I don't know if it is harder, that would depend on the heat treatment and tempering, but I do know that it is abrasion resistant. It also tends to gall when machined if tool bits aren't really sharp. In fact when Colt introduced their Government model 45 in stainless I read that they had to use a different alloy stainless for the slide and the frame. The rails tended to gall if the same alloy was used for both. I agree that any hone will cut stainless with patience and persistence.