Gear MagnaCut: The Answer To The Riddle Of Steel? Mike Searson February 12, 2025 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Learn More It seems as if every few months a new type of blade steel emerges that’s supposed to cut better, hold an edge longer, resist corrosion, and outperform everything that came before it. These super steels gain a following. Some stay around, others fade into the background. When multiple manufacturers and custom makers begin using it en masse, it might be time to take a look at it. Such is the case with MagnaCut.This stainless steel was developed by Larrin Thomas from Pittsburgh, who has a PhD in metallurgical engineering with roots in the automotive industry. His father is Devin Thomas, a highly regarded maker of Damascus steel, which gave Larrin an interest in knife steels (and led to the founding of his website knifesteelnerds.com).As a scientist, Thomas looked at the qualities of different steels at a molecular level and saw that while chromium was a key component in stainless steels, it could produce a bad side effect. Chromium is the element present in knife steels that makes the steel “stainless.” Most stainless steel has a composition of 14- to 20-percent chromium. Only 10 percent of this seems to be needed for corrosion resistance, the remainder bonds to carbon creating chromium carbides. This has negative effects on the steel, making it prone to dulling in many cases.Thomas came up with a formula that drops the chromium content down to 11 percent and prevents the forming of chromium carbides. He approached Crucible with his formula, and they began producing MagnaCut in 2021 to Thomas’ specifications. In the past, there have been amazing steels made for other industries that could have potential as knife steel, but they were unavailable in a format useful for blade making.Promising the benefits of corrosion resistance, edge retention, blade hardness, and ease of maintenance, MagnaCut offers a lot for a knife user who wants these characteristics in a daily use knife. Originally, we only saw it with a handful of custom makers, but by early 2024, we started seeing the major production companies offering it in their lineups.BEST MAGNACUT KNIVESPRO-TECH KNIVES RUNT 5Pro-Tech Knives is a California-based manufacturer of automatic knives. One of their earliest designs was the Runt, intended for the California market and other locales where a short-bladed automatic is legal to own or carry. The Runt is on its fifth iteration and now available in MagnaCut. This version uses a stone-washed reverse tanto-style blade that opens with authority despite its small size.Not just for Californians or others in restricted areas: a small automatic knife can come in very handy due to its size and nonthreatening appearance. PROS: The reverse tanto design makes for a very effective small blade to always keep handy. The action is incredible and consistent. There were no problems at all opening or closing the knife. The handle is textured perfectly without being overdone. This is a very comfortable piece to use and carry. CONS: There’s no lanyard hole for this one. The clip can only be positioned for right-hand use and carry.SPYDERCO NATIVE SALT 5Spyderco may have been one of the first manufacturers to use MagnaCut in an entire line of knives: The Salt Series. These knives are specifically developed for use in maritime environments on boats, docks, or for people who are constantly on the water rafting, boating, and kayaking. The Native designation signifies that the knife is made in Golden, Colorado. It’s tapped for left- or right-hand carry for tip up or tip down in use. These features, along with being made in the USA, makes these knives very popular among users and collectors.Yellow handles indicate that it’s part of the Salt Series of knives. The lock-back mechanism is a strong one.PROS: The FRN handle scales keep the weight down and are very comfortable. This is a knife you can work with all day long. Opening is quick with Spyderco’s trademarked opening hole in the blade. CONS: As with any high in demand knife, availability and long wait times can be an issue. As strong as the lock back is, a puzzle lock might be handier on this model in a wet environment.BENCHMADE CLA IVORY G10Benchmade’s CLA (Composite Light Auto) is a testament to how the company is always refining their automatic knife designs. If you’re looking for a lightweight EDC piece that deploys with the click of a button and uses MagnaCut steel, this would be a good candidate. The auto mechanism did require a bit of a break-in period, but after 40 or 50 openings, it was fast and consistent every time. The ivory G10 was from a limited run but the knife is now available with different tactical-colored G10 scales.Used for several weeks of daily chores and tackling cardboard boxes, the edge started to dull but was quickly resurrected by a few swipes on a ceramic sharpener. This knife is equally at home in a tactical loadout as in a pocket in dress slacks for a boardroom presentation. PROS: The CLA is sharp and ready to go out of the box with a keen edge. Automatic opening is backed up by an Axis lock mechanism to prevent accidental blade closure when engaged. Reversible pocket clip for right- and left-handed use CONS: The handle can feel a little slick at times and could use more texturing to ensure a solid grip. Short break-in period to ensure consistent firingSHARPS BROS MEANSTREAK 3.5Sharps Bros. may not come to mind when you think of knives, despite the name, but that’s because they only started making knives very recently. They didn’t exactly skimp on this, either. Just as they use high-end materials in their firearm parts, they went with MagnaCut steel and titanium frame-lock handles. The Mean Streak 3.5 is a frame-lock flipper that zips into position with the authority of a quality automatic knife. The handle has a slight curve to aid in serious cutting, and the blade, of course, is MagnaCut.PROS: Top quality build and materials all throughout. This is an awesome first design. The 3.5-inch drop-point blade comes wicked sharp out of the box. Scalloping and checkering on the handle is pure artistry in titanium. We would expect no less from the company that changed the look of AR lowers in an artistic way. Pocket clip is reversible for left-hand users or left-side carry. CONS: There’s no lanyard hole beyond a cut out in the clip. Some checkering on the backspacer would’ve been a nice touch.HERETIC KNIVES COLOSSUSHeretic Knives makes some of the toughest working automatic knives out there. The Colossus is no exception, and it’s fitted with a MagnaCut blade. The Colossus exemplifies strength and power. The blade uses a new opening action relying on rollers and ball bearings to deploy quick and smooth.The blade is a finely ground tanto-style with a sharp-piercing tip. The handle is impeccably textured for a secure nonslip grip. PROS: Scary sharp blade from the factory The handle is very well textured and grippy. It provides a secure hold in all conditions. This blade fires like a rocket, quickly and with authority. It retracts just as smoothly, making for an ideal OTF auto. Ambidextrous clip for either right or left-handed carry. OTF’s can make for perfect ambidextrous blades. CONS: There’s no lanyard hole. You could probably make the hole in the clip work if you really need one, but it’s a little less than ideal for this purpose. Handle texturing under the clip may cause undue wear on pants pockets.CRKT REDEMPTIONThe Redemption is an offering from CRKT based on a custom design by Ken Onion known as the Deadman’s Hand. It’s an homage to the spearpoint- and dagger-type blades carried by gamblers and outlaws during the Old West. More than fancy retro stylings in a MagnaCut blade, the Redemption makes use of a button lock and CRKT’s crossbar lock for slick and fast one-handed opening without the legal hassles of an automatic.You get a full-sized handle with a full-sized blade in this one. The scales are G10 with stainless steel bolsters. The simple, modified coffin-shaped handles are clearly a homage to a bygone era, complete with stainless steel ovals inserted in the G10 scales.The knife performed well in slicing and dicing, making short work of cardboard, chopping tomatoes for salsa, cutting paracord, and whittling on blackthorn sticks.PROS: This blade has a shape reminiscent of the Old West and the nostalgia that goes with it. Opening is extremely smooth and consistent. Sharp right out of the box with no need for a touch-up CONS: There’s no usable lanyard hole due to the blade taking up the entire handle cavity when closed. A backup thumb lug or opening disc might be welcome in case the knife doesn’t flick open due to debris from hard use.FLAT ROCK FORGE ETOWAHFlat Rock Forge is a custom knife shop based out of North Carolina. Joe Israel is the sole proprietor and has been making quality fixed blades for quite a few years. The Etowah is a short, fixed blade knife made from MagnaCut with a Rockwell hardness of 61. Most of the MagnaCut blades sampled have been on folding EDC-type blades, but we wanted to see how it would perform in a dedicated fixed blade for fieldwork and Bushcraft. The Etowah performed in spades. It may lack the Scandi grind so prevalent in the Bushcraft world, but it proved to be a true workhorse that was undaunted by everything we threw at it. Israel is definitely a maker to watch, and his blades are a testament to his craft.PROS: This is a low cost and effective custom blade ideal for processing birds, fish, and small game. The edge held up well while decimating different hardwoods for kindling and fire prep. The handle was very comfortable for working all day with the knife without developing any hot spots. CONS: The sleeved lanyard hole is a nice touch but could be a bit bigger to allow a thicker lanyard to the knife. Although the hilt is chamfered nicely, it could be a little smoother if you’re a stickler on appearance. Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.
