S&W blade marking (440C or not 440C that is the question)

[shootist16]

I noticed that several sites state the the HRT series uses 440C. Other sites list them as simply 440. Taylor Cutlery advised me that the new DDR designed FL1 uses 440C but the blade is marked 440. I was under the impression that a blade marked 440 was generally 440A. I'm not saying that it can't be 440C but wouldn't you want to put the C on there if you were using it?

 

[averageguy]

One would think so. I really like the HRTDR. Beautiful and being offered at 1/5 the price of the custom version. Although there is nothing substantially wrong with 440A I hope S&W is using 440C in these new knives.

 

[Mike Hull]

I would think, that if it was 440C, they would definately put that on the blade.

 

[shootist16]

Originally posted by Mike Hull
I would think, that if it was 440C, they would definately put that on the blade.

I would think that they should. It sure would cut down on confusion. Taylor cutlery has told me that the HRT series do use 440C. I just wish they would mark them that way.

 

[knifenerd]

I have the HRT--the Darrel Ralph/Mike Lamprey version. It says 440 on the blade, yet is marketed everywhere as 440C. This issue came up a few months ago and I think it was concluded that it is 440C. You would think they would want to advertise that fact. Maybe they are just "clueless".

 

[shootist16]

I think it also be that their knives were not previously marketed to informed people like us. Now that they are making some products that may appeal to the informed it is more important to distinguish which steel is being used.

 

[misque]

This is definately a pet peeve of mine.
If it's 440c then mark it 440c!!
If not, well....

I hope Taylor will get their s**t in one bucket. They're finally showing some positive signs of becoming a respectable cutlery company.

Get the bloody kinks worked out and bring on the Darrell Ralph designs!

 

[Keith Montgomery]

This will always create a problem for me because when i see 440 marked on a blade I automatically think it is 440A. In my opinion, anyone using 440C should advertise it.