440C VS 8Cr13MoV: All You Should know

8cr13mov is stainless steel. the 8cr13mov steel is commonly used in making variety of knives you can think of.

in this section of the article, we are going to dive deeper, explaining everything you should know about the 8cr13mov and what makes it stands out from the 440c.

Contents

8cr13mov steel

When you take a look at the 8cr13mov steel, you discover that it is a steel with a good hardness, toughness, and corrosion resistance and these three quality makes the 8cr13mov a great choice for knife blades and other cutting tools.

But when it comes to edge retention, the 8cr13mov performs poorly in that aspect. in fact, this is one of the drawback of this steel

in fact, the 8cr13mov is actually softer than most other high-end steels. like for example, when compared with AUS-8, it out performed the 8cr13mov in this regard, all thanks to the AUS-8 higher carbon content.

But this drawback is being compensated by other interesting features which you will learn about in this article, and plus the price. when it comes to pricing, the 8cr13mov offers great value for money.

8cr13mov key note

here are 5 key notes about 8Cr13MoV steel:

  1. 8Cr13MoV is a stainless steel and it is a great choice for making knife blade and other cutting tools. the 8cr13mov has become popular among manufacturers.
  • The 8cr13mov is a Chinese-made steel. and this steel often time compared to the Japanese AUS-8 steel.
  • You might be confused what the 8 mean. The “8” actually means that the 8cr13mov has 0.8% Carbon in it. and the “13” means that it contains 13% Chromium which makes the 8cr13mov able to resist corrosion to some extent.
  • the 8cr13mov is a really hard knife. actually it has a hardness of 58-60 HRC.
  • It is known for its ease of sharpening and good edge retention.However, it may not hold up as well as higher-end steels under heavy use or abuse.

Overall, 8Cr13MoV is a good value steel for those looking for a budget-friendly option with decent performance.

8Cr13MoV drawback

One of the main drawbacks which gets me worried is the edge retention of the 8Cr13MoV steel which tends to dull quickly more compared to other high-end steels.

this means that the 8cr13mov will need to be sharpen constantly. under heavy usage the 8cr13mov will definitely not hold up

Another drawback of 8Cr13MoV steel we noticed is its composition. actually the 8cr13mov is made of low quantity of carbon and actually this has a negative impact on the overall quality and performance of the 8cr13mov steel.

8Cr13MoV composition

8Cr13MoV is a popular stainless steel used in knife blades. Its composition is:

  • Carbon (C): 0.80%
  • Chromium (Cr): 13.00%
  • Molybdenum (Mo): 0.20%
  • Vanadium (V): 0.20%
  • Manganese (Mn): 0.50%
  • Silicon (Si): 0.40%
  • Phosphorus (P): 0.03%
  • Sulfur (S): 0.03%

440C steel

440C steel is a high carbon martensitic stainless steel. the 440c is of higher quality when compared to the 8Cr13MoV.

the 440C boast of great strengths, hardness, and has moderate wear and corrosion resistance.

with a Carbon content of 1.9%, the 440c has so much advantages, first the high carbon content increase 440C hardness and strength and also improves it hardenability. in fact the 440C has a hardness of between 58 to 60 HRC.

440C uses:

the 440C is generally use to make knife blades, roller bearings, ball bearings and valves etc.

440C drawback:

One potential drawback of using 440C stainless steel is its hardness,this makes the 440C difficult to work with. you will need specialised tools to drill or sharpen it.

440C composition

  • Carbon: 0.95-1.20%
  • Chromium: 16.00-18.00%
  • Manganese: 1.00% max
  • Silicon: 1.00% max
  • Phosphorus: 0.040% max
  • Sulfur: 0.030% max
  • Nickel: 0.75% max
  • Molybdenum: 0.75% max

440C and 8Cr13MoV differences

440C and 8Cr13MoV are both types of stainless steel commonly used in knife blades. Here are some differences between the two:

Composition: 440C is a high-carbon stainless STEEL and it carbon content is higher than what is obtain in 8Cr13MoV. in summary 440C carbon content is 1.2% while 8Cr13MoV is 0.8%.

Hardness: again when it comes to hardness the 440C is harder than 8Cr13MoV . while the 440C hardness falls between 58-60, 8Cr13MoV falls in the range of 56-58 HRC.

Corrosion resistance: though Both steel; 440C and 8Cr13MoV are stainless. as you know stainless steel are good at resisting corrosion. but when it comes to which one does it better, you have to give it to 440c.

Edge retention: again; when it comes to edge retention, you have to give it to 440C. actually 440C can hold a sharp edge for a long time than what you get in 8Cr13MoV.

Price: 8Cr13MoV is cheap steel and cost less , while 440C is a higher-end steel. This means that knives made with 8Cr13MoV are generally less expensive than those made with 440C.

in conclusion , both 440C and 8Cr13MoV greet steel and will perform better when use to make knives , but sincerely speaking from what we know the 440C is superior steel. However, 8Cr13MoV is a more affordable option that still offers good performance.