440 Stainless For a Dive Knife?

N

Nic.

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Dec 8, 2014
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I'm an avid diver and thought making dive knives for my dive buddies would be a neat Christmas present idea. I have a bar of 440, and was wondering if that would be a good steel choice? These knives would see more fresh than salt water, but would be used in both environments. I have zero experience working with stainless. It seems like on most dive knife manufacturers websites just say "stainless steel" blades and don't specify the alloy used, so I'm not sure if it would work well or not! Any insight would be appreciated, thanks!
 
Absolutely. 440 was and still is used for dive knives. I've had plenty. They will rust up a bit in salt water if you don't rinse them, but with minimal care, they service well.
 
I hear that Z-FINIT is one of the best knife steels for being stainless and is just about stainproof.

This is copied from AKS
"At HRC 59 the steel performs well. The performance is better than 52100. Because it is a nitrogen stainless steel, the corrosion resistance is excellent, far surpassing 440C. The toughness is excellent. Do not be afraid to grind the blade edge very thin. In our experience, the edge does not chip."

What 440 stainless do you have, there are a few kinds A,B or C
 
Thanks for the help guys.
JT-it's 440C--what's the difference from a, b, and c?
 
Titanium works great too, especially if it is carbidized, No rust even of you forget to rinse it and very aggressive in an emergency situation where you need to cut rope, netting, etc.
 
Since you already have the 440-C use it. It will make a fine knife and if used is salt water you're gonna rinse all your equipment anyhow so it will hold up just fine.
 
SBuzek said:
Since you already have the 440-C use it. It will make a fine knife and if used is salt water you're gonna rinse all your equipment anyhow so it will hold up just fine.
Click to expand...

I agree, it is also a very under rated steel and a good choice for a dive knife.
 
440c has been around for years. It was a very popular steel at one time, and with good reason. It has basically as much carbon as 1095, plus is very corrosion resistant, holds up well, takes an edge well... I could go on. The thing is now a days there are so many other "super" steels out there that 440c seems outdated and just doesn't sell that well. That and the fact that it got a very bad name due to the millions of crappy mass produced knives out there that have "440" on them. Most of the time they are A or B, not C. A and B are worthless for knives..

Ok, sorry for the mini rant. I would say if you have it, definitely use it!

-Adam
 
I believe 440B is Randall's stainless. 440A was still used in Europe after US makers began chasing super steels. I've used very nice Laguioles in 440A.
 
Thank you all very much for the help, I appreciate it!
And Adam, the mini rant was very educational, thanks!!
 
Steel is one of those things that can become quite tainted by shoddy craftsmanship And 440 is quite tainted. This holds true on the flip side as well, just becaus XYZ uses it in there knives does not mean it's a good steel. Names sell more knives then the steel used.
 
440 C has been around for so long many consider it to be obsolete and outdated. I mainly use CPM 154 for my hunting knives but many guys ask me for 440 C because they have seen some of my personal knives made from 440 C and they want the same thing. I am happy to comply and still make many of my personal knives from 440 C. It has served me well for many years the price of the steel is very good. Here is a photo of one of my 440 C knives with dovetailed bolsters and some engraving and file work. I cant see why 440 C wouldn't make a fine dive knife. Larry

VgYxILLm.jpg
 
Randall is proof. $400+ you can buy knives that will out perform Randalls in every way. 440B meh :) but thats just my opinion of the matters. if your looking for a Dive knife and can spend a little bit I'd look at the spyderco in H1 steel. Rust proof.
 
lobo9er said:
Randall is proof. $400+ you can buy knives that will out perform Randalls in every way. 440B meh :) but thats just my opinion of the matters. if your looking for a Dive knife and can spend a little bit I'd look at the spyderco in H1 steel. Rust proof.
Click to expand...

You can't get H1 for making knives to my knowledge, somehow spyderco gets it probably direct from the mfg not sure.
 
I'll take 440c over h1 any day. Especially when the h1 blade goes from shaving sharp to butter knife mid session. No good under water.
 
I used a large number of knives and many steels in more than 30 years of diving at sea (the Mediterranean Sea has a salinity slightly higher than that of the ocean). How on earth also rest in the water you need to choose the knife, its geometry and its steel in function of what we go underwater.

Your 440C is a decent steel for underwater activities, is not the best but if you have, use it. I suggest strongly, to realize the knife with a mirror finish, also the same sharpening edge must be mirrored. On the knife surface, each roughness promotes rust.

___________-
Riccardo Mainolfi
 
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