440c knife Grind?

Col Defender

Col Defender

Joined
Nov 11, 2011
Messages
1,398
Good morning! I'm considering making a stainless steel knife (440c). So far all I have done is 1084 and Damascus from Alabama Damascus. If I do this it would be with a blank ordered on line and what I would do is all the cutting and grinding, drilling handle holes, name stamp it, and then send it out for HT. Then wood handles and sharpen.

My question is: are there difficulties grinding 440c that I may be unaware of and end up in over my head?

Thank you!
 
I've done more 440c than anything else. Its not much different to grind than 1095 in my opinion. I haven't used any Damascus or 1084 but you shouldn't have any problems. It will take a beautiful mirror polish if you want to put in a little extra time and elbow grease!

How tall is the knife. A short knife in 1/4 will have a deep plunge and get thick in a hurry behind the edge. I would only use 1/4 on a tall blade.
 
Definitely more time to finish sand. A little tougher to grind, but that's not really where the hours go in my opinion. I'd definitely recommend getting some good ceramic belts if you haven't already, the advantages make themselves apparent when you go to stainless.
 
Thanks guys - this project is at the request of a potential customer, rather than my idea. It sounds doable and fun but is certainly outside my comfort zone. I will need to decide fairly soon after I see his design.
 
Col Defender said:
Thanks guys - this project is at the request of a potential customer, rather than my idea. It sounds doable and fun but is certainly outside my comfort zone. I will need to decide fairly soon after I see his design.
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Being a little harder, I find it makes it easier to grind. It also will take a little more heat post ht, depending on what it's tempered at.
 
It's always a tricky proposition doing something new for a customer request, hard to know how to price and if it will come out up to your standards. I would be more hesitant about doing a different design though than switching steels, the process is pretty much the same, some things just take longer or shorter. Get Rynowet sand paper if you're doing hand finishing, that stuff is magical.
 
pwheeler said:
It's always a tricky proposition doing something new for a customer request, hard to know how to price and if it will come out up to your standards. I would be more hesitant about doing a different design though than switching steels, the process is pretty much the same, some things just take longer or shorter. Get Rynowet sand paper if you're doing hand finishing, that stuff is magical.
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Yeah --- hard to know what to do. I'm still new at all this and this order would be a new steel, a new customer I have not met and I have not yet seen his design. And of course I am a part timer, with 6 orders for knives I am comfortable with doing all just waiting for me to get to the shop. I'd like to see his design and know what thickness he wants before I say yes or no, but on the other hand am I just wasting his time by not sayin no thank you now? And he seems willing to pay all the HT, steel and shipping costs. The risk for me would be making a one time knife that just does not turnout well - and then what?? Sorry about rambling on here - it's up to me to get this right but any thoughts will be highly appreciated😊
 
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