Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1050°C(1922°F)
Soak Time20 minutes
Tempering
Temperature160°C(320°F)
Time60 minutes
Cycles2x
Quench Medium
oil
Target Hardness
55 - 57 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness7/10
Edge Retention4.5/10
Corrosion Resistance7.5/10
Ease of Sharpening8/10
Overall Score27/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Patented by David Giles of Latrobe Steel in 1926-1927
- 21940s called 'the 440 stainless steel era'
- 3Original 'razor steel' - excellent corrosion resistance
- 4Camillus made heavy use in 1980s-90s production
- 5Similar to AUS-6 and 420HC in performance class
- 6Kershaw produced excellent 440A knives when properly heat treated
Famous Uses
Buck knives (early models)
Camillus knives
Budget production knives
Best For
Budget knives
Dive knives
Corrosion-prone environments
Kitchen cutlery
Similar Steels
Not Recommended For
- Wear resistance
- Hard work
- Premium
Expert Tips
- 1Higher chromium decreases toughness
- 2Standard heat treatment protocols
- 3Regular sharpening maintains performance