440B vs all takers

[lobo9er]

where's it lay in the knife world today. where would it rank in edge retention, toughness etc. No doubt a plenty good knife can be made from 440 A, B and C. 440 series steel has been around for along time and will be around likely long after some new and cool ones are forgotten. Anyone willing to make a video? Can someone here share some metallurgy information? With its chemical make up, what potential performance scientifically could you expect, and what does the science of its make up tell us about its limits?

Or this isn't that interesting and lack of replies will tell as much.

 

[matt009au]

It's been a while since ive had a knife in 440b, from memory I quite liked it. Took a nice edge, didn't hold it that long but sharpened up easily.

I think 440b is roughly aligned with AUS8, and I really like the knives I have in aus8 (I carry an Almar falcon every day in fact).

 

[gazz98]

I think this is a pretty up to date comparison list. I probably had a 440b knife in the late 80s/early 90s but I've learned that 440c (depends on the company of course), Aus 8, and Buck 420hc are the lowest I go now. I personally put 440b under Aus 8 and closer to Aus 6.

http://bestpocketknifetoday.com/discovering-the-best-knife-steel/

 

[Lapedog]

440b really shines in wear resistance. Many dive knives are made of it because of this very reason. However with modern steels like H1 in particular and other steels containing a high percentage of nitrogen there are steels even more corrosion resistant than 440a or b. Apparently a company called Oceanmaster makes dive knives out of a proprietary titanium alloy that can be run up to 60rc.


-edit- I mean 440b really shines in CORROSION resistance.

 

[Fanglekai]

440b really shines in wear resistance. Many dive knives are made of it because of this very reason. However with modern steels like H1 in particular and other steels containing a high percentage of nitrogen there are steels even more corrosion resistant than 440a or b. Apparently a company called Oceanmaster makes dive knives out of a proprietary titanium alloy that can be run up to 60rc.

Hardness doesn't reveal if the microstructure is any good. It's not a reliable indicator of a proper heat treatment.

 

[Lapedog]

I know that Titanium will likely never be able to be made as wear resistant as steels. I just know that it resists chipping and most other companies only run their titanium alloys around 46rc max. Now since they use a proprietary alloy their 60rc titanium knives may not have this resistance to chipping. Still they are apparently great blades.

 

[Neko2]

I use 440C knives for whittling and they take a shining and sharp edge easily and hold it well for my use; regular stropping keeps the edge quite well. I'm sure my S30V knives hold an edge longer but are a pain to sharpen.
I'm quite a fan of 440 honestly and for my needs it's works well.

 

[me2]

440B is very close to Carpenter's BD1, their compositions would overlap a tiny bit. I did a side by side with BD1 and S110V for an afternoon of cleaning. Checked the edge during use. The BD1 was the same as the S110V going by feel. BD1 resharpened quicker too.

 

[Revolverrodger]

440A and 440B are nowhere as bad as people say
In fact they are pretty good in a robust fixed blade

 

[Lapedog]

I think they are only "bad" comparatively. 440b especially is underrated. I don't get it no one has a peoblem with Buck using 420hc! For some reason as soon as 440b is mentioned people are heading for the hills.

 

[mete]

Ti ?? read some recent posts by Mecha and learn what can be done with Ti !! I , and a few others really understand what it can do !

I have for years, a kukri of 440B, and it's a good choice for the job. That knife is no longer made . 440A has been improved to things like CPM154 and 154CM

 

[JR88FAN]

I use 440C knives for whittling and they take a shining and sharp edge easily and hold it well for my use; regular stropping keeps the edge quite well. I'm sure my S30V knives hold an edge longer but are a pain to sharpen.
I'm quite a fan of 440 honestly and for my needs it's works well.

440C is excellent blade steel.
It's just not "cool" I guess, but it has all the attributes you want in an SS steel for just about 90% of what most people do with an EDC knife.

If you like 440C and want an improvement in edge holding, try the PM version, CTS40CP.

 

[Deltadag]

Well, 440B was for a long time (and still is) a go-to steel for Randall Made Knives. More corrosion resistant than the well regarded 440C, but able to hold an edge longer than 440A. Sometimes the middle of the road is a good place to walk.

 

[OddBlade]

Ssshhh. Don't let the secret out that older steel are actually good steel for knives. If the "Super steel of the month club" catches wind of this, the price of knives made from these steel will skyrocket. Look what happened when the secret got out with 1095.

 

[BladeScout]

Apparently a company called Oceanmaster makes dive knives out of a proprietary titanium alloy that can be run up to 60rc.

Nothing 'proprietary' about Beta Ti.

One of the very few if not the only company able to work Beta Ti in quantity is Mission Knives.

Most if not all others making ti (dive) knives are bending the truth ....to say the very least.

When ti knives became fashionable, a lot of knife makers jumped on the band wagon.

They soon found out that Beta Ti was very hard to work hence didnt use the good stuff.

As a result, the vast majority of titanium knives arent any good.

 

[Revolverrodger]

It all depends on applications
In a folder where cardboard is the main thing you cut 440c is pretty good

In a large fixed blade used to chop wood 440a is pretty good. Edge holding is not a problem

 

[Lapedog]

I believe the composition of the Ti in Oceanmaster knives is not the same as Mission Knives. Even if it was Mission still runs their knives closer to 45rc to OM's 60rc.

 

[madcap_magician]

I think they are only "bad" comparatively. 440b especially is underrated. I don't get it no one has a peoblem with Buck using 420hc! For some reason as soon as 440b is mentioned people are heading for the hills.

Buck uses Paul Bos's heat treat methods, though. 440 series gets a bad rap because it's rare for a company to use inexpensive materials and not also cheap out on processes. Buck maximizes what 420HC is capable of.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

When well heat treated and ground it can reach levels of mediocrity that make it passable. Basically, it's a budget steel that simply has nowhere near the wear resistance of almost any of the more modern knife steels available. It does possess excellent corrosion resistance, so for a budget friendly dive knife it would be a very good choice.

 

[lobo9er]

so does anyone have the make up of it to add to conversation so we could compare it to maybe s30v which is becoming a standard steel. maybe we can see why s30v has more edge retention and how it compares with toughness, which 440B maybe tougher steel.