Is one manufacturer's 440C steel another's 7Cr/8Cr?

Inazone

Inazone

Joined
Aug 27, 2012
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I've recently bought a couple of Ganzo knives that are claimed to be made of 440C, as are knives of various other brands that I own. Earlier today, I noticed that Ganzo makes a copy of the SOG Salute, which happens to be one of my favorite "high value" folders. Since the Salute is made in China, it wouldn't be a stretch to imagine that Ganzo actually manufactures the Salute for SOG. Regardless, the Salute is stated as have an 8Cr13MoV blade, while the Ganzo G704 is supposedly 440C. I realize that the two steels share quite a bit in common, but is it safe to assume that a Chinese manufacturer's supposed 440C is quite probably some grade of 8Cr or maybe even 7Cr?
 
Never assume when the product comes from China .Their metallurgy is strange !!
 
I think the Ganzo G704 is actually 9Cr-something... 9Cr18MoV I believe. I doubt Ganzo is using bonafide 440C, 9Cr18MoV is supposed to be the Chinese equivalent.

9Cr18MoV

C: 0.95-1.10
Si: 0.30-0.60
Mn: 0.30-0.60
P: ≤ 0.035
S: ≤ 0.03
Cr: 17.00-17.50
Mo: 0.40-0.50
V: 0.10-0.15

440C

C: 0.95-1.20
Si: 1.00
Mn: 1.00
P: 0.04
S: 0.03
Cr: 16.00-18.00
Mo: 0.75
 
Ganzo's 440C appears to be 9CR, where as Boker and Taylor Brands 440C appears to be 8CR.

Obviously consistency isn't always their strong point, but I'd take 9CR over 8CR any day of the week at any hour. I think the industry standard heat treat for 8CR is too high, where as 9CR performs pretty decent with a higher HRC.
 
Sal Glesser said that when Spyderco first worked on the Byrd line, their Chinese supplier told them the blade alloy was 440C. The performance did not match and when Spyderco had an analysis of the steel performed, they found it to be 8Cr13MoV. And being Spyderco, they changed their identification of the blade steel.

So, sometimes it is not the parent company specifying a different alloy. Sometimes it is a parent company who does not perform "due diligence" in checking what they are receiving from the manufacturer.

I am always doubtful of an inexpensive knife being made of a US alloy. The Chinese alloy may or may not have equivalent performance. But, Chinese steel mills make Chinese alloys and they are not actually identical to the better known US and European alloys.
 
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