The quaternary Ti-Al-V-N films have been grown on glass substrates by reactive dc and rf magnetron sputter deposition from a Ti-6Al-4V target in mixed Ar-$N_2$ discharges. The Ti-Al-V-N films were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction(XRD), electron probe microanalysis(EPMA) and scratch tester. Both XRD and EPMA results indicated that the Ti-Al-V-N films were of single B1 NaCl phase having columnar structure with the (111) preferred orientation. Scratch tester results showed that the adhesion strength of Ti-Al-V-N films which treated with substrate heating and vacuum annealing was superior to that of as-deposited film. The good adhesion strength was also achieved in the double-layer structure of Ti-Al-V-N/Ti-Al-V/Glass.