Question on Colt CT340 fixed blade

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winchester73

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Jan 6, 2008
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I saw this knife at a store and it has a nice frontier look to the blade and a very well made sheath. I have seen on internet videos about it and some blurps on the interet stating it has a 440 c blade yet nowhere on the blade or box does it say what stainless steel it is made. SMKW the maker/importers site simply says stainless steel. Could someone tel lme definmitively if this knife is 440c?
 
I'm pretty sure all of the Colt-branded knives are imported (probably from China). At the price point of these knives, and assuming Chinese import, I'd bet it's not 440C. Maybe something like 8Cr13MoV, which is Chinese steel similar in composition to AUS-8; can be pretty decent stuff. A large number of Chinese-imported knives these days are made using it. On knives that aren't specifically labelled as to steel type, I view them as a toss-up. Could be anything. Manufacturers using decent, reputable materials would do well to specify the steel type; it's a strong selling point and enhances the value of the brand.

A lot of 'imported' knives are often described as having '440' steel. That's somewhat vague, as it could be 440A, 440B, 440C, IF it's 440-series at all (some unscrupulous importers haven't been shy about slapping the '440' label on their knives, even when it likely isn't). Both 440A and 440C can be decent or even excellent (440C) as well, assuming that's what it actually is.

If you're really concerned about the steel type, you might send an email to SMKW and ask for details. If they don't know, or are unwilling to say, I'd view that as a red flag myself.
 
I can tell you definitively that it won't actually be 440C alloy, though the alloy may have a similar composition and fairly similar properties. "440C" is an AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute) designation. The knife is made in China with Chinese alloys. The Chinese steel manufacturers do not work to AISI specs. IIRC, the Chinese alloy which is closest in composition to 440C is 9Cr17Mo. The most popular Chinese cutlery alloy is 8Cr13MoV, which is similar in composition and performance to AUS8.

I was unable to determine exactly which Chinese alloy is being used for this particular knife.

ETA:
David posted while I was writing.
 
I'm not sure where the guy on the video got his information that it is 440c. I wish he had stated, although they do call it "chinese 440c". A review on Amazon also stated it is 440c. SMKW Rough Riders and Colts mostly use 440A (although you can bet the damacus colts are made in Pakistan and some of the RR fixed blades now. It's funny how you can spot the Pakistan RR. They have the different looking butt caps and the Pakistan curve. I emailed SMKW knife show on one of the new stag handled RR fixed blades and they said it was made on Pakistan ). i did buy the RR long rifle wide skinner that I like and it is made of and blade stamped 8Cr13MoV.
 
Last edited:
winchester73 said:
I'm not sure where the guy on the video got his information that it is 440c. I wish he had stated, although they do call it "chinese 440c". A review on Amazon also stated it is 440c. SMKW Rough Riders and Colts mostly use 440A (altough you can bet the damacus colts are made in Pakistan and some of the RR fixed blades now). i did buy the RR long rifle wide skinner that I like and it is made of and blade stamped 8Cr13MoV.
Click to expand...

Expanding on what I'd mentioned earlier, about the '440' label being applied to so many Asia-imported knives, it's been so heavily thrown about for at least 20 years, to the point it seems almost generic. On those knives, every time I see the '440' label applied, I usually view those with great skepticism. Some German imports do actually use 440C (Boker, among them), and they carry a lot more credibility than many others. Many of their stainless knives are documented and/or marked as the specific '440C' steel type.

There's an older thread here, which suggests the Colt-branded knives are all made in the same plant in China as the Rough Rider brand. If so, that might bode fairly well as to the quality for the money. Here's a link to that thread:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/628153-Who-Made-your-New-Slipjoint?
 
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