440c vs Aus 8 vs 9cr18mov

dirc said:
it's the same reason kershaw and even spyderco use chinese steel on the vast majority of their budget knives, except they use 8cr13mov

(very tough, much less chrome but enough to be called stainless, & performs great if you do the heat treatment well)
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I'm actually going to be finding that one out here very soon because I also ordered the Spyderco Tenacious in 8cr13mov with the Steel will Roamer after reading the great reviews on it. Just haven't done anything with it yet, but like most people I trust Spyderco's heat treat and quality.
 
I only know 440c and Aus8, and I prefer 440c. Custom makers take to 60/61 hardness and it performs well, much better than Aus8.
 
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Most folks never really use their knives in a way that any of the three will make a sizeable difference. I have worked all three and, honestly, properly tempered and sharpened, they all do very well. In a sense, a very real sense, the differences are all at the margin.....include salt water.....include cost......and it all racks and stacks differently because of the 2 standard deviation events. Be careful not to get too caught up in all mental masturbation. A good knife is.....one that cuts when needed.
 
I also forgot to say that in lite duty the 9cr18mov does very well about like 440c but when it comes to tough, hard use then 440c is clearly better. Imo
 
I think the edge retention in 440c might be better than 9cr18mov, but I don't expect it would be as tough in terms of resisting chips or breakage. 9cr18mov has slightly less carbon, and contains a tiny amount of vanadium which helps grain refinement, which both help toughness.
 
DAMN YANKEE said:
Most folks never really use their knives in a way that any of the three will make a sizeable difference. I have worked all three and, honestly, properly tempered and sharpened, they all do very well. In a sense, a very real sense, the differences are all at the margin.....include salt water.....include cost......and it all racks and stacks differently because of the 2 standard deviation events. Be careful not to get too caught up in all mental masturbation. A good knife is.....one that cuts when needed.
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Agree totally. That metal masturbation is a big time killer.
 
I’m a full time maker and you can look at those graphs all you wish. I use 440C I source from a reputable supplier(s) here in the USA. Many times Steels from China are not what is advertised. While it’s better than it use to be, I don’t know the knives you are buying? They made be as advertised , or??? As has been mentioned here, HT to the given Steel it most important.. The best “Super steel” on the planet doesn’t mean squat in performance without proper HT..
 
I have knives in many different steels including 9cr18mov; and I like them all. But I never pass up a knife that pleases me if it has 440C. That is a tried and true steel. One of the sharpest knives in my collection is 440C; but it is only good for skinning; because the convex grind is full width. I don't have a problem with some of the Chinese steels. They are getting their act together; and you have to consider the price. Sometimes you just can't afford a more expensive blade.
 
Old John said:
I have knives in many different steels including 9cr18mov; and I like them all. But I never pass up a knife that pleases me if it has 440C. That is a tried and true steel. One of the sharpest knives in my collection is 440C; but it is only good for skinning; because the convex grind is full width. I don't have a problem with some of the Chinese steels. They are getting their act together; and you have to consider the price. Sometimes you just can't afford a more expensive blade.
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My motto in life for everything from Steels, Auto’s life in general, Only cry once, buy the best you can afford instead of crying every time you use it!
 
I'm in my 50's so I have had a LOT of experience using 440C, never had an issue with it for the most part, great knife steel, can be a little too hard/brittle if not heat-treated properly, but I still like it.

Started messing with AUS8 about 10 years ago, and for a long time it's been my favorite stainless, very durable and takes a nice edge and easier to sharpen than 440C, I have a Kabar Mule for many years now, still my favorite folder.

Just bought a couple of cheap knives last year in 9cr18mov because I heard good things about the steel, still testing it but so far I really like it, seems to fit nicely in between 440C and AUS8, just the right amount of hardness while still being tough, takes a wicked edge, harder to sharpen than my AUS8 and 420HC blades but holds the edge longer and definitely easier to sharpen than 440C.

Bought a couple of 9cr18mov Schrades on closeout from SMKW, one was 5 bucks and the other 8 bucks, worth trying at that price and turned out to be a great deal. Obviously I lose cool points in a group when people are whipping out their nice knives and all i'm carrying is an 8 dollah Chinese-made Schrade, but again, i'm old and ornery as hell and just don't care.;)
 
texpat said:
... Just bought a couple of cheap knives last year in 9cr18mov because I heard good things about the steel, still testing it but so far I really like it, seems to fit nicely in between 440C and AUS8, just the right amount of hardness while still being tough, takes a wicked edge, harder to sharpen than my AUS8 and 420HC blades but holds the edge longer and definitely easier to sharpen than 440C.

Bought a couple of 9cr18mov Schrades on closeout from SMKW, one was 5 bucks and the other 8 bucks, worth trying at that price and turned out to be a great deal. Obviously I lose cool points in a group when people are whipping out their nice knives and all i'm carrying is an 8 dollah Chinese-made Schrade, but again, i'm old and ornery as hell and just don't care.;)
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Like 440C and other steels, heat treatment and geometry matter. I had previously tried some cheap knives from CRKT and random Chinese companies in 9Cr18Mov. It was "okay", arguably better than 8Cr13Mov from the same companies but nothing to write home about. Then I tried out a Civivi in 9Cr18Mov. There was a noticeable jump in performance. I'd like to get more prolonged use and sharpening but so far, I'm impressed.
 
Lots of talk about a good heat treat, so who is treating these steels well? That is to say getting the most from them?
 
Civivi is obviously doing a good job with 9Cr18Mov. Does anyone have experience with Real Steel's 9Cr18Mov?
 
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