Various Manufacturers / USA / Europe / Asia

440B

Stainless Steel (Martensitic)56–59 HRCConventional Ingot Steel Process

Composition

Core alloying elements define the baseline trade-off between wear resistance, corrosion behavior, and toughness.

Material Overview

440B sits between 440A and 440C in the 440 stainless steel family. It contains more carbon than 440A but less than 440C, resulting in a balanced but modest performance profile. It offers good corrosion resistance and is easy to sharpen, making it suitable for everyday general-purpose knives. However, it does not provide strong wear resistance compared to modern steels and is largely used in budget to entry-level knife applications today.

Performance Radar

Use four core metrics to understand the usable operating envelope of this steel at a glance.

Edge Retention

Toughness

Corrosion Resistance

Sharpenability

Edge Retention

5.0

Toughness

7.0

Corrosion Resistance

8.0

Sharpenability

9.0

Advantages

Easy to sharpen
Good corrosion resistance
Balanced basic performance
Affordable and widely available
Decent toughness for light use

Disadvantages

Low edge retention
Outperformed by modern stainless steels
Not suitable for heavy-duty cutting
Requires frequent sharpening

At A Glance

440B is a mid-grade stainless steel in the 440 series, offering a balance between corrosion resistance, toughness, and ease of sharpening, but with moderate edge retention.