440 designates a group of rust-resistant chromium steels that possess different properties depending on the variant. Especially 440A, 440B, and 440C differ significantly in hardness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance.
Three key characteristics of the steel: edge retention, rust resistance, and sharpenability
Edge retention: medium to high
★★★☆☆
Edge retention largely depends on the variant. Due to its higher carbon content, 440C achieves significantly greater hardness and wear resistance than 440A.
Rust resistance: high
★★★★☆
All 440 variants have good corrosion resistance due to their high chromium content.
Sharpenability: good
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440 steels are relatively easy to resharpen compared to many modern powder metallurgical steels.
Areas of application
Pocket knives: 440 steels are often used for inexpensive to mid-range pocket knives, as they offer a good combination of rust protection and performance characteristics.
Everyday knives: The ease of maintenance makes this steel family suitable for general cutting tasks.
Kitchen knives: Particularly rust-resistant variants are used for applications involving frequent contact with moisture.
Steel composition
The composition differs depending on the variant:
| Element | Proportion |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | depends on variant |
| Chromium (Cr) | typically approx. 16–18 % |