Is Magnacut Worth It?

⁠‪@TheBeardedBurton‬ gives his thoughts on the steel Magnacut and reviews what he considers an alternative.
Knife in video:
www.carrycommi...
#magnacut #knifereview #comparison #bushcraft

[@samuelbelangerdallaire6486]

So, Magnacut is much harder and difficult to work with than AEBL, which means that it’s normal you’re having trouble to get to an edge you like with conventional sharpening systems (like S90V - a big favorite of mine). Try diamond high quality diamond paste on strops (don’t cross-contaminate) on Magnacut and you’ll never want to touch any other steel after. You can’t just carry 3 small pieces of scrap leather with paste residue on them in a ziplock and it’s even smaller than your field sharpener. Also, once sharpened properly, you don’t need to touch for a long time!

[@Swearengen1980]

This is not really about magnacut, it's just an ad for LT Wright. I have an AEBL blade and it doesn't do as well skinning/processing game as magnacut does. AEBL does not have the edge retention of magnacut and that's not up for debate, it's simply a fact. My MKC magnacut blades are the only steel I have that can skin and progress a buck without needing touched up during the process and they sure don't have any issue with heat treatment. I do like AEBL and will continue to use it for a bushcraft knife, but you're not nearly as unbias as you claim to be with the passive aggressive, "I won't even get into that" remarks. Just an advertisement because LTW makes a lot of AEBL blades.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

Well thanks for the comments. First it’s not an ad because whether I made this video or not, I would still be doing my job by making some other form of content. No one told me to make a Versus video or push AEBL or whatever it is you assume. I attend all 3 Blade Shows each year, communicate with loads of knife companies both the survival, bushcraft, EDC, self defense, high end custom, etc and the overall consensus I’ve gotten from most is Magnacut is awesome like I say in this video, but there’s still issues. Unlike a more affordable and longer proven steel which is why I chose AEBL (not LTWK I did) to compare it to because next to no one has issues with AEBL. As far as not getting into comment, I am not going to use a companies platform I work for and with to name off other companies issues or brands problems that can easily be found on KZbin when searching issues with Magnacut. Love my MKC Fieldcraft blade in Magnacut, even though surface rust developed on it after a weekend of kayak camping but it’s still a tool that works. Watch the end of the video, it’s about having fun and using your tools. Use what you can afford and know it’s in the skill not the steel

[@danvorhis386]

Re. dressing/processing w/o touching-up a blade: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGPam6OCoJaYmbc. I think often the quality of the heat treat is at least as important as the steel.

[@tntshuffle-9799]

A lot depends on the heat treatment for AEBL also. On almost any steel, weak heat treat can ruin a blade no matter the steel. I have several AEBL knives from William Collins and his knives are incredible. Magnacut is no doubt, is another level above AEBL, but only if the maker has his/her heat treat truly dialed in.

[@paulmarshall9189]

Magnacut is a massive breakthrough in knife steel, and everyone knows it. But if LTWK is running it under 60, it might as well be S30V. So if we are comparing Magnacut to AEB-L at 59 for bushcraft knives, it's not even close.

[@watsonkustoms]

I also work for a knife manufacturer and we’ve had issues with heat treating MagnaCut. The common statement from buyers is wanting high HRC, 63-65 & heat treat companies can’t hit those numbers consistently across a large batch, you’re gonna get 61-62. We also had issues with warp, either after HT or while grinding, we grind post HT. Once the kinks are worked out it will probably be a good steel, however I think it’s better suited for smaller batches where HT can be better dialed.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

This is what I’ve heard time and again but the issue is I wasn’t specific in stating large batches. But yes you are yet another person who confirms what I feel

[@Cid_1]

Straightening warped blades is a pretty common practice as a knife maker. Aebl warps as well.

[@watsonkustoms]

@@Cid_1 And we do straighten them however we have had more warps with MagnaCut. FWIW, as a custom maker before my current position, I hated working with AEBL because it warps if you just look at it.

[@themoodybobby1]

Miss you brother. Wanna hear those Somber sounds the soothe the soul of you and a guitar. Hope all is well man.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

Thanks my man! Hope you are well!

[@jeffpeters4497]

I have never owned or used any of these 3 steels, but would like to know how CPM S45VN compares to Magnacut and AEB-L? I have tried to research it and it seems like CPM S45VN is very comparable to Magnacut but without the processing issues.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

S45VN is new for me but I got a Half Face Blades folder in that very steel for this purpose. I want to see how it compares and so far I am loving it. Going on 2 weeks of daily carry

[@WanderingFools]

Where are these magnacut LTWK available to purchase?

[@LTWrightKnives]

THese are available from Carry Commission.

[@ariadanzig434]

A2 and 80cr. Tho my favourite knives are mostly made by William Collins. His blades are something special

[@TheBeardedBurton]

He makes fantastic blades and has a great heat treat!

[@ariadanzig434]

@@TheBeardedBurton his work is magnificent,honestly if I could afford it I’d buy all his knives.his knives have real personality.needless to say I admire his work more than any other

[@joed_26]

I’ve had only one experience with Magnacut so far. Was from a reputable company I enjoy, bushcraft style knife. Did some simple carving and had a lot of chips in the edge. New steels aren’t always the best especially while they are new and being dialed in as you said.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

That’s been a common issue from multiple companies sadly

[@TheBeardedBurton]

@@ShoahBiznot necessarily, look into it more. Multiple companies have this issue

[@TheBeardedBurton]

@@ShoahBizthis is all a very polarizing because the companies I’ve talked to are quite reputable and agree with me. A couple of them are small batch makers and others use mass heat treat like Peters. Just wild there is this much outrage over steel

[@timvodenichar8406]

Very happy with nitro v love it

[@TheBeardedBurton]

Same

[@FullyAdamatic]

It is great for the industry and enthusiast, I love the buzz it generates. It will, like any thing else, get dull... so, is the presumably higher maintenace effort worth the marginal improvements?

[@TheBeardedBurton]

That’s what I was saying and even in these comments but the buzz and hype blinds people haha!

[@TheScrawnyLumberjack]

I’m a custom maker who uses both steels quite often. Magnacut it dominates AEB-L in edge retention while being nearly as tough and more corrosion resistant. Also Magnacut due to the CPM process and vanadium heat treats more predictable and consistently than AEB-L. There are two different mills that produce AEB-L. Depending on the mill depends on the recipe and hold times. I have coupons to confirm this. AEB-L loves to warp and move around pre heat treat and post heat treat. While Magnacut can warp and usually picks up a small warp AEB-L is far worse. AEB-L grinds and finishes amazingly well which is the only thing it really has going for it. It’s also great in the kitchen.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

Interesting… I’ve heard quite the different story from, now 6 makers after this video has posted and they say that Magnacut does what you just said AEBL does. Are you Cryo treating AEBL because I believe Peters does

[@WeFightTheDark]

At ideal hardness for both steels, AEB-L is twice as tough as MagnaCut and that's according to the tests of the guy who designed MagnaCut.

[@TheScrawnyLumberjack]

@@WeFightTheDark can we define ideal hardness for each?

[@TheScrawnyLumberjack]

@@WeFightTheDark AEB-L really shines at 62 hrc which is about 22-23 lb of toughness, MC at 62 is about 17 lbs which isn’t much less. However geometry overrides steel properties when the knife is ground to actually be used as a knife. Honestly toughness is the least of my concern in a knife.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

@@TheScrawnyLumberjack @senecaserpent my question in all of this is what kind of tests are we actually doing in real life that this all needs to be relevant. Because I’ve got several of my grandpas knives from the 30s and 40s that are patina’d and ugly looking but are still razors and hold an edge fine. I just think at some point this all gets a little wild and we just need to use what we like and what works best for us. Some people like trucks others like sports cars but both have motors and get from A to B ya know?

[@Chrisshallperish]

its not new by now though. Its been out for years

[@TheBeardedBurton]

In comparison, it’s the newest of available steels that share similar properties

[@basemandog]

This feels like a commercial for overpriced knives that people buy to display. Those of us who actually use our blades are ok with 1095 at 1/4 of the price.

[@KnivesAndPizza]

I heard LT wrights heat treats are way below advertised

[@LTWrightKnives]

Agree to disagree...

[@TheBeardedBurton]

Not true

[@John-oz1do]

There is no doubt its easier to sharpen AEBL, i have both on knives i made. The knives are exactly same design and blade thickness and grind . magnacut is superior but harder to sharpen but needs to sharpen less. But its more corrosion resistance. For me as a maker , its superior. That being said, you cant go wrong with AEBL if you don’t want to pay premuim for magnacut. If you want a slight upgrade on AEBL, use Sanvik 14C28N . its really the best value for money knife steel and was made specifically for knives

[@mcsquirgle]

I dont think Magnacut will ever replace a steel like AEBL. AEBL is a fantastic traditional and affordable stainless steel that just works really well for a cutting tool. That said, Magnacut is proving itself to be everything and more that all the hype has made it out to be. If Spyderco is using it for their flagship models in full production (not just sprint runs and exclusives) then they have put their trust in the steel as more than just hype. Spyderco spends way too much time, money, and resources on research and testing these new steels for us to just brush Magnacut off as hype. If it wasnt good, they wouldnt be using it at all, let alone rolling it out to nearly every model they make in full production.

[@colinburgess9455]

I find many higher priced knife manufacturers especially the smaller ones encourage the use of cheap steel, this is on LTRight’s channel so we can only assume you’re speaking for LT Right. William Collins did a similar video with 3v steel. I like LTRight knives and the simple steels are great but it’s very difficult to pay high prices, no matter the quality of the workmanship, for cheap razor blade steel. If you ask me I’d take 3v every time. But I have knives in A2 and other steels. Just cut the bull shit and be honest with at least yourself. 😂

[@TheBeardedBurton]

I agree with you. And I am speaking for myself as a content creator for LTWK, that doesn’t mean they are saying this or feel the exact what I do. Just like with steels, it’s all preferences and opinions. If a steel like A2 or AEBL or 3V work for you and are in your budget than go for it. But lots of folks are saying Magnacut is the killer of all steels and I just don’t agree with that

[@Shifftymking]

From what i can tell 63-64 hrc is the sweet spot for edge retention on magnacut. it seems like magnacut is easier to heat treat consistently compared to m390 or 20cv. This is just what ive heard i have 2 knives in magnacut a hogue deka dlt exclusive in green g10 and a emp edc relative which is a bestech oem which i wasnt sure about there magnacut but watch luv them knives batch 6. I knew it was good based on using the knife and sharpening it but its really good.

[@MountainRaider]

All steels choices are great. It’s great to have choices. Just like cars or guns. There are many choices for everyone. And that is a fantastic thing. Personally I prefer carbon steels, like O1, 1095 and tool steels like A2 and 52100.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

I agree!

[@sneezingfrog]

I've got some Magnacut woodworking plane blades, and I think they're a great choice. Sharpening effort is not really any different when using proper stones, and the edge retention is excellent.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

I agree it’s a great steel like I said, but what’s the cost difference?

[@sneezingfrog]

@@TheBeardedBurton A standard 2-3/8" Lie-Nielsen blade in A2 is $70 from LN. Same blade in Magnacut is $100 from Lake Erie. Both are excellent choices, you can't go wrong with either, you'll hand them down to the next 2 generations. Rust resistance in this space is nice to have, but not a key differentiator, so it comes down to how much you like to break your flow to resharpen. In my case, spending the $30 extra to not have to sharpen as often makes sense.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

@@sneezingfrogthat’s awesome, thanks for the feedback!

[@trevorallen9435]

It's totally worth it

[@Simon-talks]

yep, magnacut is definitely superior in every way

[@bushcraftkelso2013]

O1 > Everything ❤

[@TheBeardedBurton]

😂😂

[@Canadian_Craftsman]

I'm absolutely 💯 LOVING my White River Ursus Cub in Magnacut but my Woods Monkey kerf carver AEBL is the bees knees push cuts like NOBODY'S business AEBL is a razor blade steel btw ✊️🔥✌️💚

[@TheBeardedBurton]

Awesome! I believe I mentioned it being a razor blade steel but can’t remember 😂

[@Cid_1]

I love all types of steel, especially good heat treated steel at an optimal hardness for the appropriate size of the blade. For instance, on a little EDC knife I PERSONALLY don't like to see 3V at 58-60HRC, I would much rather see it in the 61-63HRC range at that size. Or even better 4V/V4E/K490 at 63-64. If I want something for toughness that I can beat the snot out of I would probably use a blade in something like A8 Mod. When it comes to Magnacut from the knives I have used it really seem to shine in that 62-64HRC range, but again for a large chopper one would probably drop that to 61-62, same if someone seeking max corrosion resistance (though tweaked HT protocols can often help with that as well). I also really like Aebl/13c26, 14C28N & 19C27 since it works well in a wide range of hardness (58-63HRC). But as with any knife steel, It doesn't matter what steel one uses and how "good" it is without it also having a good heat treat to match the size & geometry of the blade. And as a customer, I will always seek out companies that prioritize good heat treatment and an HRC range fitting for the size of the blade, rather than companies running steel at the very basic low ranges and selling them for as much as they can just because they can.

[@Wazoo]

Thank you for allowing your beard to not completely cover your whetstone. You are a hero.

[@Canadian_Craftsman]

@Wazoo ✊️🔥✌️💚🤣 well his hair certainly wouldn't... 🫣😂

[@TheBeardedBurton]

I trimmed the leather lace so it hangs just below haha

[@TheBeardedBurton]

@@Canadian_Craftsman😮

[@Canadian_Craftsman]

@@TheBeardedBurton 😜✊️🔥✌️💚

[@Randy-v9x]

Maggot cut? Nope ! Cold steel's original ""CARBON V"" is better than

[@chriswood3390]

Had the mkc in magna. Didn't see a big difference.. had a bm saddle mountain couple years. Stuck a mossy oak $12 special in my bag for this year.

[@jusme8060]

Geometry is always going to matter more than steel choice. People wouldn't be able to tell an aebl knife from a magnacut knife if they had the same geometry.

[@robbychism]

O1 for me.. if it has to be stainless, AEB-L.

[@DaryooshF.Sh.P-vq6mu]

My all time favourites are Cruwear, 3V, aebl, 14c28n, a2, 52100, o1, 1095, 12c27 accordingly Cheers 🍻🔪

[@azhomeboy2000]

You got great taste in knife steels!✌️

[@DaryooshF.Sh.P-vq6mu]

@@azhomeboy2000 cheers buddy 🍻🔪

[@DaryooshF.Sh.P-vq6mu]

@@ShoahBiz I like it for Kitchen knives if you say so.

[@MartinDunwell]

Really enjoyed this video have not used magnacut when they become available in the UK a demko will be £300 I have a custom knife aebl from campania knifes he's a Australian lad that was £200 also a custom nessmuk in 52100 from dreadnought forge Jimmy is in armagh northern Ireland that was £160 great great steels I just don't think production knifes made of magnacut is worth the money in the UK I no in the states you pay a lot less we just get hammered hear

[@DaryooshF.Sh.P-vq6mu]

@@MartinDunwell I would consider lifting in that situation.

[@WoodsmanHobo777]

I prefer, 1095, 1080, even 1070, also like 52100 and 5160. I hardly ever buy stainless steel fixed blades. If I did buy a stainless, the only ones I think I would like is AEBL, 14C28, 12c27, 440C, and 3V. I prefer a steel that's easy to sharpen in the field.

[@WeFightTheDark]

The big issue with MagnaCut right now is it's being used as a marketing tool and people are buying it up without thinking. There's been a lot of issues lately apparently with botched heat treats due to rushing blades out. Working outdoors I'd definitely prefer AEB-L or 3V, but great EDC steel.

[@danielclemens4509]

Aeb-l will have greater toughness and ease of sharpness (I prefer 14c28n to aeb-l) than magnacut. There are trade offs with all steels. Magnacut will have greater edge retention and corrosion resistance than aeb-l. Magnacut is very rust resistant due to nitrogen content.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

Thanks for the comment!

[@danielclemens4509]

I value your expert opinion. You probably have put more hours behind a blade than I ever will.

[@GBall_Vision]

14c is no joke

[@ColtPinky]

Personally I believe it's worth it because I've been carrying a hogue deka since it's release a few years back and it's still in incredible condition haven't had any fixed blade experience but I don't see why it'd be bad there either

[@TheBeardedBurton]

Thanks for the comment! The issue is when you take a piece of magnacut in let’s say 1/8” thick to make a fixed blade capable of bushcraft and survival skills. Higher heat treating magnacut that size and thickness to what everyone is saying is the best 63+ RC, you’ll get chipping. Finer edge designs like skinning knives and folders not designed for hard use, will not experience that. Folks are comparing apples to oranges in this comment section.

[@ColtPinky]

@TheBeardedBurton yeah and the price of a bigger magnacut knife is brutal I feel like it's limited to smaller knives and bigger knives should just stick with something like a2 because it's cheap and good

[@EREBO95]

My dream is one of those genesis in aebl in 3/32 full height convex aebl

[@TheBeardedBurton]

That is an awesome knife for sure!

[@sparrow_bushcraft5307]

💪🏻💯

[@PreppingWithSarge]

Nice one Bearded Burton and LTWK 🔪👊

[@TheBeardedBurton]

Thank you man!

[@epleyscott86]

How hard is it to sharpen , and can’t do it with a work sharp

[@TheBeardedBurton]

I find it takes more time than AEB-L which is one of the reasons I prefer it over Magnacut. Simple ceramic rod and leather strop with compound work for both but AEB-L gets to my liking with less work

[@Canadian_Craftsman]

Where's NITROV in this convo Broo 🤔 😂😂😂 but seriously ✊️🔥✌️💚

[@TheBeardedBurton]

Dude I love NitroV and 80CRV2, but because this was for the LT channel and I don’t own any of our knives in that steel I didn’t feel it was a fair comparison

[@Canadian_Craftsman]

@@TheBeardedBurton so I get no LOVE?? LOL ✊️🔥✌️💚🤣

[@OsRi-d9b]

AEB-L, 14c28n, 440c all work well for me. Factor in the marketing that comes with having a new super steel like Magnacut, and the price, and issues, I will wait a couple of years.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

I agree! Love 440C too!

[@ClpBushcraft]

Just give me 52100 !! I’ll take it over anything !!!

[@TheBeardedBurton]

Amen

[@matthewf1979]

For an axe or chopper, sure. 52100 is tough, but it has very low wear resistance at knife hardness. Edge retention of Magnacut, M390, S90V etc is orders of magnitude above 52100 and it can cut for far longer without being honed.

[@ClpBushcraft]

@@matthewf1979yeah maybe so but I’ll still keep my 52100 knife over any of the the super hyped up steels

[@SouthernKnifeLife]

Well said my man, I love AEBL and it does do good with ceramic rods and I love that tooth that it takes from it as well

[@TheBeardedBurton]

Thanks!

[@pinkiewerewolf]

I love AEB L blades. 👍 I still don’t have a Magna-Cut blade to compare but AEB L has never let me down, easy to maintain the edge.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

I agree and cost is nicer too

[@richardhenry1969]

It's just marketing. Really no steel is really new. Most are more then 20 years old. Corrosion resistance isn't something I really care about. I personally prefer 14c28n because toughness is more important to me. I don't believe the markup is worth what you get.

[@zdenekbart]

😄🤦‍♂️

[@TheBeardedBurton]

Hype and new make money

[@zdenekbart]

@@TheBeardedBurton 😄🤦‍♂️

[@richardhenry1969]

@@ShoahBiz price.

[@ibpositivemostly7437]

Cool video thanks.

[@stephenstruman7235]

Is there a reason why the M isn’t stamped into the blade like it is with the other steels?

[@TheBeardedBurton]

This was a collab knife for Carry Commission so that may be it but I own several that are lasered and stamped, not sure

[@shamitoson]

So basically, no one wants 1095 😋.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

Haha should be a lot for sale then!

[@TheArkansasBushcrafter]

Don’t have any magnacut but I love my shemanese in aebl

[@TheBeardedBurton]

That’s a fantastic knife and steel combo!

[@Dreweldeenknives]

No I think it’s cool but it goes dull cutting tough stuff and then I don’t ever like my knives too dull so I touch it up all the time

[@Dreweldeenknives]

It does get very sharp and I have 2 magnacut folders. I like it

[@chrisreuther4546]

But when talking about steel, you need to consider the hardness with the heat treat. Because if they are not heat treated to the actual steel that you are using you are not optimizing the performance of the steel. I would love to know what LT Wright is heat treating the various steels to. If you run a high rockwell for the Magnacut you will get great performance... been well documented at this point.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

As far as this video goes, the steel is heat treated by Peter’s Heat Treat which are one of the premier companies in the industry

[@chrisreuther4546]

@@TheBeardedBurton right but what’s the Rockwell at the end… very important overall… I’ve seen some companies..(that I really like) go way too soft (59-59rc) on Magnacut when the hardness needs to be 64-65 to my understanding for optimal performance

[@chrisreuther4546]

@@TheBeardedBurton also… I didn’t know that LT didn’t heat treat in house

[@zdenekbart]

As Larrin Thomas said, optimal is 62HRC for MagnaCut. ​@@chrisreuther4546

[@SouthernKnifeLife]

On LTs Christmas virtual vault I asked about the RC for their magna cut and they said 56 to 58 I believe, I know it wasn't over 59

[@zdenekbart]

Magna-Cut is the best steel I ever used. I'am using it few years and it is the best steel these days. Great toughness, great edge retention, and superior corrosion resistant. MagnaCut haters never used it for long time.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

It’s a great steel for sure but I’ve used it extensively and don’t see much difference. And on the side of knife makers, there’s lots of issues with it. Look up the issues with heat treating, delaminating etc…

[@zdenekbart]

@@TheBeardedBurton a lot better. There is a huge difference. Knifemakers I know have no problem with heat treating, etc.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

@@zdenekbartthis is where preferences come into play because the cost difference between the two states otherwise. Look further into issues, lots of videos out there and companies agree with me, just may not be ones you know of or follow

[@Swearengen1980]

@@TheBeardedBurton MKC has zero issues with heat treating magnacut. And it is a lot better than most steels and the best all around. It's the only steel I've come across that can skin and process a buck without needing to be touched in the process, yet is very easy to sharpen. If you don't notice a difference, you're not really using your knives.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

@@Swearengen1980ever used AEB-L? Also plenty of my A2 knives have skinned bucks without needing touched up. In Texas, skinning a hog out is where you really see how a steel performs because your essentially zipping through super course hair that is caked with mud and sand (grit) and I don’t care what super steel or Magnacut or whatever you’re using, it’s gotta be touched up.

[@zdenekbart]

Magna-Cut have a lot better edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistants then AEB-L.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

On paper better but in the field not so much. How many folks are actually hard using their knives day in and out as opposed to what charts say?

[@zdenekbart]

@@TheBeardedBurton 😄🤦‍♂️I'am using hard, MagnaCut is a lot better. Period.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

@@zdenekbartwhat are you doing and let me know links to watch and see the testing

[@zdenekbart]

@@TheBeardedBurton 😄🤦‍♂️ I'am not an idiot who make videos. I'am real user, not youtuber. 😄🤦‍♂️

[@TheBeardedBurton]

@@zdenekbarthave a good weekend !

[@markjg2275]

It us just another steel to sell more knives nothing more, Great eastern cutlery 1095 carbon steel is just fine on fixed blades and folders. Previous generations only used carbon steel blades because they worked they are tough easy to sharpen in the field I never had any problems with carbon steel I just keep them oiled so they do not rust no problem. I am not into all these new super steels holy grail steels there are so many out there they just increase the price of the knife much more than they are worth in my opinion.

[@TheBeardedBurton]

Agree with you completely. My grandpa used knives way more than I do and most everyone I know and he probably didn’t even know what his steels were hahaah.