Vanax vs MagnaCut Steel

Vanax is a high nitrogen alloyed stainless steel made by Uddeholm while Magnacut is a new knife stainless steel developed by Dr. Larrin and produced by Crucible Industries.

Vanax has high levels of Chromium and Nitrogen, which enables it to gain impressive corrosion resistance similar to LC200N steel and H2 Steel.

Vanax mitigates the harmful effect of chromium carbides on corrosion resistance by substituting carbon with nitrogen to form carbonitrides while Magnacut steel eliminates chromium carbides in its microstructure.

This gives MagnaCut a superior combination of hardness, corrosion resistance, and toughness compared to other stainless steels including Vanax.

MagnaCut steel unique alloy allows it to reach extreme hardness levels of over 64 HRC without compromising toughness or corrosion resistance.

Vanax vs MagnaCut Steel At a Glance

Corrosion Resistance

Vanax and MagnaCut are stainless steels with excellent corrosion resistance suitable for most knife applications. 

However, Vanax maintains an advantage in corrosion resistance in environments with extended moisture exposure over Magnacut steel. 

In standardized salt spray testing, Vanax resisted corrosion after 72 hours in a 3.5% saltwater solution, while MagnaCut showed some minor spotting under the same conditions. 

Vanax superior corrosion resistance over Magnacut is due to its high nitrogen content, chromium content, and low carbon which leads to the formation of carbonitrides.

MagnaCut steel’s lack of chromium carbides gives it better performance than other stainless steels like S45VN and 20CV in corrosion testing. 

The very high nitrogen content of Vanax further improves pitting resistance in corrosive environments. 

Vanax stainless steel remains a top choice for diving, fishing, and saltwater knives where constant wetness is expected. 

Its nitride-based microstructure provides corrosion resistance on par with other top “marine grade” steels like LC200N and H2 steel. 

So while MagnaCut has excellent corrosion properties, Vanax is still better for the most demanding saltwater/marine applications.

Hardness

MagnaCut has the potential for higher hardness than Vanax while still maintaining good corrosion resistance. 

Vanax reaches a maximum hardness of about 60-61 HRC even with cryogenic treatment, while MagnaCut can reach 64+ HRC. 

The lack of chromium carbides in MagnaCut allows it to reach these high hardness levels while still having impressive corrosion resistance. 

The higher hardness potential of MagnaCut means it is better suited for very fine edge knives that require maximum edge stability. 

However, for most applications, the 60-61 HRC range of Vanax is sufficient, in which case Vanax provides excellent corrosion resistance on par with MagnaCut. 

MagnaCut knife steel greater range of achievable hardness makes it more versatile for a wider variety of knives from kitchen cutlery to larger chopping tools, while still providing corrosion resistance nearly as good as Vanax.

Toughness

MagnaCut steel has a clear advantage in toughness over Vanax steel. 

At a matching hardness of around 60 HRC, MagnaCut steel demonstrated over 25% higher toughness than Vanax. 

In Charpy impact testing, MagnaCut achieved toughness values over 30 ft-lbs at hardness levels approaching 64 HRC. 

This is similar to widely-regarded tough steels like CPM CruWear and CPM 4V. 

The lack of chromium carbides in MagnaCut results in its excellent toughness-to-hardness balance. 

For knives, the greater toughness of MagnaCut allows thinner, more acute edge angles to be used without brittleness or microchipping. 

Vanax is still adequately tough for most knives but is limited in how thin and fine an edge can be applied, especially in chopping knives. 

So for toughness-critical uses where impact forces are expected, MagnaCut has a clear advantage over Vanax and can enable higher-performance cutting edges.

Edge Retention

MagnaCut steel generally has better edge retention and wear resistance over Vanax steel at higher hardness levels. 

However, at a similar hardness level, Vanax steel slightly outperforms MagnaCut steel in edge retention and wear resistance. 

This is because the Vanadium Nitrides in Vanax have better adhesive wear than vanadium carbides in MagnaCut steel.

MagnaCut has about 8% total carbide volume from vanadium and niobium carbides. In contrast, Vanax has vanadium nitrides and carbonitrides rather than carbides. 

Testing shows MagnaCut has about 35% better edge retention in standardized CATRA cutting tests compared to 440C steel. 

So for knives that experience sustained slicing in abrasive or adhesive conditions, Vanax remains an excellent choice.

Ease of sharpening

In terms of ease of sharpening, Vanax and MagnaCut have some minor differences but both are relatively easy to sharpen for fine-grained stainless steel. 

MagnaCut is reported by knifemakers to have excellent feedback and edge burr formation on stones. Its fine carbide size makes the scratch pattern very uniform during sharpening. 

Vanax nitride structure may lead to slightly more variability in scratch pattern and sharpening feel. However, many knifemakers still find Vanax easy to sharpen, with no major issues removing the burr. 

The high hardness capabilities of MagnaCut come with a tradeoff in sharpening effort at very high hardness levels above 62 HRC. 

But in the standard hardness range, MagnaCut maintains an advantage in sharpening ease due to its fine, consistent carbide size.

For most knives, either steel can be sharpened without difficulty by experienced sharpeners. 

But MagnaCut’s homogenous structure gives it an advantage in both speed of sharpening and achieving a fine edge, especially for kitchen cutlery where this can make a difference in performance.

Final Thoughts on Vanax vs MagnaCut

After extensive testing and experience with MagnaCut steel, I would recommend it to most knife users over Vanax due to its versatility and well-rounded properties. 

While Vanax offers superior corrosion resistance, especially for marine environments, MagnaCut has excellent corrosion resistance that performs well for everyday carry and use. 

MagnaCut lack of chromium carbides enables it to reach impressive hardness levels over 64 HRC, while still providing outstanding toughness and nearly equal corrosion resistance compared to Vanax. 

Spyderco performed extensive in-house testing on MagnaCut and found its corrosion resistance impressive enough for inclusion in their elite Salt Series knives. 

For me, MagnaCut represents the current pinnacle of stainless steel technology, with its balanced properties making it an exceptional general-purpose knife steel. 

Vanax remains a top choice when maximum corrosion resistance is absolutely required, but for most users, MagnaCut will prove to have the best all-around performance.