440C Stainless Steel

440C Stainless Steel

Quick look

  • Hardness window: 58–60 HRC after proper tempering.
  • Toughness: Chromium carbides provide solid wear resistance with forgiving toughness for daily salon abuse.
  • Corrosion profile: High chromium stainless; resists humidity and color bowls if cleaned promptly.
  • Weight/feel: Mid-weight forged blank; confidence-inspiring heft without overloading wrists.

Why it matters

440C is the stainless workhorse that built modern pro shears. The alloy balances carbon (~1%) and chromium (~17%) so bevel or semi-convex edges keep cutting for months, yet the steel stays easy to service. When the heat treat is dialed in, 440C handles everything from blunt club cutting to point detailing without the price tag of powder steels.

Shear pairing & edge compatibility

  • Semi-convex 5.5–6.0 in cutters: Bread-and-butter for stylists rotating between wet and dry clients all day.
  • Micro-serrated bevels: The chromium carbides hold serrations well, stopping slippage on men’s crops and coarse lobs.

Technique map

  • Scissor-over-comb on dense fades; the backbone keeps blades from flexing.
  • Everyday precision bobs and layers in busy commission salons.
  • Back-to-back blowout finishing where predictable bite beats ultra-glassy glide.

Real-world stress tests

  • Edge retention: Count on roughly 700–1,000 salon cuts (~4–5 weeks at 25 cuts/day) before your sharpener should see them. Japan Scissors positions 440C as a pro-tier steel that lasts significantly longer than 420 grades, while AZoM’s wear data confirms the carbide loadout.
  • Impact/drop resilience: Softer than cobalt alloys, so dropped points usually roll instead of chipping—most nicks can be reset without losing blade length.
  • Weight & in-hand feel: Density lands around 7.7 g/cm³, giving a grounded feel that steadies long blades without taxing swivel users.

Maintenance notes

Wipe after each client; chromium protects but trapped moisture will spot. Keep pivots lubricated and retension weekly—440C likes a slightly firmer set than VG steels. Schedule sharpening every quarter in high-volume shops; specify finish stone work so the edge stays polished rather than over-abraded.

Industry snapshot

  • Yasaka 440C Series: Japanese-forged semi-convex shears trusted by barbers and cosmetologists for dependable edge life.

Trade-offs

  • Doesn’t match the glassy slide of VG-10 or ATS-314—expect a little more drag on dry detailing.
  • Edge life depends heavily on source mill; cheap 440C knockoffs may be underhardened.
  • Requires consistent maintenance—neglect will dull the chromium carbides fast.

Sources

Related: Edge Types • Steel Types • Scissor Maintenance

Related Steel types