What Is the Best Use for 440c?

redsquid2

redsquid2

Rockabilly Interim Pardon Viscount
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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To make a knife blade, I ordered a bar of 440C. It is .14" X 1.25" X 9". I don't know what is the best use for this steel. I just got it because I had a hunch it was good for beginning knifemakers. Is it good for bushcraft, wood carving, chopping, skinning knife, paring knife, chef's knife? Before I make a pattern, I want to get you guys' opinions.

Thanks.
 
Did you have something in mind when you ordered it?

If it is was me, with the dimensions you listed, I would make a nice little Hunter/Skinner out of it. My first knife is made out of 440c, it holds a edge well in that application. Bushcraft would be your other option possibly.
 
I remember when 440C was to "Go to" steel for knives...lol

440C will do anything you want the key is getting it to somebody who can heat treat it properly and sub zero quench it.
 
AVigil said:
I remember when 440C was to "Go to" steel for knives...lol

440C will do anything you want the key is getting it to somebody who can heat treat it properly and sub zero quench it.
Click to expand...

OH so true.
Stan
 
R.Rock said:
Did you have something in mind when you ordered it?
Click to expand...

I don't remember. Just wanted to make a blade.

The picture below shows a couple of my recent ideas. I started out by freehand drawing some blades, mimicking Scandinavian profiles by Brusletto and Roselli. Then I got creative with the handle designs.

I have been doing ultralight wilderness backpacking, so I tend to think in minimalist terms. At the same time, I like fixed blade knifes, for their reliability, and I want to design a handle with a comfortable grip.


6501655485_4db79e1c3c_b.jpg


I don't like that sheath design very much. Looks too much like a space shuttle.

I like your ideas too: hunter/skinner and bushcraft.
 
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SLIGHT RANT ON HERE............440C is still an excellent steel IF heat treated correctly. The term "440 Stainless" got a bad name a few years ago as the result of a few (or maybe more than a few) manufacturers that were turning out some crap using 440A or 440B, and even if they were using 440C, the heat treat was nowhere close. Perhaps a lot of was coming from off-shore, I couldn't say for sure.

I did some horse-trading with an avid deer hunter a few months ago. He has used one of my 440C blades heat treated to 59-60 by BOS heat treating to field-dress 4 whitetails. It still shaves arm hair.

I still have 4 knives in 440C for sale that nobody is interested in, and I think it has to do with the bad-rap that 440 has gotten in the past few years.

OK......... RANT OFF

Robert
 
440C is sooooo 1985 :D

The other fellows are right, it's still a very good steel if treated properly. It would not be my first choice for a large knife, there are several newer alloys with equal or better stain-resistance and better toughness. But it does take a nice fine edge and holds it quite well. It works very well for hunters, skinners and kitchen cutlery, but it's not a big seller for the reasons Robert mentioned (which is a bit unfair, but there it is).

One problem I've had with 440C recently is that the quality has gone downhill, depending on where you get it. The bars I bought had unpleasant orange peel or squiggly look to them, all through them. What's the point of using a polishable stainless if it looks worse and worse the more you polish it?

I would use the 440C you have to make and test prototypes. Figure out the edge geometries and patterns you like best. Then take a big step up and get some CPM-154 or CTS-XHP or Elmax. :thumbup:
 
james terrio said:
One problem I've had with 440C recently is that the quality has gone downhill, depending on where you get it. The bars I bought had unpleasant orange peel or squiggly look to them, all through them. What's the point of using a polishable stainless if it looks worse and worse the more you polish it?

Then take a big step up and get some CPM-154 or CTS-XHP or Elmax. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I agree. The 440C I made these blades from was purchased in 2004. I will not be buying anymore of it. These knives were made just because I happened to find a few pieces that I had not used. CPM154 makes an excellent blade. I have heard nothing bad about Elmax, although I have not tried it. I am stoopid when it comes to CTS-XHP, but then again, I am stoooooopid when it comes to a lot of stuff.

Robert
 
redsquid2 said:
The picture below shows a couple of my recent ideas.
I started out by freehand drawing some blades, mimicking Scandinavian profiles by Brusletto and Roselli.
Then I got creative with the handle designs.

I like fixed blade knifes, for their reliability, and I want to design a handle with a comfortable grip.

6501655485_4db79e1c3c_b.jpg
Click to expand...

You didn't ask, but I see this.

In the top down view of the top knife - the view above the space shuttle
I see a handle that has nice swell and curve in one direction, but completely flat slabs in the other view.

Think 3D and avoid the perfectly flat sides.
 
Robert Dark said:
I am stoopid when it comes to CTS-XHP, but then again, I am stoooooopid when it comes to a lot of stuff.
Click to expand...

In a nutshell, if you like CPM-154, you'll love CTS-XHP. And I don't think you're stooopid, just modest :D
 
I like the knife design.
It looks like a scandi, why not make a scandi style sheeth to go with it?
 
Let's assume I'm not too worried about how well it polishes/final appearance. Is it still a decent knife steel, in a utilitarian sense?
 
440C is a wonderful steel and will make a wonderful blade. It is still one of my first choices in many areas. Use it and enjoy it.
Jason
 
My son was just raving about his 440c chef knife that I made him...again...
Six months in, all it needs is an occasional swipe on the ceramic. Best knife in the kitchen where he works, so he says, by a wide margin.
In his opinion, it's the perfect balance between hard enough to hold the edge and not too hard to sharpen without a lot of fuss.
I guess it's good enough to work with 6-8 hours a day, though perhaps not good enough to sit in a box on a shelf.

Lots of great steels out there, 440c is one of them. The batch I have polishes beautifully, BTW- recent Aldo.
Andy G.
 
I use mostly 440C and have not had any problems with it. Last week a customer returned two knives for sharpening after he processed 4 deer with them. They were still working sharp and asked him how he sharpens. He told me he has not sharpened or touched them up since I last did them. The steel if heat treated properly proves itself.
 
Well Mr Dark, since no one is interested, I'll gladly dispose of the 4 knives for you for a meager sum, ...well okay, for free, just out of the goodness of my heart you know...
All joking aside I only have one knive made from 440C and it is a Benchmade Outbounder, seems to be a pretty good knife, but I have yet to try it out.
to the OP, I am glad you asked this, as I would have been asking sooner or later myself.
Robert Dark said:
SLIGHT RANT ON HERE............440C is still an excellent steel IF heat treated correctly. The term "440 Stainless" got a bad name a few years ago as the result of a few (or maybe more than a few) manufacturers that were turning out some crap using 440A or 440B, and even if they were using 440C, the heat treat was nowhere close. Perhaps a lot of was coming from off-shore, I couldn't say for sure.

I did some horse-trading with an avid deer hunter a few months ago. He has used one of my 440C blades heat treated to 59-60 by BOS heat treating to field-dress 4 whitetails. It still shaves arm hair.

I still have 4 knives in 440C for sale that nobody is interested in, and I think it has to do with the bad-rap that 440 has gotten in the past few years.

OK......... RANT OFF

Robert
Click to expand...
 
hickman1 said:
Well Mr Dark, since no one is interested, I'll gladly dispose of the 4 knives for you for a meager sum, ...well okay, for free, just out of the goodness of my heart you know...
All joking aside I only have one knive made from 440C and it is a Benchmade Outbounder, seems to be a pretty good knife, but I have yet to try it out.
to the OP, I am glad you asked this, as I would have been asking sooner or later myself.
Click to expand...

Well brother hickman1, I have gotten over my slight rant. I think that many of the posts here seem to indicate that 440C is an excellent steel IF heat treated correctly. I will also add that the size and intended purpose of the blade, and especially the edge geometry, (man, I hate that word "geometry") comes into play regardless of the steel.

I will also add that I recently went through a fairly well known knife manufacturing facility and paid special attention to their heat treat "line". I was not impressed. Not saying that all U.S. factory made knives are like what I saw at this place (don't ask who it was and who knows what goes on in China), but it gave me a sense of "That's-Good-Enough". You won't see this with the majority of custom makers.

There I go trying to "RANT" again. Sorry about that.

As a side note, I still have those available on my WEBSITE, and should you decide to purchase one, I'm sure we would all love to hear your feedback after using it for a while.

Sincerely, Old Rantin' Robert
 
Here is what I came up with. See the picture below. It is my first attempt at profiling and bevelling since about 1991. I started out making a bushcrafter, and somehow it turned into this. It looks like a cross between a combat knife and a hunting knife? I don't see any combat or hunting in my future, so I guess I will use it in the kitchen.

I am not going to give it a high polish. From what I am reading here, 440C does not take a high polish. Anyway I got the bar off of ebay, so I don't know if it is good quality.

6639098289_a8d5850687_b.jpg


O.A.L. is 8 1/8" and blade length is 4 1/16".
 
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