I am ashamed to admit it but -

H

Helderberg

Joined
Dec 8, 2013
Messages
322
I have become a STEEL snob. I was at my local Benchmade dealer today and saw a nice looking Axis lock and asked to see it. Felt good in my hand and I was becoming very interested until I saw the "440c" on the blade. I thanked the nice lady and handed it back. As I left the store I realized to my disgust that I have become a steel snob. Not too many years ago I would have been impressed by a 440c steel but having spent some time around here I have changed. :rolleyes: It was a nice knife and I will go back and give it another look but wow, how my expectations have changed.
Be safe all, Frank.
 
I think Benchmade does an excellent job with their 440C.

Most of the knives that I carried and used for many years were either 440C, 154CM, D2 and ATS-34. They never let me down or disappointed me and to be perfectly honest if I didn't see the steel on the blade I doubt I'd be able to tell you which is which during use.

They're all good dependable steels with a proven track record of performance. It all comes down to the heat treatment and blade geometry anyway and Benchmade knocks it out of the park with all the steels they use.

I'll take well done BM 440C any day.

It's nice we have so many choices these days and the current "super steels" are very impressive but just because there is better doesn't mean the older steels are now bad.

Just my take.

All the best!
 
I've never experienced Benchmade's 440C but I definitely would have taken that - but then, I don't really qualify as a "steel snob", so the validity of my opinion on this comes into question.
 
I love the 440c benchmade uses on their presidio ultra knives. Mine gets scary sharp with no effort and holds it very well. I find it very close to spydercos VG-10.
 
My mini Presidio Ultra gets so much time at work. I started using it more, as it is one of my cheaper knives, and some of my tasks can be dirty and tough on all materials. As mentioned by Blade-fiend, it is easy to touch up and holds surprisingly well. I have fallen on it a few times (ice and snow) but this little bad boy comes out swinging.
I have knives with all the "major steels" but BM's 440c is nothing to avoid. Low maintenance, good performer.
Cheers
 
I wonder if one day 10 years from now people will turn their nose up at M390 and S90V.
 
I have a mini presidio as well. The bm 440c is a joy to sharpen and if you are a beginner freehanded will be a heck of alot easier to work with than 154cm or s30v.

440c is as easy as vg10 or 8cr13mov. The latter gets a bad rap for no reason. I.e. spyderco sources/does an excellent 8cr so does Kershaw. And crkt does an OK one too. Sometimes on the knife journey you come full circle....

And then around again. My last three purchases was a spyderco sage 2 sold it after a week s30v on that one. A custom one off small fixed blade in 1095, I want to trade that for a traditional and a lowly I didn't even bother to find out what kind of steel alox cadet. Guess what? The cheap alox was my favorite and the keeper out of those three! Lol.
 
I used to think I was becoming a steel snob, and then I realized it's all about price point. If 440C can be had at a price that I'm willing to pay, then I have no problem forking it over. If I think it's overpriced, then I'll keep looking.
 
Daddyo16 said:
I used to think I was becoming a steel snob, and then I realized it's all about price point. If 440C can be had at a price that I'm willing to pay, then I have no problem forking it over. If I think it's overpriced, then I'll keep looking.
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I think this is the key. If I can get a knife with equal specs and better steal at a similar/equal price I am going to go with that.
 
I am too a steel snob. Why wouldn't you be. I will never again consider buying anything with a lesser steel than Aus 8. Never trust a man who drinks only cheap beer for advice on lager. Why, because they don't know anything else. I buy only the nicest quality knifes I can afford.I drink only German beer and kentucky bourbon. I have a huge vinyl collection and audiophile speakers because they sound the best to me. I expect more than most out of things I use and people I deal with. I think a lot of people stopped wanting the best and settle for whatever these days.
 
MrBoone said:
I am too a steel snob. Why wouldn't you be. I will never again consider buying anything with a lesser steel than Aus 8. Never trust a man who drinks only cheap beer for advice on lager. Why, because they don't know anything else. I buy only the nicest quality knifes I can afford.I drink only German beer and kentucky bourbon. I have a huge vinyl collection and audiophile speakers because they sound the best to me. I expect more than most out of things I use and people I deal with. I think a lot of people stopped wanting the best and settle for whatever these days.
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"I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany"....

440C is fine by me. What do you consider a "lesser" steel than AUS8
 
M.FREEZE said:
"I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany"....

440C is fine by me. What do you consider a "lesser" steel than AUS8
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I'm waiting for the new BM Super Grip made out of Solid TinMascus I hear its really hard to break or chip:D
 
MrBoone said:
I am too a steel snob. Why wouldn't you be. I will never again consider buying anything with a lesser steel than Aus 8. Never trust a man who drinks only cheap beer for advice on lager. Why, because they don't know anything else. I buy only the nicest quality knifes I can afford.I drink only German beer and kentucky bourbon. I have a huge vinyl collection and audiophile speakers because they sound the best to me. I expect more than most out of things I use and people I deal with. I think a lot of people stopped wanting the best and settle for whatever these days.
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Sometimes not all have the luxury of such choices. This would not necessarily mean a person would not have insight into something they can't afford.

Cheers
 
People, I was trying to be funny but honest. I did give the knife a second thought as it was 440c but if the price had been right I would have bought it. I was not trying to start an argument about anything. Just wanted to give this forum a kind of compliment as I have learned so much from the people here that I can make a choice. Please understand I do not think I am all that and a bag of chips, just a plumber that has enjoyed knives and collecting them since the age of twelve.
 
Blade-fiend said:
I love the 440c benchmade uses on their presidio ultra knives. Mine gets scary sharp with no effort and holds it very well. I find it very close to spydercos VG-10.
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This is my take on BM's 440C as well. I like my wife's mini-P Ultra maybe better than my 525s, both the hollow ground profile and the handles. 440C's a perfectly acceptable steel when the HT is good. My first mini-Grip was a 440C model. I gave it away and went to a 154CM version. Haven't seen any real world difference in the two knives.
 
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