M4 Steel vs S30V | Who Wins the Battle?
Steel knives can serve you for decades only if you select the best. People might have told you that M4 and S30V steel are two of the best, and they are not. But I guess now you’re confused about which one to pick. The only question now you can think of is, what are the major differences between M4 steel vs S30V steel?
The M4 steel has better hardness, toughness, wear resistance, and edge resistance than the S30V. But the S30V offers superior corrosion resistance and is also cheaper. However, both of them have a good amount of carbon, which makes them excellent choices for knives.
The short answer pretty much gives you an idea about which one is better. But a detailed comparison may help you to make a better decision. Stay attuned with me till the end to learn about all the differences between M4 steel and S30V steel.
Quick comparison chart
| Basis for comparison | M4 | S30V |
| Chemical compounds | Carbon 1.42%; Chromium 4.00%; Molybdenum 5.25%; Vanadium 4.00%; Tungsten 5.50%; Manganese 0.30%; Silicone 0.55%; Phosphorus 0.03%; Sulphur 0.06%; | Carbon 1.45%; Chromium 14.00%; Molybdenum 2.00%; Vanadium 4.00%; Nitrogen 0.20%; Tungsten 0.40%; Manganese 0.50%; Silicone 1.00%; Phosphorus 0.04%; Sulphur 0.03% |
| Hardness | 63.5-65.5HRC | 58-61HRC |
| Toughness | Better | Average |
| Wear resistance | Better | Average |
| Corrosion resistance | Poor | Excellent |
| Edge retention | Exceptional | Average |
| Ease of sharpening | Easy | Easier |
| Cost | Expensive | Affordable |
Key differences
M4 steel has a lot of differences from S30V steel. Not all differences may not be crucial, but you must know about the following features:
Hardness
M4 is significantly harder than the S30V steel. Although S30V contains a higher amount of Carbon, M4 stays ahead in the case of Rockwell Ratings. The S30V may reach 64HRC with excess heat treatment, but that’s still behind M4’s 65.5HRC. This round goes to M4 without any doubt.
Toughness
Maybe you are thinking S30V will have more toughness due to having less hardness compared to M4 steel. But that’s not true here. M4 steel is tougher than the S30V. It can cut through any material with ease and can offer long-lasting performance.
Wear resistance
Once again, M4 steel wins against the S30V. Although both steels have the same amount of vanadium, the higher amount of Molybdenum makes the M4 steel better against wear. It will not wear out easily, which means the M4 is more durable than the S30V.
Corrosion resistance
S30V has way better corrosion resistance than the M4 steel. The S30V steel has 14% chromium, which makes it stainless, but M4 is not stainless. That’s why S30V has superb corrosion resistance. In contrast, M4 steel is prone to corrosion.
Edge retention
Edge retention of steel mostly depends on the hardness, and here it is no different. The M4 steel has exceptionally superior edge retention to S30V steel. S30V offers good edge retention compared to other stainless steel but lags behind the M4 steel.
Sharpening
Both steels are easy to sharpen. Here under this comparison parameter both are tie. Read this article to learn about sharpening, How to Sharpen a Knife With Household Items?
M4 steel (Short read)
CPM M4 is a premium steel with high amounts of carbon, molybdenum, and vanadium. The combination of these chemicals makes the M4 steel extremely hard and useful. It is quite popular for making custom knives. You will find the M4 steel knives pretty sharp to cut materials easily. knife which has made with m4 steel doesn’t get dull easily.
S30V steel (Short read)
S30V is one of the best quality stainless steel out there. It is high in carbon compared to other stainless steel making it quite hard and tough. If you need good quality midrange knives, then S30V steel knives can be an excellent choice.
Conclusion
After comparing M4 steel vs s30v steel, there is no doubt that M4 steel is superior. But if you don’t have a high budget or want something that has better corrosion resistance ability, then S30V stainless steel is the better choice.
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My favorite knives in each category
When it comes to selecting the best knives, you need to keep a lot of things in mind. To save you from the hassle, here I am listing two of my favorite M4 and S30V knives:
- Benchmade 560BK-1 – Freek 560-1, EDC Folding Knife (M4 Steel)
It is one of the best drop point blade knives that have an M4 steel blade. Besides, its fiberglass handle has a cool design and is comfortable to hold. My favorite feature of this knife is its axis lock mechanism. Overall, a high-quality M4 steel knife is worth the money.
- Benchmade – 940 EDC Knife (S30V Steel)
When it comes to S30V stainless steel, it is undoubtedly one of the best. It has a 2.92mm thick S30V steel blade that is good enough for everyday carry knives. My favorite part is the amazing ergonomics that make the knife comfortable to use. In short, it’s a superb S30V steel knife within the budget.
