154CM or D2????

I work in a warehouse where I cut down cardboard boxes, trim insulation off of computer & phone cabling, cut zip ties and nylon strapping, and occasionally attack the steel rack posts (accidentally). For fun I hike and camp in state parks and national forests (or on the Atlantic coast) with my dogs. Around the house, I open mail, dog food bags, cut more cardboard, and trim shrubs and decorative grasses.

I like 154CM's toughness (or maybe it's strength). Anyhow, I've never chipped or badly rolled a 154CM or ATS34 blade. It sharpens up pretty easily on my Sharpmaker and corrosion has never been a problem. I have less experience with D2, but the knives I have used in D2 had performed well on the tasks I listed above, giving better edge retention than the 154CM, but also being slightly more time consuming to touch up. No corrosion here, either, although for a trip to the coast, I'd probably take a knife with a different blade steel.

Speaking for myself, I would take a blade in either steel if I liked the knife.
 
both are good, D2 holds an edge a little better and 154 is easier to sharpen, both work just fine for most anything imho.
 
My little BM335 SE with D2 is a fine money clip and a great little knife. But, being in my pocket almost all the time the D2 will get little black rust spots, if I for get to open the blade and wipe it down now and then. So, given the way I use my BM335 I would prefer it to have a 154CM blade.

I've not had a problem with 154CM blades. Other than that BM335 with a D2 blade, that gets carried lots and seldom used as a knife, I've not had trouble D2.
 
I like em both . In a folder 154CM , due to stain resistance . In a FB , D2 , slightly superior edge holding .

Chris
 
personally, I have not had good l uck with 154CM. CPM154, on the other hand, has treated me well. Not sure why, but the 154cm was WAY too hard to sharpen. I found that getting an edge on it was tough and it didn't keep it long for me. It could have been poor heat treat.
D2, on the other hand, is one of my favorites. Can't go wrong and it holds an edge like crazy.

Brett
 
I have one knife in D2 (RAT-3) and cannot get its edge as sharp as I want. I have several in 154CM and each one satisfies me using no more than the Sharpmaker.

If you're a good to expert sharpener and have diamond stone, then I would say it's a toss-up. If you're a good to beginning sharpener, stay with 154CM.

That's my take.
 
154CM
-Stain resistance
-Edge retention/ blade toughness

This steel just seems to work better for me.. never had a problem with stains... And seems less prone to chipping.. And does sharpen very easily..
 
I had the choice of 154cm or D2 in the BM 710 at a knife dealer and I chose the 154cm. Nothing against the D2 I just prefer the 154cm for an all around performer:)
 
D2 and 154CM, two of the best blade steels available.

154CM is slightly more corrosion resistant and takes a somewhat keener edge.
D2 can get very sharp, though, and takes a sort of "toothy" edge which some prefer.
 
According to Crucible, the makers of CPM steels, CPM D2 is twice as tough as conventional D2. And because of its much finer grain structure, resulting from their powder metallurgy process, it can take on a much finer edge. I have found this to be true in the way of continuing use of a Spyderco Military with CPM D2. If you put its edge to a diamond benchstone of 1200 grit or finer, you can get much better than a toothy micro serrated edge finish. I do not notice any more difficulty in the sharpening process. Stain resistance is not any different though. A small trade off I can live with. Good stuff so far...

N.

www.dozierknives.com/forum
 
rifon2 said:
D2 can get very sharp, though, and takes a sort of "toothy" edge which some prefer.
Click to expand...

That was my experience for awhile too and I did like the sharp toothy edge as well. But with some work I got a sharper more polished edge on D2 than with 154CM. If the work required of the knife between sharpenings isn't enough to seriously dull the blade, I've found that maintaining the edge is actually easier with D2, requiring a short amount of time using an ultra-fine ceramic rod. With 154CM, when only moderately dull, I seem to need to work first with a coarser material and then repolish with ultra-fine ceramic. But if the knife gets used hard and blunted to the point that it barely cuts an apple, than restoring the edge with 154CM is quicker and easier. Just my experience.
 
What I will be using it for determines, which I pick. EDC folders is 154CM for the reasons others listed. If the only fixed blade choices I had were 154 and D2 I would pick D2.
 
paulhilborn said:
I had the choice of 154cm or D2 in the BM 710 at a knife dealer and I chose the 154cm.
Click to expand...

I had the same choice as Paul, but chose the D2, just because I'd never had a D2 blade before. Haven't had any problems with it yet (got the knife last November).
My BM551 Grip is in 154CM, and I've never had problems with it either.

Cheers
Dave
 
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