There are many steel grades available in the market that are used for making knives and other tools; 440c is one of them. Many people often ask, “Is 440c a good knife steel?” Yes, 440c steel is a good steel for knives. It is well-known for being top-quality steel for decades.
So, if you are a knife user or knife maker, you may already know or heard about 440c steel. If you don’t know about 440c steel, this article is for you. In this article, I will share all the information related to 440c steel, including 440c hardness, chemical composition, 440c material, and many more.
Let’s start with the 440c steel.
Table of Contents
440C Steel Quality
440c is mid-range high carbon steel that has the highest hardness, strength, and wear resistance than other related steel. This steel is widely used for mid-range and budget tools and knives.
The good thing about this steel is that it is loved by both knife users as well as knife makers because of its exceptional high corrosion resistance. 440c steel knives also hold edges for a longer time. Additionally, the knives of this steel require very minimal care.
440c Steel Composition
The elements in the 440c steel help the steel to reach a high level of hardness, strength and wear resistance. It consists of different elements, and each element is used for different purposes and has different features.
The elements which are included in the 440c steel grade are as follows:
440c is stainless steel because of the mixture of high Chromium and high Carbon in it. This makes 440c steel great in terms of corrosion resistance and wears resistance.
| Elements | Percentage | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Chromium | 17 | Chromium increases the edge retention and strength of the steel. It also enhances the steel’s corrosion resistance and wears resistance. |
| Carbon | 1.1 | It improves the wear/corrosion resistance and hardness of the steel. Keep in mind that a high amount of carbon may decrease the strength of the steel. |
| Manganese | 0.80 | Manganese increases the hardness and brittleness of the steel. |
| Molybdenum | 0.70 | It increases the strength and machinability of the steel. |
| Silicon | 0.50 |
Silicon improves the strength of the steel.
|
| Phosphorus | 0.20 |
It increases the strength of the steel.
|
|
Sulfur
|
0.02
|
Sulfur increases the machinability of the steel.
|
440c is stainless steel because of the mixture of high Chromium and high Carbon in it. This makes 440c steel great in terms of corrosion resistance and wears resistance.
Rockwell hardness of the 440c steel
As you know, 440c is stainless steel with high chromium and high carbon. Both of these elements enhance corrosion resistance and wear resistance. 440c steel has a great combination and composition of elements, and because of this, 440c steel possesses great hardness.
The Rockwell hardness of the 440c steel is between 57 to 58 HRC.
440c Stainless Steel Properties
440c steel has a great chemical composition and HRC. According to the HRC and chemical composition of the 440c steel, it offers some amazing properties, which are as follows:
Edge Retention
440c steel offers amazing edge retention because of the high level of Chromium and Carbon. Moreover, the 440c steel offers a high hardness between 57 to 58 HRC, which also offers excellent edge retention to the steel.
Wear Resistance
440c steel is resistant to wear because it is tough steel. It contains a high mixture of carbon and chromium, which offer the 440c steel a great wear resistance
Corrosion Resistance
440c steel contains a high percentage of chromium (17% Chromium), which offers the 440c steel high corrosion resistance.
Sharpness
As 440c is hard steel, therefore, sharpening it would not be an easy task. However, if you sharpen it once, after that, it will hold the edge for a long time.
Toughness
As 440c steel has excellent corrosion resistance and wears resistance, it doesn’t have much toughness. This is because you will not find all these three properties in one steel. However, it has decent toughness because it is brittle steel.
Is 440c steel good for Knives?
Yes, 440c steel is good for knives.
440c steel offers great wear resistance, corrosion resistance, strength, and edge retention properties. Moreover, it has decent corrosion toughness, which makes it a good option for knives.
This steel is loved by knife users as well as knife makers. As 440c steel is mid-range steel, so it will be good for the budget and mid-range knives.
Best 440c steel Knives
There are many knives available in the market that are made with 440c stainless steel. Some of the best 440c steel knives are as follows:
1. ESEE Izula – Perfect Knife that holds an edge well
Izula is one of the best ESEE knives. Izula is also known as Bullet Ant. It is one of the biggest knives you will get in 440 stainless steel. It comes with a 2.875-inch blade, 3.375-handle with an overall knife length of 6.25-inch. Moreover, it comes with a blade thickness of about 1.56-inch.
The good thing which I like the most about this knife is its weight. The weight of the knife is light which is only 2-ounce. This means you can comfortably take it with you anywhere you want to go.
An Izula knife is more than an outdoor knife. It can help you in different situations as it is sharp and holds its sharp edge for a long time. Additionally, it is quite easy to sharpen as well. Another great thing about this knife is that it also comes with a durable sheath, so you can keep the knife in the sheath when you are not using it.
Overall, if you are looking for a camping knife, hunting knife, or knife for any outdoor activities, then look no further. This will be the perfect knife for outdoor activities.
2. Gerber Randy Newberg DTS Hunting Knife – Best for deep cuts
Gerber Gear is one of the amazing knife brands known for making consumer knives, multitools, and other tools. This knife is one of the amazing Gerber Gear knives. It comes with a serrated knife blade that is used for deep and dicey cuts. This knife is great for meat processing.
The feature which I like the most about this knife is its blade, which can be folded. You can fold the knife’s blade when you are not using it. Additionally, the blade of the knife is made with 440c stainless steel, which is good steel for the knife’s blades. The 440c steel offers amazing strength, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance to the knife.
Another amazing feature of this knife is that it is quite easy to clean, thanks to the knife’s dual steel liner and barrel construction. The steel liner also provides durability to the knife’s blade. Moreover, you can use it without any fear because of the Pivot lock of the knife.
Newberg DTS Hunting Knife is easy to grip because of the retro-reflective material. This material also helps you to find your knife in the dark by flashlight or headlamp. It is an amazing knife in all its aspects.
This knife also comes with a sheath which is again the best side of the knife. You can take the knife with you anywhere you go with the help of a sheath. Overall, it is a perfect knife for hunting, fishing, or camping.
3. Ganzo G7531 Folding Bowie Pocket Knife – Best for tourists
Ganzo G7531 is an amazing pocket folding knife. It also has all the essential qualities to become a faithful companion for its owner. It will be the perfect choice for tourists or any other outdoor activists.
The blade of the knife is made from 440c stainless steel, which is amazing steel for a knife. It offers exceptional wear resistance, strength, and corrosion resistance to the knife. Also, the blade of the knife doesn’t rust even if you use it in wet conditions.
Additionally, the 440c steel clip-point blade comes super sharp right out of the box and remains sharp for a long time. Moreover, you can easily sharpen the knife with a small pocket tool when needed.
The thing which I like the most about the knife is its handle. The handle of the knife is made from G10, which is a great material for a knife’s handle. Also, the weight of the G10 fiberglass handle is light, so you can comfortably grip it for a long time.
Ganzo G7531 also comes with G-Lock, which is a robust lock design. This allows you to use this knife easily in a wide range of situations. Additionally, this knife is very durable, and it does not burn out in the sun and does not soak. Therefore, you can confidently use it for a long time.
Overall, it is a perfect knife for outdoor activities. If you are a tourist or outdoor adventurer, I highly recommend the Ganzo G7531 knife to you because of its so many amazing features.
4. Firebird GANZO F759M Pocket Folding Knife – Ideal knife for outdoor activities
Firebird is another amazing knife brand known for making folding knives. Firebird GANZO F759M is one amazing Firebird pocket folding knife. This is the most beautiful knife on our list and one of the most beautiful pocket knives on the market.
The design of the Firebird GANZO F759M is unique, and the knife looks beautiful when you hold it in hand. The design and amazing features of the knife make it far away from competitors. It is an amazing knife in all its aspects.
The blade of the knife is made from440 stainless steel, which is a good steel for the knife’s blades. The knife’s blade is resistant to the most severe impacts, and it comes with Rockwell hardness of 58 to 60 HRC. 440c steel also offers to wear resistance, strength, and corrosion resistance properties to the knife’s blade. Additionally, the knife’s blade also features an ambidextrous thumb hole.
The feature which I like the most about this knife is its textured Fiberglass-reinforced NYLON (FRN) handle. The knife’s handle is anti-slip, so you can use it even in wet conditions without any fear of slipping from the hand. The Fiberglass-reinforced handle offers a secure and confident grip during use. Also, the handle’s weight is light, so you can quite comfortably use it for extended hours without any fatigue.
Another amazing feature of this knife is its metal clip. The metal clip is durable and can be used for gripping or hanging the knife on the belt. Moreover, you can safely take the knife with you without any fear, thanks to the solid liner locking mechanism.
Overall, Firebird GANZO F759M Pocket Folding Knife is an ideal knife for outdoor hunting, camping, fishing, or any other outdoor activities. Moreover, it is also best for car emergencies, self-defense, personal protection, and many more.
Conclusion
To conclude here, I will suggest you buy 440c stainless steel because it is a great steel for your knife as it will not rust for years. Moreover, it offers great edge retention, strength, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance properties.
Furthermore, the price of 440c steel is affordable compared to related steels, which makes it more appealing and great steel for knives. Additionally, 440c steel knives hold their edge well for a long time; that is why it is famous amongst knife makers.
Overall, 440c knives are great for outdoor activities because it is stainless steel and it will not rust for years even if you use the knife in the wet conditions. Moreover, if you have any information which you want to add or want to ask any question related to 440c, you are most welcome to leave a comment below. I’ll be happy to solve your problem, and I’ll try my best to reply to you as soon as possible.
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