440c?

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kfgk14

Joined
Jun 18, 2010
Messages
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How good of a steel is it? Comparable to any of the AUS- steels?
Will I get decent corrosion resistance and edge retention? Is it brittle?
Thanks.
 
Yep, kind of like AUS-8. It also depends on whose 440C it is. Buck is particularly good with their 440C heat treatment.
 
I like 440C very much. I own several Buck 110's and 119 in this steel and it's very good steel for corrosion resistance, keeps an excellent edge and is fairly easy to sharpen, once you shave down the edge on early Bucks.

Vin
 
kfgk14 said:
How good of a steel is it? Comparable to any of the AUS- steels?
Will I get decent corrosion resistance and edge retention? Is it brittle?
Thanks.
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About 1.0 carbon and I think 16 Chromium. Fairly rust stain resistant. I can't (personally) get the knives I have with 440C as sharp as I like them, not sure why.
I personally don't care for the steel based on my experience.
 
Crucible also makes powder version of that steel CPM-440C. I believe it is slightly better than regular at edge retention and toughness.
 
Böker's Schanz dagger really surprised me with it's outta the box sharpness, but i can't really cut long enough to really test the steel, since it's a dagger and weighs like a freakin hammer.
 
Tsujigiri said:
Yep, kind of like AUS-8. It also depends on whose 440C it is. Buck is particularly good with their 440C heat treatment.
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Nothing like AUS8A. Keeps an edge much better, MUCH better rust resistance.
I stopped buying AUS8A knives a while ago, I have no problems with blades made in 440C (assuming as always that HT is done well, like Boker for example).
 
Tsujigiri said:
Yep, kind of like AUS-8. It also depends on whose 440C it is. Buck is particularly good with their 440C heat treatment.
Click to expand...

Buck hasn't used 440C for a couple of decades, I believe. They currently use 420HC with a fabulous heat treat.
 
kfgk14 said:
How good of a steel is it?
1) Comparable to any of the AUS- steels?
2) Will I get decent corrosion resistance
3)and edge retention?
4)Is it brittle?
Thanks.
Click to expand...

1) 440C holds an edge on the order of AUS10, and much better than AUS8.
2) 440C is reasonably corrosion resistant. I have used 440C for years and have never had any corrosion issues. It is not as corrosion resistant as 440A or 420HC. High levels of carbon in a steel alloy are not good for corrosion resistance. I do not know how it compares in controlled testing compared to AUS alloys. I would expect it would perform better than AUS 10 and maybe less well than AUS8, but these are guesses. I've never tested them. I've never had a corrosion issue with a 440C blade.
3) See answer 1)
4) brittle compared to what? I wouldn't choose it for a chopper, but I've used it in hunting blades and EDC blades for few decades and have never had any chipping issues.
 
440C is hands down better than AUS8a (I like AUS8a btw).

440C is not thought of as a high end steel anymore but at one time it was up there with 154cm and ATS34 in terms of regard. The ChiCom crap that has been labelled 440C has definitely stole the thunder of a great steel. I have a three Entreks in 440C, some Boker stuff the AK101 jumps out and the SID from Boker is a grail for me. Just beautifully made.

Closer to AUS10 just under 154cm is where I put 440c in my own continuum.
 
Randall uses a steel that's right on the edge between 440B and 440C. That's pretty high praise. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me.
 
Any ideas on the 440C used in the Fox Cutlery Gurkha Kukri?
Would this blade be usable for chopping purposes? I heard somewhere in this discussion that 440C has the potential to chip out on chopping tasks.
I like the overall design of the Fox Gurkha, but the steel issue worries me.
 
kfgk14 said:
Any ideas on the 440C used in the Fox Cutlery Gurkha Kukri?
Would this blade be usable for chopping purposes? I heard somewhere in this discussion that 440C has the potential to chip out on chopping tasks.
I like the overall design of the Fox Gurkha, but the steel issue worries me.
Click to expand...

If Fox made it, I wouldn't be too concerned. They are well versed on what steel does or doesn't work in their designs.

As for 440C in general, I have deliberately sought out knives with that steel, such as my collection of 'two dot' Buck folders. I don't know what Buck did to their 440C, but it is amazing. It will take a very fine 'toothy' edge that separates material like a chain saw, yet it will hold it's edge very well. In fact, I have a 440C Buck 112 on my belt right now. Those that have really used 440C will know what I am saying, when I suggest that it is possibly one of the best 'working' steels ever made, IMO.
 
Hate it and refuse to sharpen any knife made from it.
 
No wire edge here just a whole lota PITA.
 
Never tried 440C, but I did try CTS-XHP, which is said to have the same corrosion resistance, and that simply isn't doing it for me. And experience has taught me that for sheer edge retention, high vanadium stainless steels are the only ones right for me.
 
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