Why does every one hate 440c stainless steel so much ?

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Twindog said:
Chop through a concrete block with your 440C blade and then do the same with a CPK chopper in D3V. You'll see a difference.

Cut cardboard boxes with a Rex 121 blade with the same geometry as your 440C blade. You'll see a difference.

You can make a decent knife out of 440C, but there have been a lot of steel advances since 440C. I can't think of a single application where I would prefer 440C over some other steel.
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First of all, if you bang your knife into concrete, you don't deserve to use a knife. Btw, why don't you bang your Rex121 on concrete, too?

Second of all, if you bring up cardboard as a metric, there are the snap off blades that can out cut the number of cuts that Rex121 can do with a fraction of the price... by your logic, the Rex121 with the same blade geometry as the snap off, it would be beyond worthless. Oh, you can get solid blade type for those snap off blade.

Even though it is true that there are better steel, there is place for a steel like 440C. It has that good of a combination of ok wear resistance, ok corrosion resistance and ok toughness for the average usage of a knife, while at a ok price. If any of those change, the rest change as well. Hence why 440 series, and 420 for that matter, have so many variations around them. They are just good baseline.
 
Andy the Aussie said:
I would bet that in a "blind test" most "users" would not be able to differentiate a well made and HTed blade in 440C from many of the modern "super steels".
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Depends on what you define as a "blind test". Short term or long term? I could certainly tell you if I've been using 440C, 154CM or VG10 vs ZDP 189, S90V or K390 in normal slicing use (abrasive wear). Or at least the general class of steel. If I'm cutting through dirty carpet or something not so much.

Nothing wrong with 440C or those other more basic steels though.
 
I hate 440C steel. In the early 90's a cheap sword made of 440C broke and the broken blade almost hit me in the stomach. Since then, I haven't bought anything made from 440C.
 
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Grumpy Old Man said:
I hate 440C steel. In the early 90's a cheap sword made of 440C broke and the broken blade almost hit me in the stomach. Since then, I haven't bought anything made from 440C.
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Was it the steel... or the way it was prepared for use?
 
It’s not that I “hate” it, but why would you watch TV on an old massive black and white set when you can get a state of the art flat screen (Magnacut)?
 
Olumin said:
I cant tell if you're joking. I'm just gonna assume you're joking.
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I admit it, I hate 440C. Probably because I don't think I've owned anything in that steel. I mean it's a requirement to hate what you don't know.

I didn't really get into the "obsession" until ten years ago, and almost all of what I've owned has been PM steels. Had a couple in D2 and Sleipner.

Before that, I'd buy a new knife every so often, mostly Sog, a Benchmade, some CRKT. Aus 6 & 8, VG-10, ATS-34, 154cm. It was good enough for me. I was in my 20's and carried for both utility and SD since concealed carry firearms wasn't legal here until 2017.

My two fixed blades are non-PM, but I haven't used them hardly at all so can't speak to how I feel. One is 1095CV and the other I have no idea, it's made from a farriers rasp.
 
Edjr said:
I think the bad press comes from people buying cheaper brands that have sub par heat treat. If you get 440c from Older Benchmade or Boker you'll find that it's still a good option especially for folding knives. I think now especially since everyone wants super steels the steels from yesterday are being offered at great prices and it pays to not be a steel snob. Blade geometry,design, heat treatment and ergos are more important than what kind of steel it is especially value for the money
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↑ This 2-post newbie bumped a 9 year-old zombie thread and you suckers are jumping right on the bandwagon. 😵‍💫
 
Smaug said:
↑ This 2-post newbie bumped a 9 year-old zombie thread and you suckers are jumping right on the bandwagon. 😵‍💫
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And yet, here you are.

I could've closed it yesterday, but some folks made some points worthy of leaving in place. (Some folks.)
 
I do not "hate" 440C.

I do wonder though: If it is still as good now as it was when introduced decades ago, why are there so many newer formulations of corrosion resistant steels for knife making out now?

Why is it that many premium productions knife makers bring out versions of their stand-by knife designs in newer steels from time to time, while others stick with 440 series steels?
 
Smaug said:
↑ This 2-post newbie bumped a 9 year-old zombie thread and you suckers are jumping right on the bandwagon. 😵‍💫
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A lot has changed in the world of knife making steels in the past nine years.

So, this discussion may still be relevant.

A whole new generation of kn fe lovers onboard now too.
 
King of the Cheese said:
It’s not that I “hate” it, but why would you watch TV on an old massive black and white set when you can get a state of the art flat screen (Magnacut)?
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Cost, ease of replaceability, ease of sharpening. Something released that is overall better doesn't diminish the performance of the prior technology either. Sometimes it's all you need or want.
 
440c steel is plain high carbon martensitic stainless steel made for certain applications like ball bearings, valve components, dies... etc and can be also used for knives.
I don't understand why someone would hate it.
These days Sandvik 12c27 seems to be a popular cheap knife steel but it's also nothing special. If the same knife would be available in both steels I would go for 440c.
440c was not made to be used for swords.
 
Elektroslag said:
Cost, ease of replaceability, ease of sharpening. Something released that is overall better doesn't diminish the performance of the prior technology either. Sometimes it's all you need or want.
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With all the advancements in steel composition, 440C is practically junk. I’m sorry, but it is. S30V is highly affordable and outside of some cheap Chinese knives and traditional knives making it a point not to change anything about their construction, it is largely extinct. I’m sure wool coats served Soldiers well in battles hundreds of years ago, but there is a reason they have moisture-wicking technology and extreme cold weather clothing etc now. “Ease of sharpening” and “ease of replacement” shouldn’t be a factor in 440C vs 154cm/VG-10/S30V due to a heavily saturated market with the stuff, advancements in sharpening technology, and reduced cost differences.
 
If you buy cheap "440C" sword from unknown Asian or Pakistani... I don't know what to say.

If you check around online, there are plenty of cheap swords made in "D2"… I think you will also hate D2 as well if you get any of them.

VG10, AUS-10, 154CM or N690 etc, are just side grade of 440C.

Btw, AUS-6 is pretty close to AEB-L/14C28N. It supposed to be tough, and was used make big knife in Japan. Nevertheless, because it has inferior wear resistance to 440C and VG10, it was deemed inferior for kitchen knife, that reputation followed to other knives. Now these steel are back in demand. Our perception of these things change with different views.
 
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