What is stronger, 440 stainless steel or surgical steel?

Question

Want to know for knives.

Answer 1

*440 stainless steel is a standard grade for surgical steel.

*Applications of 440 stainless steel:

·         Rolling element bearings

·         Valve seats

·         High quality knife blades

·         Surgical instruments

·         Chisels.

Answer 2

Typically, surgical steel is stainless 316, which is rated as high as 39 on the Rockwell hardness scale. However, stainless 440 rates as high as 58 on Rockwell, making it far harder (stronger) than 316 "surgical" steel. That said, 440 is sometimes used in medical applications when hardness is of concern, 316 is used when the deciding factor is cost.