440A vs 440C and other choices (Idaho)

Letter 17048

440A vs 440C and other choices (Idaho)

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I have heard some disparaging remarks concerning 440A stainless steel, as compared to 440C,with regard to knifemaking. The SOG Navy Seal knife was tested against most major manufactures of this type of all-around "combat" and/or "survival" knife and chosen above all others. This knife is, of course, made from 440A.

Now I'm not saying this isn't a good knife, I'm merely wondering if the choice was made more on a typical goverment "point" system rather than a practical reliability factor (I know this is how the Beretta pistol finished first, in Army tests, against, IMHO, better sidearms). I wondering if the corrosion resistence of this 440A gave it an edge over virtually identical knives made from 440C as well as well repected knives made by a well known companies, of , for instance, Carbon V (don't know the technical name) , and numerous others? I know a little about this subject but would be very interested to know the opinions of "metal" oriented folks, rather than purely "knife" oriented folks. Thanks, John

John Dunn
- boise, ID usa

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John, I'd consider the corrosion resistance of 440A and 440C to be so close as to be equal. The difference between these two grades is in hardness and ductility, due to the higher carbon content of the 440C. So 440C is harder, but less able to resist an impact or bending load: which you'd expect from a harder metal.

Lee Gearhart
metallurgist
East Aurora, NY

June 12, 2009

I am certainly no expert in metallurgy. I'm just speaking from a consumer standpoint. I just received my HK (Benchmade) 14100 fixed blade in the mail today. It is made of 440C. It was fairly dull which is quite a surprise coming from Benchmade. I am having a difficult time getting a very sharp edge. On the other hand, I own a Kershaw 1550 tactical folder with a 440A blade. It is probably my favorite knife. It has an excellent blade retention and is very simple to sharpen. Matter of fact... It is the only blade I have that can even come close to the sharpness of my Damascus blade in which I've seen razors duller.

Mark Crowder
- Atlanta, GA, USA

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