440C knife steel
Quick answer
440C is a stainless kitchen knife steel running about 58 to 60 HRC. Edge retention is moderate, toughness moderate, corrosion resistance very high and ease of sharpening high. It is found in Mid-range Western knives.
The Rockwell hardness figures are published by the manufacturers. The one to five scores are relative rankings rather than measurements.
| Steel | Hardness | Retention | Toughness | Corrosion | Sharpening |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X50CrMoV15 | 56 to 58 HRC | 3/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| X55CrMo14 | 55 to 56 HRC | 2/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| 1.4116 | 55 to 56 HRC | 2/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| 440C | 58 to 60 HRC | 3/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| AUS-8 | 57 to 58 HRC | 3/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| AUS-10 | 58 to 60 HRC | 3/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| VG-10 | 60 to 61 HRC | 4/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| VG-MAX | 60 to 61 HRC | 4/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Ginsan (Silver 3) | 60 to 61 HRC | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| SG2 / R2 powder steel | 63 to 64 HRC | 5/5 | 2/5 | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| ZDP-189 | 64 to 66 HRC | 5/5 | 1/5 | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Shirogami 2 (White 2) | 61 to 63 HRC | 4/5 | 3/5 | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Aogami 2 (Blue 2) | 61 to 63 HRC | 5/5 | 3/5 | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Sandvik 14C28N | 58 to 60 HRC | 3/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Victorinox 8 Inch Swiss Classic Chef's Knife - Non-Slip Stainless Steel
8 inWhat is 440C?
440C is a American kitchen knife steel hardened to roughly 58 to 60 on the Rockwell C scale. More carbon than the softer German steels, so it holds an edge longer and gives up some toughness for it.
Rockwell C hardness is measured by pressing a diamond cone into the steel under a set load and reading how deep it goes. Kitchen knives span roughly 55 to 66 HRC. The figure measures resistance to deformation, which correlates strongly with how long an edge stays aligned, and it says nothing directly about toughness or corrosion resistance.
What the hardness actually buys you
At 58 to 60 HRC this steel supports a robust edge that gives up some longevity in exchange for being almost impossible to chip. That is the central trade in kitchen knives, and it is metallurgy rather than marketing: a harder edge is thinner and more brittle at its apex, so it survives longer in clean cutting and fails by chipping rather than rolling when it meets something hard.
At this hardness the edge rolls rather than chips, which is a far friendlier failure mode: a honing rod straightens it in seconds and no metal is lost.
Sharpening and maintenance
Ease of sharpening scores 4 out of 5 here. This steel comes back quickly on almost any abrasive, which is a genuine advantage for anyone who sharpens infrequently or is still learning.
Corrosion resistance scores 5 out of 5, so ordinary kitchen use presents no problem. Washing and drying by hand is still the rule, and no kitchen knife belongs in a dishwasher regardless of its steel.
Knives and sharpening gear
- Utopia Kitchen
Utopia Kitchen Knife Sharpener Rod 12 Inch Honing Rod for Sharpening
12 in$15.99 Check pricePrices change often - IGNITED CUTLERY
8 Inch Chef Knife, German Stainless Steel, Ivory White Handle
8 in$19.99 Check pricePrices change often - Victorinox
Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8 Inch Chef's Knife, Dishwasher Safe, Black
8 in$48.04 Check pricePrices change often - HOSHANHO
HOSHANHO Honing Rod, 12 Inch Professional Kitchen Knife Sharpener Rod
12 in$69.99 Check pricePrices change often - Victorinox
Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef's Knife, 8-Inch Chef's FFP - SET OF 2
8 in$90.37 Check pricePrices change often
Common questions
How hard is 440C?
About 58 to 60 on the Rockwell C scale, as published by the makers who use it. For context, kitchen knives run roughly 55 to 66 HRC overall, so this sits in the softer, tougher part of the range. Hardness is measured by indentation depth under a set load.
Is 440C a good kitchen knife steel?
It is a good choice for the right cook. More carbon than the softer German steels, so it holds an edge longer and gives up some toughness for it. Whether it suits you depends far more on how you maintain knives than on the alloy itself: it rewards someone who wants a knife that comes back quickly with minimal fuss.
Does 440C rust?
It is a stainless steel with a corrosion resistance score of 5 out of 5, so ordinary kitchen use will not rust it. Leaving it wet in a sink for a day or running it through a dishwasher can still pit the surface, which is why every kitchen knife should be washed and dried by hand.
How do I sharpen 440C?
A whetstone gives the best result, and this steel is soft enough that a honing rod between sharpenings will keep it performing for a long time. It also tolerates less careful methods better than harder steels do.
Does the steel matter more than the blade shape?
Usually less. How thin the blade is behind the edge, and the angle it is ground to, decide how a knife feels in the cut far more than the alloy does. A well ground knife in ordinary steel outperforms a thick, badly ground knife in premium steel. The steel mainly determines how long that feeling lasts before sharpening.