The microhardness and the structural characteristics of the chemically vapor deposited TiN film on the 430 stainless steel substrate have been investigated with various deposition parameters such as the deposition time, the total flow rate, the flow rate ratio $(H_2/N_2)$, and the deposition temperature. The most important factor to affect the microhardness of the TiN film in this study was the denseness of the structure in connection with the degree of the lattice strain. The relationship between the lattice parameter changes and the grain size variation under all deposition conditions generally followed the grain boundary relaxation model. The (111) preferred orientation prevailed in the early stage of the deposition conditions, however, the (200) preferred orientation was developed in the later stage. The surface morphology at optimum conditions displayed a dense diamond shaped structure and the microhardness of the films was high (1700-2400Hv) regardless of the type of the substrates used.