Blade material questions?

[Aliwren]

Can someone please explain in relatively simple terms the differences, advantages and disadvantages of the following blade materials? 440c, D2 and damascus? I realise this is probably not that simple!

I am looking around for an every day carry folding knife and considering blade materials. I have read the stainless/01 debates and browsed over on British Blades but not found a simple explanation.

Many thanks!

 

[Jedadiah]

Hi Aliwren,

now don't take this as gospel as i'm not 100% sure. There are many more experienced and qualified people on this forum than me, but this is what i have been lead to believe.

Put in simple terms (and please correct me if i'm wrong all you blade smiths)

440c is a stainless metal. This means it is corrosion resistant, not corrosion proof. It has a relatively high chrome content which means it will not rust easily compared to metals with a lower chrome content. However, the payoff is that it will not sharpen up as sharp as a high carbon content metal and will not keep the edge as readily.

D2 is a high carbon content tool steel with a high chrome content as well. So it will sharpen up as well as 01 tool steel and keep the edge as well as having the ability to resist corrosion better than 01 due to the high chrome content. I have been led to believe that it is harder to work for the amatuer blade smith, but an expert should have no such problems.

Damascus is not a type of metal but a method of forging. Damascus blades may have a number of different metals in it. During the forging process these metals are heated up and folded (?) together many times, over and over. This results in the magnificent patterns on the blade. Again, the edge retention and corrosion resistance is dependant on the materials used.

Again, please dont take this as red, but now i have posted this, there may be more experienced people around who may be able to put me right and educate us both! Hope this helps.

 

[Shinken]

Mostly right Jedadiah,

In my experience 440c can be really sharp and probably holds an edge better that 01. It wont be as tough though!!

For a folding knife 440c would be a good choice, as would D2 because toughness should be an issue on a small folding blade that isnt going to be abused

 

[Jedadiah]

Cheers Shinken,

yeah, i should have known about 440c being sharp, i think they make scalpel blades and Stanley Knife blades out of it, don't they?

 

[ESpy]

You'll be lucky to find 440C scalpel & Stanley blades!

One thing that needs emphasising (IMO) - none of these steels will perform well without a decent heat-treat.

440C is good, but out-of-fashion (and a lot of things labelled 440 are actually 440A).

D2 is one that people either love or hate - a near-stainless which will "take an edge poorly but keep it forever" - very tough when treated properly, and invariably a swine to sharpen.

Pattern-welded steel is lovely to look at; performance depends both on blend and HT. I'd regard something in pattern welded steel as a display user, rather than anything else (again, IMO).

 

[Jedadiah]

You'll be lucky to find 440C scalpel & Stanley blades!

I must have been mis-informed, sorry!

 

[Shinken]

One thing that needs emphasising (IMO) - none of these steels will perform well without a decent heat-treat.

Agreed, ive used a 440c knife that was a bugger and just recently sold a knife in 440c that will most definitely hold an edge.

 

[addyb]

I concur. A poor steel with a good heat treatment will outperform a good steel with a poor heat treatment.

 

[Shing]

I think D2 takes a great edge, I cut my finger on a D2 blade I was working on and didn't feel the cut until I saw the blood on my finger!