From A.G. Russell's "Kniffemakes Steel Chart" from his Website
www.russell.com, Here are the components of 440C steel:
Carbon: 0.95%-1.2%, Manganese: 1.0%, Chromium: 14.5%, Nickle and Vanadium: 0%, M<olybdenum: 0.75%, and Tungsten: 0%
From his "Knife Encyclopedia" at the same site;
440C
The most popular high-carbon stainless used by custom knifemakers for many years. First used by Gil Hibben about 1966. 0.95 - 1.20% Carbon, 0.40% Manganese, 17.0% Chromium, 0.50% Vandium, 0.50% Molybdenum.
See The Knifemakers Steel Chart
Hmmm, note the slightly different percentages, but note also that he is very clear about it being a stainless steel.
Please also note what his "Knife Encyclopedia" has to say about Damascus Steel:
Damascus Steel
There is more mis-information about Damascus steel than about any other subject in the knife world. Bill Moran, the man credited with the reintroduction of Damascus said that if a knife was going to be used then the blade needed a center core of tool steel between two outer layers of Damascus. This statement applies to "layered Damascus" not to what may have been the original Damascus, that is Wootz which is believed to have originated in India. Wootz has been brought back by Al Pendray. Layered damascus, that is layers of different steels welded together, was made in Scandinavia, Japan, India, Toledo, Solingen and maybe even in Damascus. Today it is made in all parts of the world for handmade knives, swords and even for production knives. Quality ranges from poor to wonderful.
Spyderco' Steel Chart, from their website, shows 440c as having the following components:
Carbon: 0.95%-1.20%, Chromium: 16.00%-18.00%, Cobalt: 0%, Copper: 0%, Manganese: 1.00%, Molybdenum 0.75, Nickle: 0%, Phosphorus: 0.04%, Silicon: 1.00%, Sulpher: 0.03%, Tungsten: 0%, and Vanadium: 0%