Is there a Metallurgist in the house?

6 Responses to Is there a Metallurgist in the house?

1. DFWMTX says:

   December 21, 2006 at 8:22 am

   440C is mainly a grade of stainless for cultery (that’s what the C is for) with a higher level of carbon in it, and it keeps and edge better when heated.

   I’m not completely sure about N690. Reading some websites say it’s compareable to 440C and has excellent corrosion resistance. The 600 series of stainless steel is described as having “martensitic precipitation hardening alloys”.

   I’ve been in the metal business most of my life and only learned this today. Usually I deal with 301, 303, 304 and 316.
2. Phil says:

   December 21, 2006 at 9:51 am

   Heya D, I read about the 600 series on Wikipedia and it said what you said. I guess I’m really wondering if one was stronger than the other. It sounds as though they’re pretty much equals though, from what you found and what I read.

   Anyone else have a better clue?
3. Kristopher says:

   December 21, 2006 at 10:33 am

   N690 is manufactured by Bohler Uddeholm (German company) and is their trade name for 440C.

   I don’t like 440 for serious blades … I find it difficult to put a razor edge on, and it won’t stay sharp.

   I would suggest 1086 carbon steel … if you fear rust, keep it oiled.
4. Phil says:

   December 21, 2006 at 8:56 pm

   Ahh, I see now, Kristopher. Hmm, now comes the contemplation.
5. Ninth Stage says:

   December 21, 2006 at 9:59 pm

   440C holds it’s edge quite well when hardened properly but it’s quite brittle at that hardness. It’s best used for blades that don’t see rough service like razor blades. It is also difficult to sharpen when it’s that hard.

   A lot of the knives you see made from 440C aren’t hardened to that degree because of the problem of brittleness. This perversely makes it difficult to sharpen without rolling over a “wire”, a sliver of metal on the edge.

   The problem with any stainless steel is that for all other properties, except corrosion resistance, it’s a compromise.

   I made knives from 1084 and 1095 when I was a kid and they both would take a razor edge and remained strong (not brittle). 1086 (Iron plus 0.86% Carbon) must be some compromise alloy but it should work fine.

   A simple carbon steel shouldn’t be sniffed at but really, unless you want to shave with it, most of the knives from today’s premium makers should do the job – stainless or not.
6. Jimro says:

   December 22, 2006 at 10:24 am

   440C is good for pocketknives that see field use. It doesn’t hold an edge as long as ATS 34 but it does sharpen up with a few touches of the stone. I don’t recommend serrated blades in 440C because they don’t lend themselves to sharpening in the field.

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