If you’re shopping for a folding knife or EDC blade, you’ll see 14C28N on a lot of spec sheets. It’s one of the most common steels in mid-range production knives, and there’s a reason for that: it’s affordable, stainless, and easy to sharpen. But when we designed The Montana and built out the MKC lineup, we chose MagnaCut instead, and the performance gap between the two steels is why.
This guide explains what 14C28N is, how it compares to MagnaCut, and why MKC invests in a premium steel rather than a mass-market alternative.
What Is 14C28N Steel?
Sandvik (now Alleima) developed 14C28N in Sweden as an upgrade to their earlier 13C26 steel. Kershaw originally commissioned the project, and the steel quickly spread across the knife industry. You’ll find it in folders and fixed blades from Kershaw, Ruike, Real Steel, and dozens of other mid-range brands.
The “14C” in the name refers to its 14% chromium content, and the “N” refers to nitrogen. That nitrogen improves corrosion resistance and creates a finer grain structure, which makes the steel easier to sharpen and more resistant to microchipping.
14C28N is a capable budget-to-mid-range steel, and it does its job well at its price point. Most production knives running 14C28N are heat-treated to 58-62 HRC. It’s a solid option for a first quality folder or a kitchen knife, but it wasn’t designed to compete with premium steels like MagnaCut.
What Is MagnaCut Steel?
Metallurgist Larrin Thomas designed MagnaCut from the ground up for knife blades. It’s a powder metallurgy steel that uses vanadium and niobium carbides for edge retention, while keeping chromium dissolved in the steel matrix for corrosion resistance. That composition delivers genuine stainless performance without the toughness penalty older stainless steels carry.
MagnaCut is MKC’s primary steel because it does what no previous steel could: match carbon-steel toughness with true stainless corrosion resistance and premium edge retention in a single alloy. We run it across most of our lineup, from The Montana to our hunting and outdoor fixed blades.
Browse the full MagnaCut collection to see how we put it to work.
MagnaCut vs. 14C28N: Edge Retention, Corrosion, and Toughness
Here’s how MagnaCut and 14C28N stack up on the properties that matter most in a working knife.
Edge retention: MagnaCut wins. Its vanadium and niobium carbides are harder and more wear-resistant than 14C28N’s chromium-based carbides. MagnaCut holds an edge through weeks of daily use where 14C28N would need resharpening multiple times.
Corrosion resistance: MagnaCut wins. Both steels are genuinely stainless, but MagnaCut achieves its corrosion resistance through a different path. By keeping chromium in solution rather than tying it up in carbides, MagnaCut delivers better rust protection without sacrificing other properties.
Toughness: 14C28N wins. Its simpler composition and lower carbide volume give it a toughness advantage over MagnaCut. MagnaCut’s toughness is very good for a high-performance stainless steel, but 14C28N edges it out on this metric based on Larrin Thomas’s published testing data.
Ease of sharpening: 14C28N has the advantage here. It’s one of the easiest knife steels to sharpen on a basic whetstone, and even beginners can bring it back to a fine edge quickly. MagnaCut responds well to diamond stones and ceramics but does ask for more effort.
The bottom line: 14C28N is a good steel for the price. MagnaCut is a better steel in every performance metric except ease of sharpening. That’s why MKC chose it.
How 14C28N Compares to Other Common Knife Steels
14C28N sits in a crowded mid-range tier alongside several other mass-market steels you’ll see on spec sheets.
420HC is Buck Knives’ primary steel and one of the most widely used budget options in the industry. It’s stainless and affordable, but it offers less edge retention and lower hardness than 14C28N. If you’re comparing a Buck folder to a Kershaw in 14C28N, the Kershaw’s steel has the edge retention advantage.
8Cr13MoV is a Chinese-manufactured stainless steel common in the lowest-price-tier knives. The two steels have comparable edge retention, but 14C28N outperforms 8Cr13MoV in toughness and corrosion resistance. If you’re upgrading from an 8Cr13MoV knife, 14C28N is a step up in durability and rust resistance.
Both 420HC and 8Cr13MoV, like 14C28N, are several tiers below MagnaCut in edge retention and toughness. The performance gap between any of these mass-market steels and MagnaCut is substantial.
Why MKC Uses MagnaCut Instead of Steels Like 14C28N
We’re writing this blog post because our fans see 14C28N and other mid-range blade steels on competing knives and want to understand how they compare to MagnaCut. MKC doesn’t use 14C28N for our blades, and we aren’t considering it. We chose MagnaCut because it’s the best blade steel available for the knives we build. (We do use 420HC for the liners on The Montana, where corrosion resistance and spring properties matter more than edge retention.)
Josh Smith, MKC’s Founder and CEO, has spent 30 years building custom knives. When he designed The Montana, he paired his liner lock with MagnaCut because it gives our fans a blade that holds its edge through hard use, resists corrosion in any environment, and carries the MKC Generations® promise of lifetime care and maintenance.
The price difference between a 14C28N knife and a MagnaCut knife reflects a real difference in materials, engineering, and long-term performance. When you invest in MagnaCut, you’re carrying a steel that doesn’t ask you to choose between edge retention and corrosion resistance.
Frequently Asked Questions About 14C28N and MagnaCut
Is 14C28N a good knife steel?
Yes, for its price tier. 14C28N delivers good corrosion resistance, easy sharpening, and very good toughness in budget-to-mid-range knives. It won’t match MagnaCut in edge retention or corrosion resistance, but it actually edges out MagnaCut on toughness. It’s a solid option for everyday tasks at a lower price point.
Does MKC use 14C28N steel?
No. MKC uses MagnaCut across most of our lineup. We chose MagnaCut for its superior edge retention and corrosion resistance. This article explains 14C28N for fans who see it on other brands’ knives and want to understand how it compares to what MKC offers.
Is 14C28N stainless steel?
Yes. With 14% chromium content, 14C28N is a true stainless steel. It resists rust in normal use conditions, including kitchen moisture and outdoor humidity.
MagnaCut is also fully stainless, with better overall corrosion resistance due to its unique composition. Our best knife steel guide covers both in detail.
by Josh Smith, Master Bladesmith and Founder of Montana Knife Company
