440C Your thoughts..

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grassebud

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I will admit,I am a Carbon steel guy.

Recently I have found a few SS knives that really interest me. They are only available in SS.

My question is ,where does 440C stand in regards to other stainless steels? also how does it compare to 1095,1084,etc.

The only SS I own is 12c27,it seems ok,but I would like something that holds an edge a little longer.

Thanks for any info.

Bud
 
440C used to be the standard. Then came ATS 34,BG 42, S30V etc. Properly heattreated ,it holds a good edge. Benchmade uses it quite a bit and the stuff still works.
 
In my experience, 440C will take and hold a better edge than 12C27—particularly if the heat treat is well done. I have a current production Northwoods Wind River skinner (made out of 440C), and it takes and holds a surprisingly good edge.

ATS34 often holds an edge better than 440C, but is nowhere near as stainless.

BG42, VG10, and S30V are a level above 440C.
 
Steel snobs tend to frown on 440C, but I like it. It's certainly not a low-quality steel, and, as djolney noted, it resists rust better than ATS-34 does.

I'd rather have VG-10, but I'd take 440C over some other "fancy" steels.
 
grassebud said:
I will admit,I am a Carbon steel guy.

Recently I have found a few SS knives that really interest me. They are only available in SS.

My question is ,where does 440C stand in regards to other stainless steels? also how does it compare to 1095,1084,etc.
The only SS I own is 12c27,it seems ok,but I would like something that holds an edge a little longer.
Thanks for any info.
Bud
Click to expand...

I happen to like it but I don't push my knives that hard so they all seem to work well.

Here is some info I found that might help you regarding knife steel:

http://users.ameritech.net/knives/steels.htm

http://www.ajh-knives.com/metals.html

http://www.nakededgecutlery.com/knifesteels.htm

Does this help?
 
Well, really the question becomes, what kind of knife you are looking at. If you are thinking of getting a 10 in blade intended for heavy woodwork I would stay clear of 440C as well as pretty much any other SS. Stainless steels just aren't as tough as HC steels. Tough enough? Maybe, but still not as tough. But for a folder 440C is just fine. The only drawback that I could potentially see with 440C is that it tops out at about 60Rc beyond which it becomes brittle, but, hey, 59-60 Rc is nothing to sneeze at.
 
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