Thoughts on 440c steel??????

440c will not break any records or anything, but it is more than good enough for all but the snobbiest steel snobs. For an edc knife it will be completely adequate, and it seems to do pretty well for bushcraft too. I would rate its performance at a bit better than AUS-8, a bit worse than 154cm (edge holding and sharpening). I actually like 440c, because it is reasonably priced and performs excellent for said price.
 
dkb45 said:
...more than good enough for all but the snobbiest steel snobs...
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There will always be dissension amongst the "elite freaks" about the newest or greatest "nanotechnocryo" steel.
 
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I used to think that I had to have a better and better steel... Then I realized that when I keep everything sharp at all times those high end steels are just an excessive price tag. A pocket strop will serve you much better than the best steel ever.
 
440C is by all accounts VERY rust resistant, and used comparably to AUS-8. From my personal experience it's the 440A that I look out for. Still a very usable edge and steel but if it just says "440" it's typically 440A. If it's gonna be made of 440C they'll let you know, it's not a steel to be ashamed of :).

I would not hesitate to buy a knife with a 440C blade and have owned many over the years. Previous posts have pointed out that it used to be considered a "super steel". Anymore, with modern "super steels" coming from Carpenter and Bohler etc. it has fallen from that category yet still maintains a reputation for a reason. I would think that the steel refining process and heat treating technology has come far enough that modern 440C is better than it was "back in the day" given a reputable manufacturer.

Typically it will be heat treated on the softer side, be easy to sharpen, and not rust unless you go out of your way to mistreat it. Benchmade is a reputable maker and if you enjoy the other aspects of the knife, it is certainly not a steel to turn your nose up to and walk away from.
 
Cobalt said:
No the buck 110 was originally made from 425 or 420 steel.
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Not true. The 110 was originally 440C when they started making them in ~1964
Buck switched to 425 in ~1985.
They switched to 420HC in ~1990
 
I have an older BM minigrip in 440C. I find it easy to sharpen. It gets stupid sharp, and never a problem with rust.
 
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