Ok, a lot of people are selling 440 stainless steel knives out there. Well I have some news for you, not all 440 is the same. There are 3 grades of 440. A, B, and C. The first 2 aren't ment for knife making but are cheaper than 440 C stainless. A lot of manufacturers will list it as 440 but not the grade (a,b,c) so you think you are getting a great knife but what you are really getting is a blade comparable to 420 stainless. If it doesnt say 440 C stainless, it usually is of the lesser grade metals. These metals do have great purposes but not for knives. The only way to know if the C isn't there is to have it metalurgicly tested. Believe it or not, you could make a better knife than 440 A stainless by just getting a leaf spring from a car, flatening it, and making a knife. It won't be rust proof but it will hold a fantastic edge.