The chemical composition of the two steels are slightly different.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crucible Data Sheets
CPM S-30V
Carbon: 1.45%
Chromium: 14%
Vanadium: 4%
Molybdenum: 2%
CPM S-35VN
Carbon: 1.45%
Chromium: 14%
Vanadium: 3%
Molybdenum: 2%
Niobium: 0.50%
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The higher Vanadium content of S30V causes the steel to form more vanadium carbides, giving the steel higher wear resistance, but making the steel harder to work, and leaves little possibility for putting a mirror finish on a blade made of S30V.
The slightly lower Vanadium content of S35VN makes the steel easier to grind, drill, mill, and polish, and the addition of Niobium (formerly known as Columbian/Columbium) prevents sacrificing a significant measure of wear resistance, while making the steel more versatile.
So to boil it down, S35VN is easier to work, less prone to micro-chipping at higher hardness, and has only slightly less wear resistance than S30V. That's where my knowledge ends on the subject.