🔬 Composition: M390 steel is a premium grade of stainless steel with powder metallurgy, and it has a finely tuned composition. The component ratio of M390 steel includes approximately 1.9% carbon, 20% chromium, 0.3% manganese, 0.7% silicon, 1% molybdenum, 4% vanadium and 0.6% tungsten.
💪 Hardness: The working hardness range of M390 steel can vary from 59 to 66 HRC (Rockwell hardness scale), but 61-63 HRC is considered the optimum hardness for work knives. This level of hardness ensures a durable cutting edge and allows M390 knives to remain sharp even under prolonged use.
⚡ Corrosion resistance: High corrosion resistance is one of the key features of M390 steel. With its high content of chromium and other alloying elements, M390 steel provides excellent protection against rust, tarnish and corrosive environments, making it a reliable choice for knives used in outdoor and marine environments.
🔪 Sharpness and Edge Retention: M390 steel excels in sharpness and edge retention. Its ability to retain edge sharpness over long periods of time ensures accurate and easy cutting. Regular maintenance and sharpening complement the cutting performance of M390 steel.
💥 Durability: M390 steel is designed to withstand heavy loads and strength tests. It resists chipping, cracking and warping even under the most extreme conditions, making M390 steel knives reliable and durable.
⏰ Easy sharpening: Sharpening M390 steel requires special attention and skill. It is demanding in terms of heat treatment and requires hardening in a protected environment, such as nitrogen or vacuum, with precise adherence to the process. Any error in the process can cause damage to the blade.
Sharpness retention also deserves a special mention. Thanks to Microclean® powder technology, M390 steel allows the carbides to be evenly dispersed in its structure, preventing them from clumping together and providing better cutting performance from this steel.
Looking for similar steels? Explore these M390 steel analogs:
1️⃣ CPM-20CV: A high-performance stainless steel that closely resembles M390. CPM-20CV has outstanding corrosion resistance, excellent hardness and long-lasting edge retention, making it a popular choice among knife enthusiasts.
2️⃣ S90V: An American stainless steel with superior performance properties. S90V has high corrosion resistance, high hardness and excellent edge retention, making it a sought-after choice among knife users.
3️⃣ RWL34: Swedish stainless steel is similar to M390 steel in terms of its characteristics. RWL34 is valued for its high corrosion resistance, high hardness and ease of sharpening, making it the preferred choice for exclusive knife makers.
