440C / X105CrMo17 vs 420C / X46Cr13: Both high-carbon martensitic stainless — 440C reaches highest hardness
440C / X105CrMo17 vs 420C / X46Cr13
Side-by-side chemical composition and mechanical property comparison.
Overview
440C / X105CrMo17
1.4125
Highest-hardness standard martensitic stainless steel. Achieves 57-60 HRC — the hardest commonly available stainless grade. Excellent wear resistance from chromium carbides. Used for bearings, races, valve components, surgical instruments, high-end cutlery, and precision molds.
420C / X46Cr13
1.4034
High-carbon martensitic stainless steel. Higher hardness than 410 (up to 56 HRC). The standard knife steel for European cutlery. Used for kitchen knives, pocket knives, surgical scalpels, machine blades, roller bearings, and valve components. Not weldable.
| 440C / X105CrMo17 | 420C / X46Cr13 | |
|---|---|---|
| Material Number | 1.4125 | 1.4034 |
| Category | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Standard | EN 10088-3 | EN 10088-3 |
Chemical composition (wt%)
| Element | 440C / X105CrMo17 | 420C / X46Cr13 | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 0.95–1.2% | 0.43–0.5% | No overlap |
| Si | 0–1% | 0–1% | OK |
| Mn | 0–1% | 0–1% | OK |
| P | 0–0.04% | 0–0.04% | OK |
Mechanical properties
| Property | 440C / X105CrMo17 | 420C / X46Cr13 | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| hardness_hrc | 57–60 | 50–56 | HRC |
| tensile_strength | ≥ 690 | — | MPa |
| yield_strength | ≥ 440 | — | MPa |
Compatibility Assessment
440C has nearly double the C content (0.95-1.20% vs 0.43-0.50%), reaching 57-60 HRC vs ~54 HRC. 440C has more Mo for pitting resistance. Choose 440C for bearings/max wear; 420C for cutlery/general use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 440C / X105CrMo17 the same as 420C / X46Cr13?
440C / X105CrMo17 and 420C / X46Cr13 have a 60% composition overlap. Both high-carbon martensitic stainless — 440C reaches highest hardness
Can I replace 440C / X105CrMo17 with 420C / X46Cr13?
Generally not recommended. The compositions differ significantly (60% overlap). These materials have different alloying concepts and are intended for different applications.
What is the difference between 440C / X105CrMo17 and 420C / X46Cr13?
The main differences are in the following elements: C, Cr. 440C / X105CrMo17 is a Stainless Steel grade, while 420C / X46Cr13 is a Stainless Steel grade.
Related Comparisons
View full data for each material:
Data provided for reference only. Always verify against the applicable specification for critical applications.
All data is for reference only. Equivalents indicate similarity, not identity. Always verify against the applicable specification for safety-critical applications. materialref.com accepts no liability for decisions based on this data.