OneLoveSure. 440A - and this steel is A, not a C, props to Massdrop in trying to cover that up - is a soft generic steel that is mostly used in those 10 dollar novelty knives on Amazon - doesn't rust but does not hold an edge - meant for display pieces.
Depending on your usage, go for VG10. It's a well rounded steel and user friendly. But with all blade products, the knife is only as sharp as how much care you put into it. You'll be sharpening VG10 weekly, imo.
I'd shoot for a Spyderco Paramilitary 2 in VG10, or Dragonfly 2 if PM2 is too big for you. Don't go into ZDP steel or anything harder unless you have diamond stones to sharpen your blades.
mk05Unless something has changed in the last year or so, they don't make the PM2 in VG10. Spyderco has used S30V as the base steel since launch. They have a lot of sprint runs in other steels, but they're usually more premium and exotic steels than S30V. I doubt they would do a VG10 run.
OneLoveWhen a company says '440' steel, they usually mean 440a, which is a very bad knife steel. All steels weigh almost exactly the same, but not all are able to hold an edge or take abuse as easily. 440a is a terrible steel that can't hold an edge worth shit.
JediMasterYes, I interchange them quite a bit - they are pretty similar. My bad. You can't go wrong with either S30V or VG10. The S30V was the USA answer to Japanese VG10.
mk05I don't think VG10 and S30V are all that similar. Obviously the exact properties will change a bit depending on the heat treatment, but with Spyderco knives there's a noticeable difference between the edge retention of the two steels. If you're trying to keep your knife razor sharp or want to be able to pass the newspaper test on a daily basis, you probably won't even notice the difference in edge retention and will be happier with the easier to sharpen VG10. For those of us who just want a sharp blade but don't need it to be razor sharp or want to touch it up every time we use it, S30V will hold a working edge longer. One is about as easy to sharpen as the other, although S30V does take a little more time to reprofile.
The composition is very different between the two http://knifeinformer.com/knife-steel-composition-chart/
Both are great steels if you don't mind touching up your blade regularly but they're noticeably different.
mk05Your assessments that the price of this knife is not based on the type of steel used, and that 440 of any kind is not premium steel, are correct. Your accusation of anyone at Massdrop intentionally misleading members (by omission, or otherwise) is not accurate, but it is something that we take very seriously. If you feel this way based on some specific past experience or a general user experience with how our site displays information, I do sincerely apologize. In many cases, we work from the information (and photos), that are provided by the manufacturer; when we see that it's not sufficient, we ask for more. I did not recognize the difference between 440 types would be a big issue, but I appreciate you letting us know that it's something to make sure we ask for in the future.
JonasHeineman440A and 440B are not well regarded 440C there is mixed views on. If this blade were 440C with a RC of 57 or better this would be a solid blade even at this price. It is also generally accepted that anything listed simply as 440 to be 440A.
Depending on your usage, go for VG10. It's a well rounded steel and user friendly. But with all blade products, the knife is only as sharp as how much care you put into it. You'll be sharpening VG10 weekly, imo.
I'd shoot for a Spyderco Paramilitary 2 in VG10, or Dragonfly 2 if PM2 is too big for you. Don't go into ZDP steel or anything harder unless you have diamond stones to sharpen your blades.
The composition is very different between the two http://knifeinformer.com/knife-steel-composition-chart/
Both are great steels if you don't mind touching up your blade regularly but they're noticeably different.