1.4116 steel is the same steel as the 416 Krupp that Cold Steel is pushing in some of their knives, it's the same steel in many of the high dollar knives from Puma, and it's very similar to the stainless that Victorinox uses in Swiss Army knives. It will take a great edge with little effort. Retention is so-so, in my experience. In that Kershaw knife, it's going to do just about anything you ask of it.
Kershaw is my favorite folding knife company by far.
440A gets a bad rap as a cheap steel. While not the best edge holder, it's a very tough stainless. SOG uses it in the Seal 2000 and Seal Pup knives. Kabar uses it in the Next Generation knives. Kershaw still does several of their folders in it too. They all have their heat treats spot on to get the most out of the steel.
Before Gerber was bought by Fiskars, their 440A was spot on too. When Fiskars bought the company and moved so much of the production overseas, it seems that the quality of the blades is lacking. The knives that are made in the USA are pretty good. The others.....eh, it's a toss up. I've always thought that the Steadfast just looked like an uncomfortable knife. I thought that back when it was called the LMF too (pre-Fiskars).
Do you have a specific use in mind, or are they just going to be eye candy for the collection? They are knives designed with two different purposes.
