440c from benchmade?

wwells20

wwells20

Joined
Dec 31, 2004
Messages
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what can i expect with this steel in the long run? do i need to be carefull with anything? i.e. chipping the blade, etc....
 
440C is an old standard of steel. Some custom makers still offer it. BM does a real good job with theirs. I have the Mini Griptillian and bought my FIL the Rant Bowie. Both in this steel and no problems at all. When I sharpen his, I'll have a better idea of haw they compare in that area.
 
If you don't make the edge too thin and don't use the knife to chop up steel chairs, you should be all set. Benchmade's heat-treatment of 440C is excellent.
 
thombrogan said:
If you don't make the edge too thin and don't use the knife to chop up steel chairs, you should be all set. Benchmade's heat-treatment of 440C is excellent.
Click to expand...
Crap, if I could figure-out how to use my digital camera, I'd take a picture of the 6' stack of steel chairs in my basement that I chopped-up with my 440C Benchmade 805 TSEK!...Not a chip or dull-edge anywhere on the blade.:D.:D.

Honestly, I have had NO problems with ANY of my Benchmade 440C knives...They do that fine old steel proud!
 
440C is a good steel. It doesn't excel at anything, but is has no real weaknesses either.
440C's edge-holding ability, corrosion-resistance, toughness and ease of resharpening are all OK.
 
thanks guys, that makes me feel better about my purchase. seems to be much better 440c than i've had before. will let you know how i like it in a few months. thanks again for to info. wwells (it's a mini-grip, by the way)
 
Modern heattreat makes a big difference! I have a Buck 112 made in 73 from 440c and it's good, but no where near the steels of today.
 
There is a nice comparision in the Benchmade forum. Guess "hogs hair" is the right key word for a search.

Someone there tested 440C edge holding against S30V (all BM) and found, that the difference between them is small.

Have a 550 and found it to be great. Takes a nice edge quickly.
 
If my balisongs are an appropriate example (and I don't see why they shouldn't be), the 440C of Benchmade is just a wee bit too brittle. Dulling seems to come more from microchipping rather than rolling or just wearing down. Possibly has to do with the large amount of cardboard I cut, but D2 (Benchmade), 154CM, VG10, and S30V do much better in my hands.

If you're thinking of a Griptillian, I'd get a D2 or S30V version. Or any of BM's 154CM/S30V/M2 AXIS folders. The 440C is still pretty good, but I'd want better myself.

If Benchmade made their 440C just a wee bit softer, say maximum 58Rc instead of 58-60, I'd probably like it more. I find that a softer blade is much easier to maintain than one that's too hard and brittle. Who knows, if it doesn't microchip, it might even hold an edge longer.
 
The Griptilian is a fine knife with good steel....while others are analyzinig and pondering...playing the game of matching the pefect blade steel to cardboard..... like a gourmet pairing red wine with beef .......your Griptilian will have accomplished all you ask of it and the only microchips you will encounter are when you sit down at the PC to compose your next post to let us all know your knife cuts cardbaord just fine ! ;)
-Regards
 
440c is a good steel. High carbon content and with a good heat treat, like benchmades, is pretty much "stain-less". For may years, before all these "new" steels, 440c use to be the norm in custom knife making. I use to make many blades out of 440c. personally its my favorite. I wish more blades were still made of it!!! I have a few of the early benchamde griptilians in 440c and they did a good job!!!
 
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