A high carbon martensitic steel is a very hard material. It is used for knives, blades and cutting tools. It has great resistance to corrosion and wear.
It is widely used in the knife industry because of its excellent combination of hardness, toughness and corrosion resistance.
If you want to know more about 440a stainless steel, and whether it’s good for knives, then read on!
About 440a Steel
The 440 series stainless steel was invented by Masakichi Kawada, who also invented the 420 series stainless steel. He started making knives in the early 1930s. In the 1940s he began selling them under the brand name “Kurouchi”.
Kurouchi knives are used by many famous chefs such as Nobu Matsuhisa and Heston Blumenthal.It’s one of the most popular steels.
After World War II, Kawada changed the name of his company to Kurouchi-Kawada Corporation (KKC). KKC became known for producing high quality kitchen knives. In the 1970s, KKC introduced the 440 series.
This series was named after the 440 CPM carbon steel used to make it. The 440 series is still being produced today.
440a stainless steel knives are popular – so we’ll teach you a little about them!
Steel Chemical Composition
440a steel has a maximum HRC of 58. This makes the 440a a tough steel with good edge retention. 440a has excellent resistance to corrosion too due to the high content of chromium in it, 18% is quite high compared to the other steels, and this is why 440a is the best stainless steel for corrosive resistance.
The 0.75% carbon content gives the 440a stainless a good wear resistance. Despite the 440a being robust, hard stainless steel, it’s still easy to sharpen, and grind (if you’re a grinder machine user).
Like the 440 series, the 440a is great in machinability.
Corrosion resistant stainless steel is made up of Chromium and Carbon. This alloy is very strong and resists corrosion. However, it should not be used in extremely corrosive environments.
The chromium content helps provide excellent corrosion resistance.
Despite the 440 being a robust and hard stainless steel, it’s easy to sharpen and ground (if you’ve got a grinder machine). Like all the 440 series, the 440a is great to be machined.
Stainless steel is made up of chromium and nickel. The more chromium and nickel you add, the tougher your steel gets. 440a steel is a type of stainless steel that contains both chromium and nickel.
This makes it a bit harder than other types of stainless steel.
So, Is It Good For knives?
This steel is very good for kitchen knives and diving blades because it has a high corrosion resistance. It also has a high hardness (58 HRC) and a low cost. It gives a good sharp edge.
However, this steel isn’t the best for hunting knives because it has lower wear resistance.
What Are The Differences Between Steel Types In Blades?
Different types of steel are made for different uses. For example, stainless steel is ideal for kitchen knives because it won’t rust. Carbon steel is better for chopping wood and other tasks that require strength.
And ceramic-coated steel is great for sharpening your knives.
Steel is an important material used in making swords and knives. There are many types of steel, but the main ones are Carbon Steel, High-Carbon Stainless Steel, Low-Carbon Stainless Steel and Titanium.
Each type of steel has its pros and cons.
Carbon Steel is the hardest and toughest, but it is also the least durable. High-Carbon Stainless Steels are very strong and tough, but they are also brittle. Low-Carbon Stainless Steel is the opposite of high-carbon stainless steel.
It is the softest and weakest, but it is also very durable. Titanium is the strongest metal known to man, but it is also expensive.
Ingredients Of Steel
Steel is an alloy made up of iron, carbon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, copper, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, titanium, aluminum, nitrogen, oxygen, and other elements. Iron is the main component of steel.
There are different grades of steel depending on how much carbon is present. A low carbon steel is used for knives because it wears down quickly.
Medium carbon steel is used for tools that need to be strong and last longer than a knife. High carbon steel is used for things that need to be stronger and harder than a knife.
Chromium is an element found in stainless steel, and it helps make knives more durable and corrosion resistant. Cobalt is another metal used in making blades, and it strengthens them.
Manganese is a metal used to harden blades. Adding too much manganese makes blades brittle.
Steel is an alloy made up of many different elements. Each element adds something to the final product. Carbon makes steel strong and hard, but also weakens it.
Adding more carbon increases the strength of steel, but lowers its hardness. Iron is a common ingredient in steel, and it gives steel its strength. Adding tungsten to steel improves the material’s strength and durability.
Types Of Steel
Steel is an important material used in many industries. Carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, and stainless steel are some of the most common types of steel.
There are other types of steel such as 1095 steel, which is 95% carbon steel. Tool steel is a type of steel that is often used in manufacturing tools. Stainless steel is a type of metal that does not rust or corrode easily.
Carbon steels are plain steels without any additional elements. Alloy steels are steels containing specific amounts of vanadium or mium. Tool steels contain tungsten, mium, and other alloying materials.
Plain Carbon Steels
Knife blades made out of 1095 steel are harder than those made out of 1045 steel. 1095 steel is easier to give a sharp edge because it doesn’t rust as much.
1045 steel is tougher than 1095 steel, but it does rust. 1045 steel is better for knives because it holds a sharp edge longer and is easier to sharpen.
Alloy Steels
5160 Steel is an alloy of 1060 steel and chromium. It is used in many different applications because of its strength and resistance to corrosion. It is also extremely tough. It contains about 56-64% carbon.
Tool Steels
High Carbon Tool Steel (HCTS) is a very hard steel. It is commonly used for making knives. HCTS is also known as A2 or CPM-2024. It is used for cutting tools because of its extreme hardness.
This steel is made up of 98.5% iron, 1.0% carbon, 0.3% manganese, 0.05% phosphorus, and 0.02% sulfur.
This is very tough steel, but it has less wear resistance. It has a carbon percentage range of 0.95%-1.05%, and it doesn’t contain lots of chromium.
This low chromium content means it needs to be maintained carefully, and it will often be coated on the blade to prevent rusting.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a very high quality steel type that holds an edge well. The 400 Series is a low quality steel that is inexpensive. It is used for making cheap kitchen knives.
However, all 420 stainless steel blades are extremely rust resistant, and are great for making diving knives.
Damascus Steel
Damascus steel is a type of steel that is made by combining two or more different kinds of metals. When these metals are folded together, they create a pattern.
The process of making Damascus steel requires a lot of steps, including acid etching. Because of this, knives made with Damascus steel are usually very expensive.
Conclusion
There’s a lot to learn about different types of steel! Hopefully, this guide has helped you to learn more about 440A steel!
Hi, my name is Tom Bower and I have had a passion for knives since I was in my early 20s. I moved out on my own and started collecting my own furniture, utensils, and hobbies. Not only do I have a passion for cooking, but I also love being outdoors in adventure mode.
I have dedicated part of my life to finding my favorite knives for different occasions. Have you ever tried to cut through a steak with a blunt knife? Or a rope with a low-quality pocket knife? Once you get a taste of quality, you’ll never go back to what you knew before.
![Is 440a Stainless Steel Good For Knives?- [Complete Steel Guide]](https://thetruthaboutknives.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Is-440a-Stainless-Steel-Good-For-Knives-Complete-Steel-Guide.jpg)
![Is 440a Stainless Steel Good For Knives?- [Complete Steel Guide]](https://thetruthaboutknives.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Is-440a-Stainless-Steel-Good-For-Knives-Complete-Steel-Guide-1-1024x683.jpg)
![K390 Steel Review – [Complete Steel Guide]](https://thetruthaboutknives.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/K390-Steel-Review-%E2%80%93-Complete-Steel-Guide.jpg "K390 Steel Review – [Complete Steel Guide]")
![What Is S90v Steel? – [Complete Steel Guide]](https://thetruthaboutknives.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/What-Is-S90v-Steel-%E2%80%93-Complete-Steel-Guide.jpg "What Is S90v Steel? – [Complete Steel Guide]")
![Is 14c28n A Good Knife Steel? [Complete Steel Guide]](https://thetruthaboutknives.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Is-14c28n-A-Good-Knife-Steel-Complete-Steel-Guide.jpg "Is 14c28n A Good Knife Steel? [Complete Steel Guide]")
![Is 154 cm A Good Knife Steel? [Complete Steel Guide]](https://thetruthaboutknives.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Is-154cm-A-Good-Knife-Steel.jpg "Is 154 cm A Good Knife Steel? [Complete Steel Guide]")