420HC vs 440C | Which is better and why?

The 400 lineup offers the best quality stainless steel. You must have encountered 420HC and 400C stainless steel while looking for lower to mid-range knives. They both are excellent but not of the same quality. Can you tell me what the differences are between 420HC vs 440 C, and which one is better?

The main difference between 420HC and 440 C stainless steel is that the first one is less hard. That’s why 420HC has better toughness, is easy to sharpen, and is inexpensive. The extra hardness makes the 440C more resistant to wear, has better edge retention, and requires less maintenance.

A detailed comparison may help you make better decisions to select one option from the two. Stay tuned with me till the end to have a closer look at the differences between 420HC and 440C stainless steel.

Quick Comparison Chart

Key Differences

The chemical compounds of 420HC and 440C look pretty much the same, with some minor differences. But such minor differences cause a lot of variations in practical use.

Let’s look at the top 5 key differences between 420HC and 440 C stainless steel:

Hardness

440C is much harder than the 420HC. In Rockwell ratings, the difference is only 1 to 3, but it makes the 440C more rigid steel. This is due to the higher amount of Carbon at 440C. However, 420HC is still hard enough to be strong steel.

Toughness

Usually, higher hardness means lesser toughness. It’s the same case here, as the 420HC is tougher than the 440C. In daily life, you will find it comfortable to use 420HC knives due to their toughness.

Wear resistance

However, the less hardness in 420HC makes it less resistant to wear. 440C stainless steel comes with excellent wear resistance. Plus, the higher amount of chromium provides 440C more protection from rust than the 420HC.

Besides these, the percentage of carbon defines how wear-resistant the steel is. For example, the 420 hc comes with 0.4-5% carbon whereas the 440c has 95% to 1.2%. this percentage shows that 440c belongs higher number, which means this steel is more wear-resistant than 420hc.

Edge retention

440C stainless steel has better edge retention than the 420HC due to better hardness. the percentage of carbon and chromium in this steel makes it highly edged and retained more than 420hc. You can use 440HC knives longer without losing the sharpness. They may even last over generations with proper maintenance.

Maintenance

Lastly, 420HC usually requires more maintenance than 440C. 420HC is easier to sharpen due to having less hardness, but you need to take proper care of it to keep it in good condition for a long time. 440C, on the other hand, will still be in good shape with little maintenance. The percentage of carbon martensitic stainless formulation ensures that is less maintenance steel.

Cost

440c is a bit more expensive than 420hc. on the other hand, 420hc belongs to lower-grade steel, that’s why it’s inexpensive.

420HC Short Read

420HC is one of the best lower-end stainless steel. Here HC means higher carbon that comes with carbon than its predecessor 420C. It’s famous for making cutlery, pocket knives, custom knives, scissors, and surgical knives.

440C Short Read

440C is a mid-range stainless steel that makes excellent quality affordable knives. It has more than 1.00% of carbon which is rare in stainless steel. Such a high amount of carbon makes it harder and more durable. It’s a deal for making knives and tools that need an edge.

Note: It is highly recommended to use while manufacturing different cutting tools and kitchen knife sets.

Conclusion

After comparing 420HC and 440 C, I can tell you that 440 C is way better with proper heat treatment. Yes, 440c belongs to a higher quality than its counterpart 420hc steel. But if you don’t want trouble in sharpening, you may go for 420HC. Also, I you are looking to manufacture diving, hunting, or fishing knives, I suggest you use 420hc.

If you are living in a mild industrial or normal domestic environment, a knife made with 440 c is the perfect companion.

Related Topic:

• 440c Steel vs d2: Which steel should you pick?
• 420HC steel vs 154CM | Which steel is better?

My Favorite Knives in Each Category

The quality of knives will only be good if the manufacturing companies use proper heat treatment. That’s why finding the best stainless steel knife in these categories can be a little tough.

Here are two of my favorite knives from each category that may save you from the trouble of finding good quality knives:

1. GERBER LMF II Survival Knife (420HC)

It is an excellent survival knife made of 420HC stainless steel. Plus, it has an amazing glass-reinforced nylon handle. It’s an excellent knife if you are an aircrew as it cuts through the fuselage of an aircraft. Besides, you also can use it for camping and other day-to-day use. 

• iField 150 Survival Camping Fixed Blade Knife (440C) 

It is another survival knife made of 440C stainless steel. This is a budget knife but comes with excellent quality. The wooden handle is pretty comfortable to hold. It is quite hard and excellent for camping, hunting, fishing, and other survival tasks.