent for cardboard, packaging, rope, plastics, food prep, and daily slicing. |
| Corrosion resistance | High to very high | Strong stainless performance, but not a substitute for Vanax, LC200N, or H1 in saltwater use. |
| Toughness | Moderate | Good enough for normal cutting, not ideal for chopping, prying, twisting, or impact abuse. |
| Sharpening difficulty | Moderate to hard | Diamond or CBN abrasives make sharpening much easier and cleaner. |
| Polishability | Very high | Good for premium satin, stonewash, and mirror finishes when the maker has the right process. |
M390 is especially strong in folding knives because folders usually see controlled cutting rather than chopping or baton work. In a good folder, M390 gives the owner a thin, efficient edge that stays sharp through everyday tasks: opening packages, breaking down cardboard, trimming cord, cutting food, and general utility work.
For buyers comparing premium folders in M390, the steel should be evaluated together with the lock, pivot, detent, blade stock, grind, and handle ergonomics. A well-built folder with a clean liner lock, precise detent, ceramic bearings, and a well-ground M390 blade can feel dramatically better than a knife that relies on the steel name alone. For this reason, our Herman Knives category is a relevant place to compare high-end folders that use M390 alongside other premium steels such as MagnaCut and M398.
M390 is less ideal for a folder that is expected to pry, twist through dense material, or serve as a substitute for a fixed blade. For those tasks, blade geometry and steel toughness become more important than pure edge retention.
M390 works well in smaller and medium-sized fixed blades where slicing, skinning, food prep, field dressing, and corrosion resistance matter. It is a strong choice for premium hunting knives because it can process game, resist staining, and hold a fine edge for a long time.
It is not the best choice for large chopping knives, survival knives intended for heavy batoning, or blades likely to see lateral stress. In those designs, CPM 3V, CruWear, 5160, 80CrV2, or similar tougher steels may be a better match.
M390 can work very well in high-end chef’s knives, paring knives, and slicers if the geometry is thin and the heat treatment is controlled. Its corrosion resistance is useful around food, fruit acids, and repeated washing. However, it is not beginner-friendly if the owner expects to maintain it with a cheap pull-through sharpener or a basic honing rod.
For kitchen use, M390 should not be used on bones, frozen food, hard pits, ceramic plates, glass boards, or stainless counters. A thin kitchen edge in a high-carbide stainless steel is designed to cut, not to absorb impact.
Most steel guides focus on composition, HRC, and a simple pros-and-cons list. Those points matter, but they do not explain why two M390 knives can feel completely different in use. The missing factors are usually heat treatment, edge geometry, carbide volume, and sharpening method.
M390 is a true stainless steel, but stainless does not mean immune to corrosion. Saltwater, blood, sweat, acidic food, and long-term storage in a damp sheath can still create spotting or pitting if the blade is neglected. For marine use, Vanax, LC200N, H1, and some nitrogen-heavy steels are better corrosion-first choices.
M390 gets much of its performance from a high carbide volume. That is excellent for wear resistance, but it reduces toughness compared with tougher steels designed for impact. The steel is best used in knives that cut cleanly rather than knives that strike, pry, or twist.
A thick M390 blade can feel dull even when technically sharp. A thin, well-ground M390 blade can cut aggressively for a long time. The edge angle and thickness behind the edge decide how the steel actually meets the material.
| Knife Use | Typical Edge Angle | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Fine EDC slicing | 15–18° per side | Cuts aggressively, but needs controlled use and clean material. |
| General EDC folder | 17–20° per side | Good balance of cutting ability, edge life, and stability. |
| Hunting and field dressing | 18–22° per side | More edge support for hide, cartilage, and contact with harder material. |
| Kitchen slicing | 12–17° per side | Excellent cutting feel when the knife is used on proper boards and soft food material. |
M390 can chip if the edge is too thin for the task, the heat treatment is poor, the knife is used on hard material, or the owner twists the blade through a cut. It is not unusually fragile when used correctly, but it is also not a high-toughness impact steel.
Small edge damage on M390 often comes from three causes:
A small micro-bevel can make M390 more stable without ruining its cutting performance. For many EDC folders, a 17–20° main bevel with a slightly higher micro-bevel is a practical setup.
M390 is not impossible to sharpen, but it rewards the right abrasive. The steel’s high wear resistance means cheap aluminum-oxide stones, soft stones, and pull-through sharpeners may be slow or inconsistent. For clean results, use diamond or CBN stones, especially when reprofiling or repairing damage.
The biggest sharpening mistake with M390 is leaving a burr. Because the steel is wear-resistant, a burr can feel stubborn and may fold back and forth instead of separating cleanly. Use lighter pressure at the end, alternate sides frequently, and finish with controlled stropping. If the knife loses sharpness quickly after stropping, the burr was probably not fully removed.
For users who prefer guided systems, our knife sharpeners category is relevant because M390 responds best to stable angle control and quality abrasive media. For outdoor blades, see also our guide to hunting knife sharpeners.
For makers, M390 is more demanding than simpler stainless steels. In knife making, it rewards precise process control and punishes shortcuts in blade grinding. It is abrasive-resistant, which means it wears grinding belts, slows hand-finishing, and requires good temperature control during grinding. Overheating the edge after heat treatment can damage the temper and reduce real performance even if the steel name and HRC look impressive.
The upside is finish quality. Böhler lists M390 as having very high polishability, and that matches the way many premium knives use it. M390 can support clean satin finishes, bright polished flats, stonewash, bead blast, or coated finishes. In collector folders, the blade finish often matters as much as the steel because the finish affects corrosion behavior, scratch visibility, and long-term appearance.
Among common knife types, M390 fits designs where controlled cutting, edge longevity, and stainless performance matter more than impact toughness. It is especially useful in premium folders, compact fixed blades, hunting knives, collector knives, and thin slicers.
| Knife Type | M390 Fit | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Premium EDC folder | Excellent | Long edge life, stainless performance, and good slicing feel in controlled daily cutting. |
| Hunting knife | Very good | Strong edge retention and corrosion resistance for field dressing and skinning. |
| Collector knife | Excellent | Premium steel identity, clean finish potential, and long-term stainless stability. |
| Kitchen slicer | Good to excellent | High corrosion resistance and long edge life if the edge is not abused. |
| Large survival chopper | Poor to moderate | Tougher steels are better for repeated impact, batoning, and heavy lateral stress. |
See current M390 knives in stock.
M390, CPM 20CV, and CTS-204P are often treated as near-equivalent steels. They are not literally the same product from the same mill, but their compositions and real-world knife performance are close enough that the maker, heat treatment, grind, and design usually matter more than choosing one of these names over another.
| Steel | Producer | Practical Difference | Buyer Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| M390 | Böhler | European benchmark version with strong polishability and broad use in premium knives. | Choose it when the knife design and maker are strong. |
| CPM 20CV | Crucible | Very close to M390 in practical performance. | Treat as a functional equivalent when heat treatment is good. |
| CTS-204P | Carpenter | Another close analogue used in premium knives. | Do not overpay for the steel name alone; judge the complete knife. |
Choosing the right steel depends on the knife’s job. M390 is excellent when edge retention and stainless performance are priorities. It is less ideal when the knife needs maximum toughness or when the owner wants very easy sharpening.
| Steel | Compared with M390 | Choose M390 When | Choose the Alternative When |
|---|---|---|---|
| MagnaCut | MagnaCut is tougher and more balanced; M390 usually favors wear resistance and polishability. | You want long edge life in a premium folder or slicer. | You want a tougher all-around stainless steel. |
| S90V | S90V generally has higher wear resistance but is harder to sharpen and less friendly to finish. | You want a more balanced premium stainless with better finish potential. | You want maximum edge retention and accept difficult sharpening. |
| Elmax | Elmax is somewhat more forgiving; M390 usually has stronger edge retention and corrosion resistance. | You prioritize edge life and stainless behavior. | You want a slightly tougher, maker-friendly powder stainless. |
| S30V / S35VN | S30V and S35VN are easier to sharpen and more common; M390 is more premium and wear-resistant. | You want better edge retention and corrosion resistance. | You want easier maintenance and lower cost. |
| N690 | N690 is easier to sharpen and less expensive; M390 is more wear-resistant. | You want a premium steel with longer working sharpness. | You want a simpler stainless steel for easier field sharpening. |
| M398 | M398 pushes wear resistance higher than M390, usually at the cost of easier sharpening and toughness. | You want the more balanced and established option. | You want maximum wear resistance in a controlled-use premium folder. |
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Video credit: Rollshambo EDC
| Advantages | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Very high edge retention for long cutting sessions. | Not as tough as steels designed for impact and hard abuse. |
| Strong stainless behavior for daily carry, food, and humid use. | Requires better sharpening tools than basic stainless steels. |
| Excellent finish potential: satin, stonewash, and mirror polish. | More expensive to grind, finish, and replace than mid-range steels. |
| Good fit for premium folders and collector knives. | Performance depends heavily on heat treatment and edge geometry. |
Do not buy an M390 knife based only on the blade stamp. Use this checklist:
For a wider material comparison, see our knife steel chart and our best knife steel guide.
M390 generally has better edge retention and corrosion resistance than S35VN. S35VN is easier to sharpen, usually less expensive, and often more forgiving for general users.
Not universally. M390 is excellent for wear resistance, polishability, and premium folding knives. MagnaCut is usually the better all-around choice when toughness, corrosion resistance, and easier sharpening are weighted together.
M390 is highly corrosion-resistant stainless steel, but it can still spot or pit if exposed to saltwater, blood, sweat, acids, or damp storage without cleaning. Rinse, dry, and lightly oil the blade when necessary.
It is harder to sharpen than simple stainless steels because it is very wear-resistant. Diamond and CBN stones make the process much easier. The most common problem is incomplete burr removal, not the steel being impossible to sharpen.
Yes. M390 responds well to stropping with diamond compound. Plain leather or weak compounds may polish the apex without fully removing the burr, so use controlled pressure and the right compound.
Most quality M390 knives are around 60–62 HRC. Higher hardness can work when the heat treatment and edge geometry are correct, but an HRC number by itself does not guarantee performance.
M390 is good for compact outdoor knives and cutting-focused field knives. For large survival knives that will chop, baton, and take lateral stress, tougher steels are usually better.
M390 and CPM 20CV are very close in composition and practical knife performance. CTS-204P is also a close analogue. In real use, maker quality and heat treatment matter more than choosing between these three names.
Yes, if you want long edge life, strong stainless behavior, and premium finish quality. It is less compelling if you want easy sharpening, maximum toughness, or a low-cost work knife.
M390 is still one of the benchmark premium stainless steels for knives. It is not new, and it is no longer the only high-end option, but it remains highly relevant because it combines long edge retention, strong stainless performance, clean finish potential, and broad availability in premium folders and collector knives.
Choose M390 if you want a refined cutting tool that holds an edge for a long time and you are willing to maintain it with proper abrasives. Choose MagnaCut, CruWear, CPM 3V, 14C28N, or S35VN instead if toughness, easy sharpening, or lower cost matters more than maximum wear resistance.
Author: Aleks Nemtcev | Knifemaker with 10+ Years of Experience | Connect with me on LinkedIn | Follow me on Reddit
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I bought a knife from China. It says M390 steel. How can I confirm that it’s real, besides the marking/engraving? Thank you — I’m waiting for your reply.
The engraving alone doesn’t prove it’s M390. The only reliable way is a material test: ask the seller for a steel certificate (heat/lot number) or take it to a lab/metal shop for XRF/PMI analysis (or OES for best accuracy).
At home you can only do indirect checks—hardness test (HRC), edge retention vs known steels, and corrosion resistance—but these can’t confirm “M390” with certainty.
Thank you for the advice! I actually really like the Adira looks wise and i feel it would be a great EDC in spite of not needing it for aquatic duties. The issue I’ve read is that people say it’s not all that ‘grippy’, which concerns me, and for some it just didn’t feel great in the hand. I have medium sized hands for the record. If you were deciding (based on my use case in the previous post) between the magnacut Adira and the Osborne with the m390 steel and denim micarta handle, which one would you choose? Side note: the only reason I was against an assisted knife is because it’s a possible failure point, and I’ve read that’s why the PSK by Benchmade isn’t more popular, even though the Axis system is supposed to be quite robust. Otherwise, the PSK might be my top choice.
Awesome write up– so helpful. I currently EDC an Emerson Karambit, which I believe has 154cm steel, which is a fairly easy steel to sharpen from what I’ve heard (haven’t had to yet). I’m now looking at a more premium steel EDC for carry away from home (I live in one state but work far away in another for 2 weeks a month) and have been trying to narrow it down to a Benchmade Magnacut vs M390 steel variant. In terms of Magnacut, the options seem to be the Adira– which gets mixed reviews– and the PSK, which I don’t love b/c I don’t want an assisted opening EDC. I work in a region with high humidity and so corrosion resistance is important, as is edge retention. I’m not experienced at sharpening with tools like diamond stones, etc, but I can’t imagine it would be that difficult to learn? My knife is more a do everything knife, including for personal protection, but I want something more robust in case I need it when I’m out hiking, etc. Grip material is important for when it gets sweaty/wet, etc. I was sure Magnacut was the right option for me, but a well made M390 steel from a reputable company like Benchmade might be the better option ? I would love to hear any any suggestions.
I’d say you’re thinking about it exactly the right way, and you’re not wrong: MagnaCut is the better fit for your conditions, but Benchmade M390 is the safer bet right now in terms of proven execution.
For your mix of high humidity, sweaty hands, travel, hiking, and “do everything including personal protection,” MagnaCut really shines: better rust resistance than M390, tougher, and a bit nicer to sharpen for most people once you get a basic diamond setup. The downside is more about the specific knives (Adira/PSK) than the steel itself.
If you don’t love assisted opening and you’re not 100% sold on the Adira, I’d lean toward a Benchmade in M390 with a grippy G-10 or micarta handle. You’ll get great edge retention, very solid corrosion resistance, and a platform that’s well tested. You won’t feel under-knifed coming from 154CM, that’s for sure.
Does this steel come in bars with a diameter of 3 mm?
I bought a knife from Temu, the blade says M390 — what kind of steel is that, is it real?
Very good article and very interesting discussion on different steels.
I always hesitate between M390 and CPM Magnacut.
Apparently, the manufacturing methods for both steels are similar.
M390 contains more carbon than Magnacut, which contains nitrogen. It seems that Magnacut is more appealing for purchasing a knife, even though it has less carbon.
My question is: Should I buy an M390 or a CPM Magnacut blade?
Thank you in advance for more information on these two high-end steels.
CPM Magnacut offers better toughness and corrosion resistance, while M390 provides higher wear resistance and edge retention. If you need a tough, rust-resistant blade for outdoor use, choose Magnacut. If edge retention is the priority, go with M390.
A very good article, extremely helpful when you’re undecided but interested in steels.