Down the garden path

[BillL]

Hi,

After reading the two threads:

AUS-8, 420HC, 440A or 440C? and

440A Performance

I can't help wondering whether I've been led down the garden path or what?

Any further advice on knife steels and whether which is really better?

 

[DaveH]

Which garden path are you worried about?

 

[Jeff Clark]

440C has the most carbon and has the potential to hold its edge the longest. It is also the hardest of the group to sharpen. If it is not sub-zero quenched it may be very difficult to get a razor edge on it. AUS-8 is the next step down for hardness, but it easily takes a razor edge. 440A is the next step down in carbon content and hardness. If it is not sub-zero quenched it is likely to not take a razor edge as easily as you would expect considering it is softer than AUS-8. Since 440A is often used in cheap knives with poor heat treatment you are likely to find it harder to sharpen than it should be. 420HC was devised to give you an easy to sharpen steel that could get reasonably hard. As done by Buck knives it will hold an edge as well as 440A and will usually take a finer edge. Be aware that there is some cheap stuff called 420 or 420-J2 which is very soft and not nearly as good as 420HC (High Carbon).

So you are likelier to find consistency among blades made of AUS-8 and 420HC. These will take very fine edges and hold them reasonably well. The 440 series are more of a mixed bag. If you find 440C from a vendor with a good reputation it may be the best of the bunch for edge holding. The 440A may be a good deal from a good vendor, but it is not a good sign in a cheap knife from a no-name outfit.

 

[W.T. Beck]

Excellent summary of subject, Jeff!