CPM Magnacut vs M390 vs Elmax: Which Blade Steel Is Right for Your EDC Knife?
If you've shopped for a premium pocket knife lately, you've run into these three names: CPM Magnacut, Böhler M390, and Uddeholm Elmax. They're the steels behind some of the best everyday carry knives on the market — including several in our own lineup.
But which one is actually best? The honest answer: it depends on what you ask your knife to do. Here's the full breakdown.
The short answer
- Pick CPM Magnacut if you want the best all-around balance — toughness, corrosion resistance, and solid edge retention in one steel. The best choice for most EDC users.
- Pick M390 if maximum edge retention is your priority and you don't mind a steel that's harder to sharpen.
- Pick Elmax if you want a forgiving, easy-to-live-with premium steel that balances performance with easy maintenance.
Side-by-side comparison
| CPM Magnacut | Böhler M390 | Uddeholm Elmax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical hardness | 60–64 HRC | 60–62 HRC | 60–62 HRC |
| Edge retention | Very good | Excellent | Good |
| Toughness | Excellent | Fair | Good |
| Corrosion resistance | Excellent | Excellent | Good |
| Ease of sharpening | Moderate | Difficult | Moderate-easy |
| Best for | All-around EDC, hard use | Long edge life, light slicing | Balanced everyday carry |
CPM Magnacut: the balanced champion
Magnacut was designed from scratch by metallurgist Larrin Thomas of Knife Steel Nerds, specifically to solve the classic stainless steel dilemma: historically, you could have toughness or corrosion resistance, but not both at high levels. Magnacut delivers both.
Made by Crucible Industries using particle metallurgy, it has an exceptionally fine microstructure — finer than M390 or Elmax — which is what gives it that rare combination of high toughness and high corrosion resistance while keeping edge retention strong.
Strengths: Outstanding toughness (it resists chipping far better than M390), excellent stainless behavior, and good edge retention. It also takes a fine edge and holds up well in humid or wet environments.
Trade-offs: It won't out-slice M390 in pure edge-retention tests, and it typically commands a premium price.
In our lineup: The KUF 3.5 in CPM Magnacut — our kitchen-utility-inspired folder in a steel that matches its do-everything design.
Böhler M390: the edge-retention king
M390 is a third-generation powder metallurgy stainless from Böhler-Uddeholm, loaded with chromium (around 20%) plus vanadium and tungsten carbides. For years it was the default "super steel" in premium production folders, and it earned that reputation with genuinely elite wear resistance — your edge just lasts.
Strengths: Among the best edge retention of any stainless steel, plus excellent corrosion resistance. It also takes a beautiful polish, which is why makers love it for showpiece blades.
Trade-offs: That wear resistance comes at a cost: M390 is less tough than Magnacut or Elmax (more prone to chipping under hard use) and noticeably harder to sharpen. You'll want diamond stones and some patience.
In our lineup: The Zulu in M390 — a flipper that pairs M390's long-lasting edge with a design meant to be carried and used daily.
Uddeholm Elmax: the forgiving all-rounder
Elmax is a high-chromium, vanadium-molybdenum powder steel from Uddeholm (now part of Böhler-Uddeholm). Knife folks have called it the "best all-round" stainless for years: it doesn't top any single chart, but it has no real weakness either.
Strengths: A genuinely balanced profile — good edge retention, good toughness, good corrosion resistance — with easier sharpening than M390. It's also a maker-friendly steel, which means excellent grinds and finishes.
Trade-offs: It gets outperformed by Magnacut on toughness and corrosion resistance, and by M390 on pure edge retention. Jack of all trades, master of none — but a very good jack.
In our lineup: Elmax has appeared in the KUF 3.0 — a great match for a knife designed to do a bit of everything.
Head-to-head: the details that matter
Edge retention: M390 > Elmax > Magnacut. If you hate sharpening and mostly do light slicing, M390 wins outright.
Toughness: Magnacut > Elmax > M390. For hard use or thin edges that need to survive, Magnacut is in a different league.
Corrosion resistance: Magnacut ≈ M390 > Elmax. All three are stainless, but Magnacut and M390 are the safest bets for humid climates and sweaty pockets.
Sharpening: Elmax > Magnacut > M390. Elmax is the friendliest on the stones; M390 will test your patience (and your abrasives).
Price: All three sit in the premium tier. Magnacut currently carries the most hype-driven premium; M390 and Elmax are more established in production.
So which steel should you choose?
- You want one knife that does everything well: Magnacut.
- You want the longest-lasting edge and don't mind maintenance: M390.
- You want premium performance without the fuss: Elmax.
And here's the part steel charts don't tell you: heat treat and geometry matter as much as the alloy. A well-treated Elmax blade with a great grind will outperform a poorly treated M390 blade every time. Buy the maker as much as the steel.
Frequently asked questions
Is Magnacut better than M390?
For toughness and overall balance, yes. For pure edge retention, M390 still wins. Most EDC users will be happier with Magnacut.
Is Elmax still a good steel in 2026?
Absolutely. Newer steels have taken the spotlight, but Elmax remains one of the most balanced stainless steels ever made — and it's often available at better prices than Magnacut.
Which is easiest to sharpen: Magnacut, M390, or Elmax?
Elmax is the easiest of the three, followed by Magnacut. M390's high wear resistance makes it the most demanding on the stones — diamond abrasives are recommended.
What HRC are these steels typically run at?
Magnacut: 60–64 HRC. M390: 60–62 HRC. Elmax: 60–62 HRC. Harder isn't automatically better — the heat treat protocol matters more than the number.
Which Liong Mah knives use these steels?
The KUF 3.5 runs CPM Magnacut, the Zulu runs M390, and the KUF 3.0 has been offered in Elmax. Check each product page for current steel options.
Ready to feel the difference? Browse the Liong Mah Design collection and pick your steel.