New West KnifeWorks (NWKW): Corey, let’s start with the basics—what is Magna X, and why are we so excited about it?

Corey Milligan: Magna X is a brand-new super steel, developed through a collaboration between Larrin Thomas, Crucible Steel, and Niagara Steel. Larrin Thomas is a metallurgist and steel innovator—his father was known for developing stainless Damascus steel by hand, and now Larrin is making his own mark on the industry.

A few years ago, Larrin helped create MagnaCut, which completely changed the game for knife steels. Magna X is the next evolution. It has off-the-charts stain resistance, outstanding toughness, and drastically improved wear resistance, which translates to better edge retention.

We're one of only a few knife makers in the world who have been invited to test this steel—and as the largest producer of particle metallurgy kitchen cutlery in the U.S., we’re honored to be part of pushing the limits of what’s possible.

NWKW: You mentioned MagnaCut as a predecessor. How does Magna X compare to our current steel, CPM S35VN?

Corey: S35VN has been the gold standard for high-performance cutlery. It balances stain resistance, toughness, and edge retention better than just about anything out there. But Magna X is poised to raise the bar even further.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Stain Resistance: Vastly improved over S35VN. This is a huge deal, especially for kitchen knives—less maintenance, no worries about acidic foods or rust, and better performance in humid or salty environments.
• Toughness: About the same as S35VN, which is great because toughness prevents chipping and breaking, especially in our thin, high-performance grinds.
• Wear Resistance (Edge Holding): This is where Magna X really shines. In standardized CATRA testing (which measures how many times a blade can cleanly slice through paper), S35VN scores around 500 cuts, while Magna X scores 700 cuts—a nearly 40% increase in edge retention. That’s a massive jump in performance.

What’s even more exciting is that Magna X allows us to heat treat to a higher hardness without sacrificing toughness. Typically, the harder a steel gets, the more brittle it becomes. But with Magna X, we get increased wear resistance while maintaining toughness—the ultimate balance for a kitchen knife.

NWKW: What was the process like working with this steel for the first time?

Corey: When you’re dealing with a new steel, it’s not just about the numbers on a chart—it’s about how it performs in the real world.

One of the first things we noticed is that it’s harder to grind than S35VN because of the increased wear resistance. That’s not a bad thing—it just means this steel is tough as nails. We’re also testing how well it takes our Teton Edge, which is our proprietary serration designed for smoother slicing. So far, it’s looking better than ever.

Another unexpected bonus: Magna X takes a better finish than S35VN. The final polish has a deep, refined look that adds to the premium feel of the knife.

NWKW: Tell us about the Limited Drop Teton Edge Santoku—why this knife for the Magna X test batch?

Corey: The Teton Edge Santoku is one of our most popular and versatile knives, making it a great test subject. We wanted a knife that our customers could put through its paces in real-world conditions—slicing, dicing, chopping, and testing the edge over time.

For this drop, we went with a classic black G10 handle with nickel silver rivets and a custom silver pin. It’s sleek, timeless, and lets the steel do the talking.

NWKW: How can customers participate in testing Magna X?

Corey: This is where it gets really fun. We’re only making 50 knives, and each one comes with a lifetime warranty—so we’re not worried about durability. But what we really want is feedback from real cooks.

If you grab one of these knives, you’ll be part of a pioneering test group, helping us evaluate the real-world performance of Magna X in a kitchen setting. After a month or two, we’ll send out a survey to get your thoughts.

NWKW: So, for those lucky enough to get one, they’ll be holding a piece of knife history?

Corey: Absolutely. The steel industry moves slowly—new materials don’t come around often. It could be a year or more before Magna X is widely available, so if you get one of these knives, you’ll be among the first in the world to own a blade made from this revolutionary steel.

If you're the type of person who loves having cutting-edge gear before anyone else, this is your chance to own something truly special.

NWKW: Any final thoughts?

Corey: At New West KnifeWorks, our mission is to make the finest knives in the world. That means embracing innovation and always looking for ways to improve. Whether it’s MagnaCut, Magna X, or something else down the line, we’re constantly testing, evolving, and pushing boundaries.

So, if you want to be part of this journey with us, get your hands on one of these Limited Drop Magna X Santokus while you can. We can’t wait to hear what you think!

Limited Drop: Only 50 Made

Don’t miss your chance to own one of the first Magna X knives ever made. These will go fast—sign up to get first access before they sell out: