Recently I bought Bleach's Grimmjow's replica sword from swordsswords and I was wondering how strong is 440 steel when used for a 21 inch blade? Can it cut effectively? Is it dangerous?
That is intended for display only. In other words it is useless for any other purpose. Stainless steel is only good for short knives. As it does not hold an edge and is not very strong.
You were seriously ripped off. I own a 440 stainless sword that I paid $29 for on eBay. It ain't a half bad sword actually, and like you said, I have never failed to cut straw mats with it. The 440 stainless is about as good as you can get without paying for a folded steel katana. However, I also own a Bugei company folded steel katana and the difference is night and day. The balance is better, the edge is incredible (you could literally shave with it) and there's just something....ELSE. There's a different FEEL. It's like the difference between using a tool and a weapon. As far as the shingami, again, you were ripped off. You can buy a traditional shingami from eBay and actually get it from a reputable company and not take your chances with the stuff you find at a mall. Even then, you will only pay maybe $50-$75 for a good set including shipping. Generally speaking, nothing you get from a mall or COULD get from a mall will be as good as something from a reputable company like Bugei. However, like in the case of your katana, some things might be good ENOUGH for you. However, you do need to look around and do some price checking before you drop that much money for anything. Hope this helps... Sensei Cox
440 is stainless steel, and isn't designed for functional swords. Carbon steel blades are. I'd say that if you're looking for a functional sword, forget about this one. It's probably a wall-hanger. Most swords today are.
440 Steel is a grade of stainless steel, which is normally a very bad thing, as stainless steel tends to shatter more easily than regular steel. 440 grade is tougher than most other forms of stainless steel, though, and is used for knifeblades and surgical tools. Thing is, it is still prone to shattering from hard impact, which is something that a knife or surgical tool would not encounter. It will cut fine, and can be dangerous as any other bladed tool. However, if it were to hit bone, another blade, or any other rigid object, it is likely to shatter. So, no, it isn't the best kind of steel for an actual sword, though you shouldn't be using your sword in swordfights anyways, so you don't need to worry about it.
