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420hc and 440c steels

Discussion in 'General Knife Discussion' started by ilikecheapknives, Mar 19, 2016.

  1. Mar 19, 2016 #1
    ilikecheapknives

    ilikecheapknives

    10
    Mar 19, 2016
    How do these compare?I'm buying a new knife and I can't afford high end steels.Do te steels old an edge for long or is 440A better?
     
  2. Mar 19, 2016 #2
    michaelm466

    michaelm466 Gold Member Gold Member

    2,171
    Mar 5, 2009
    440C will have better edge holding when comparing the exact same blade with good heat treatments
     
  3. Mar 19, 2016 #3
    ilikecheapknives

    ilikecheapknives

    10
    Mar 19, 2016
    Thanks.
     
  4. Mar 19, 2016 #4
    AdamFuzzyballs

    AdamFuzzyballs

    1,254
    Mar 16, 2015
    440C used to be the high end:)
     
  5. Mar 19, 2016 #5
    G. Scott H.

    G. Scott H.

    9,086
    Jan 9, 2006
    Yep. I remember back in the '80s when 440C was the shiz. :D It's still a very good everyday user steel, though it's been surpassed in different areas by different subsequent steels. :thumbup:
     
  6. Mar 19, 2016 #6
    Insipid Moniker

    Insipid Moniker Gold Member Gold Member

    13,580
    Feb 28, 2011
    440C>420HC>440A in my opinion. 12c27, AUS8 and 8cr13mov are also respectable budget steels.
     
  7. Mar 19, 2016 #7
    knarfeng

    knarfeng senex morosus moderator Staff Member Super Mod Moderator

    30,162
    Jul 30, 2006
    I disagree.
    440C>440A>420HC at when hardened to the same hardness.
     
  8. Mar 19, 2016 #8
    Insipid Moniker

    Insipid Moniker Gold Member Gold Member

    13,580
    Feb 28, 2011
    That's fair, my experience with 420HC is largely Buck and my experience with 440A is either Jarbenza type knives or cheap kitchen cutlery, so quality has likely played a significant role in my perception. :)
     
  9. Mar 19, 2016 #9
    abbazaba

    abbazaba Gold Member Gold Member

    2,515
    Oct 30, 2015
    440c is a good thing in any budget knife, and better than 8cr and even Aus-8 IMHO. 440a sucks, VG10 and Sandvik 14c28n are better than 440c IMHO.
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2016
  10. Mar 20, 2016 #10
    mveach

    mveach

    10
    Mar 19, 2016
    I have 5 kershaw knives with 4 different blade alloys. They are all good. 1 is 420hc. The tempering and blade geometry along with the ergonomic handle, make it a very good slicer and is equally suited to push or pull cutting. While not even an upper mid range steel, a very useful inexpensive steel.
     
  11. Mar 20, 2016 #11
    Hickory n steel

    Hickory n steel Basic Member Basic Member

    11,657
    Feb 11, 2016
    Bucks 420HC is my favorite edc steel.
     
  12. Mar 20, 2016 #12
    ursamajor

    ursamajor

    1,310
    Oct 27, 2010
    AUS8 has that there Vanadium in it. It is more wear resistant than 440c. In the best examples I have used with both Steels, AUS8 took a better edge and held it longer. 440c is more stain resistant though.
     
  13. Mar 20, 2016 #13
    knarfeng

    knarfeng senex morosus moderator Staff Member Super Mod Moderator

    30,162
    Jul 30, 2006
    No way. I've done side-by-side testing cutting manila rope. At the same hardness, 440C outperformed AUS8 by a sizeable margin.
    http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...tainless-alloys-using-a-visual-inspection-tec

    At 0.2%, there is only enough Vanadium in AUS 8 for grain refinement. It is an insufficient amount to generate enough carbides to affect wear resistance.
     
  14. Mar 20, 2016 #14
    Wolverine666

    Wolverine666 Gold Member Gold Member

    3,733
    Dec 7, 2009
    I bought a new Buck 124 just a few weeks ago and I love it. I haven't had the chance to really put the 420HC blade to the test yet. Just wondering why it's your favorite EDC steel.
     
  15. Mar 20, 2016 #15
    Dean51

    Dean51 Gold Member Gold Member

    911
    Aug 30, 2014
    I would rank either of these 440C, 9Cr18MoV as holding an edge better than 420HC.
     
  16. Mar 20, 2016 #16
    nick21

    nick21

    1,035
    Feb 22, 2014
    440a has a very poor reputation due to being commonly used in Jarbenzas and other no-name knives
     

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