Aitor steel

[W.T. Beck]

Earlier this year I purchased an Aitor Nato Bowie, primarily because I liked the overall design. Also, the comments about Aitor knives in the few threads I have found are generally positive.
However, I have read one comment from an Aitor representative that I find very suprising. I cannot remember now where I read this, but an Aitor representative was said to compare the Spanish stainless steel in their blades to 440V.
I paid around $90 for the Nato Bowie, which has a thick 7.25 inch blade. Whenever I have read about 440V, it is described as a very high grade stainless, and the knives with 440V blades are usually much more expensive than the Nato Bowie.
Is it possible for Aitor or anyone else to make a knife with a large 440V (equivalent) blade that can sell for $90 ? This seems to be a case of "too good to be true".

 

[Cosmic Superchunk]

Aitor uses what they call 440 Moly-Vanadium steel with a Rockwell hardness of 55-58, the equivalent of 440c. This is according to Aitor's literature.
I have a few of their folders and a Spanish Army issue "Cuchillo de Monte.

In my opinion, Aitor has the best quality control of all Spanish production cutlery firms and Aitor is recognised as one of the premier cutlery companies in Europe.

I also own a few Muela hunters and traditional Spanish navajas by Andújar, which are all of good quality, but Aitor seems to have better workmanship, in my opinion. Spanish cutlery was once considered some of the world's best, but most if not almost all do not come close to the quality of specialty cutlery knives like SOG, Spyderco, Al Mar Knives, etc...

 

[Jerseyjoe]

I owned an Aitor "commando" folder. It was taken away by the sherrif's department in Key Largo, FL for no reason whatsoever. I had no complaints about the stainless steel. It took a good edge, and held it reasonably well even though I used it regularly at work to cut cardboard, string, carve plastic, and sometimes wood.

 

[W.T. Beck]

Thanks for the information, el Cid. The Aitor literature seems to contradict the claim I read elsewhere of a 440V equivalent used. Perhaps what I read was a misprint.
The comparison to 440C seems valid. I think the only negative comment I have read about the Aitor military knives is that the handle material is fragile. All comments regarding the blade steel has been favorable, so Aitor no doubt uses a good stainless steel. Given the $90 price I paid for the Bowie, it is still a very good value.
One feature that sold me on the Aitor knife was the guard. It is a very wide and heavy 'S' shaped guard - much superior to the guards on many US military knives.

 

[W.T. Beck]

I found where I read that Aitor claims it's steel is like 440V. There is an article about Aitor knives in the November 2001 issue of Tactical Knives magazine. In the second paragraph on page 69 is the statement: "The manufacturer stated the steel is very similar to 440V."