A2- experiences on knives

Blop

Blop

Joined
Mar 7, 2003
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Hi,

i would like to know your experiences about A2-steel on knives.

Means: How good does it hold an edge, sharpening, how good is the edge it takes, aso.

Only thing i know about this steel is the composition of alloys and that it is used for combat knives, because of it´s toughness.

But, what about the other properties. Would be helpful to compare it to other steels you know.

First or second hand experience is very welcome.
 
Blop,

I have a bamboo kwaiken from Piorek of bladerigger thats my favorite fixed blade. It's A-2.

A really good kniofe steel, holds an edge a long time and as well, easily sharpened when necessary to do so.

I like the high carbon tool steels the best and A-2 is one of the favorites.

If heat treated properly, A-2 is tough as nails on a using knife.

Brownie
 
If corrosion is not a big concern(A2 is not even close to stainless), then properly heat treated A2 is about as good as a steel needs to be. Takes and holds a wicked edge, and is pretty tough. Tougher than the average knife user needs. You would have to really try to mess up an A2 blade.
 
From the steel FAQ:

"A-2
An excellent air-hardening tool steel, it is known for its great toughness and good edge holding. As an air-hardening steel, so don't expect it to be differentially tempered. Its outstanding toughness makes it a frequent choice for combat knives. Chris Reeve and Phil Hartsfield both use A-2, and Blackjack made a few models from A-2."
 
A2 takes a particularly fine edge. It is easier to sharpen than M2 or D2. It seems to stain or tarnish as easily as basic carbon steel alloys.
 
I don't know about the FAQ, but I have a supposedly differntially treated A2 pocket knife made by Sean Perkins. It holds an edge very well. It will rust in a heartbeat if not cleaned after use and occasionally oiled or waxed. Don't store the knife in the sheath. The rust is never too severe and can be easily removed.
 
I have an A2 folder a Carson M4. I carry it almost every day. It really holds it's edge great, takes about the sharpest edge I have seen, and at a high 59 rc is very tough. I haven't had any corrosion problems with it with minimal care. In short I really like this steel.
 
My most used and cherished big knife is a Rinaldi Armageddon in A2. It's super tough and holds an excellent edge. While I haven't had much of a rust problem, it will get tiny freckles that will wipe right off. I've also owned several of the Reeve fixed blades in A2. It's probably my favorite steel.
 
A couple blips for perspective:

Ed Severson
I'll give you a little background on how we designed [CPM]3V (I'm one of their metallurgists).

In tool steels with any type of wear [resistance], A-2 is about as tough as you can get. For better toughness you have to give up all wear [resistance] and go with S-7. If you look at the properties of A-2 vs S-7 there is a big gap between the two. 3V was designed to have as much wear resistance with as close to the toughness of S-7 as we could get.

3V has about 2/3 of the toughness of S-7 and wear equal to or slightly better than D-2. Corrosion is about equal to D-2 but still not comparable to stainless.
Click to expand...

That's as much an advertisement that while A2 is a fine steel, 3V is a little better.

I'd have to dig to find it, but Phil Wilson indicated to me in an Email that Bob Loveless told Wilson that if he hadn't been so completely committed to making a stainless knife, Loveless would have used A2 since it was such a fine edge holder, yet tough. That got Wilson to look at A2, and then on to CPM 3V, and so on into the CPM's.

Per at least some of Crucible's data, A2 has a toughness peak around Rc60... it has a double hump, the toughness peaks again around Rc57 (this admittedly on unspecified size of material samples, and from my memory). So a tough blade at Rc60 should make a very fine tool.

Until RJ Martin got onto 3V, he found that A2 was an optimal steel for his chisel ground blades... tough enough to stand up to the "zero grind" of his Japanese Kozuka... shallow (small) angle edge, tough enough to make a good steel choice.

So, A2 is good stuff... especially where toughness and abrasion resistance are both required and corrosion resistance is not. 3V probably beats it in toughness and matches or beats in edge holding, but at a significantly higher cost, typically.

(If any of those people's names above are new to you, suffice to say that many here on the forums, and among the knife buying public, will find them to be quite reputable)
 
My Chris Reeve Shadow III takes a great edge, holds it and with the Kal-Gard takes the worries away.
 
My CRK fixed employs A2 steel. Great steel IMHO. Very very easy to sharpen, takes a razor edge, but stains (like other carbon steel).

I've heard good things about 3V, but never actualy used a 3V knife. So, I can't say for sure about something I haven't experienced myself.
 
My Criswell katana is A2, and it is amazing!

BTW, it is differentially heat-treated, and it doesn't have any problems with corosion.
 
I only have one knife with an A2 blade, but it seems like a good steel. It's really easy to sharpen, gets very sharp, and holds an edge well.

My A2 knife is a Sean Perkins hunter. It appears to be differentially tempered; I etched the blade and an irregular hamon line is now visible on it.
 
Cerulean, do you know if Sean is still making customs or not? I have a couple of his smaller blades in A-2 and they are really nice for odd jobs. BTW, I've never had any problems with rust/corrosion.
 
Hmm... I don't know if Sean Perkins is still making knives. I was going to ask that question myself! :)

Unfortunately, I think he may be out of the business. If that's the case, it would be a shame. His knives were interesting, well made, and inexpensive.
 
Thanks for the input, but my knifemaker doesn´t use A2, or as it is called here 1.2363.

So i choosed a D2 and get it heat treated for secondary hardness level. The result is shown to the left.

But just in case, A2 sounds really amazing. It always made me curious because of the relative low alloy.
 
Originally posted by Blop
But just in case, A2 sounds really amazing. It always made me curious because of the relative low alloy.
Click to expand...
A2 is a good balance of edge holding and toughness. But it's performance is exceeded in every way by CPM 3V, except that 3V costs more.
 
Rdangerer That is a pretty bold statement. One of these days I am going to have to try 3V. I have been very happy with how A2 performs. I beleive it out preforms D2 and D2 is my favorite steel mainly because I know it more than anything else.
 
Originally posted by rdangerer
A2 is a good balance of edge holding and toughness. But it's performance is exceeded in every way by CPM 3V, except that 3V costs more.
Click to expand...

And is hard to purchase here...(look left).
 
Originally posted by db
Rdangerer That is a pretty bold statement. One of these days I am going to have to try 3V. I have been very happy with how A2 performs. I beleive it out preforms D2 and D2 is my favorite steel mainly because I know it more than anything else.
Click to expand...
A few makers use a good bit of 3V. Jerry Hossum, RJ Martin, Bailey Bradshaw, and I know Phil Wilson has worked with it a good bit. There are others of course.

Searches on BF via Hossum, Bradshaw, and Martin will turn up these maker's opinions if you want a bit more background.

One example:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=149122&highlight=cpm3v

This thread isn't about 3V, but gives you some idea how RJ approaches steel and heat treat, and materials properties. He's a materials engineer by training, was a design engineer for Sikorsky 'copters, now full time knifemaker. One of my favorite makers.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=107622&highlight=cpm3v
 
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