A2, M2, D2

Rhesus Feces

Rhesus Feces

bombastic simpleton
Joined
Jun 9, 2002
Messages
11,876
Compare, contrast, talk amongst yourselves, :)

I'm specifically interested in A2, as I'm considering a Kit Carson neck knife with A2, and I don't know nuthin' much about it.

Thanks
 
I own a couple of blades made of A2 and what I've noticed most is that, although it will rust, it doesn't seem to be quite as prone to rust as 1095, 52100, 5160 or 01.

The A2 knives I have both hold an edge at least as well as the 440C blades I have experience with.

I have a Knives of Alaska D2 knife which is one of my favorites...I have been using it to clean fish for years and never needed to resharpen it...I really like D2.

I have no experince with M2, but I think Benchmade has used it for some of its AFCK's so I suspect it has something good going for it.
 
Look what I found. :)

A8%20compare.gif
 
All I had to do was a right click on the red x and then clicked on open. I now have a picture of the graph.

I like A2. It is a good, tough steel. It is not stainless, but is fairly resistant to rust. May not hold an edge as well as some, but does pretty well there too.
 
I got it here:

Timken steel

It's the best technical resource I've seen. But industrial tests can differ from practical knife applications, nor do they take into account non-standard heat treating. Wear resistance for example is usually measured by grinding a steel plate with a standard abrasive and weighing the steel afterwards.

These results are generally in the right ballpark but they are not the end all be all.
 
Hi Hey Rhesus Feces...

I LOVE A2 ! Steels have characteristics that are not
NOT reflected in stats and A2 has a great big bunch of wonderfully AGRESSIVE edge. f the knives that I have owned for years, the ones that sharpen to an edge that I really love to use are of A2, O170-6C, any of the Hitachi carbon steels that Murray Carter uses in his kitchen cutlery, Carbon V and an honorable mention to well heat treated 1095,and D2.

Of the steels I have less experience with, I find 52100 very interesting, and D2 a little less so.

Of course you are showwing an excess of good taste in your choice of maker... Kit makes 'em really, really good. I have a couple of Kit's hand mades and I own none finer !

All Best
Ethan
 
How about 3V steel, I`m buying a blade constructed of it. Does anyone have an idea of how it would compare agianst the steels shown on the chart.
The chart is a great graphic by the way, a picture is worth a thousand words.


.45acp
 
WOW, Ethan Becker, nice to see you here!!
I see you registered back in 99' but haven't seen you here till now.
You make some GREAT blades!!
 
Well thanks for the info folks, I really appreciate the links, graphs, and opinions.

And a special thanks to Mr. Becker for putting a $130 dent in my wallet :D If a man of you experience LOVES to use it, should be plenty good enough for little ol' me!

BTW, I'm a big fan of the BK&T line of knives and I'm eagerly anticipating the new BK9, a pleasure to "meet" you!

Thanks again one and all.
 
Of the steels you mentioned I have only used D2 and A2. They are both great steels. They are both very tough. In my experience, D2 has been more stain resistant than A2, but only slightly. They will both rust, but for me A2 rusts easier.

A2 holds one hell of a wicked edge! I have a Greco Companion made of that stuff and the thing is beyond scary sharp. It is one of the sharpest knives I own. A2 is also easy to sharpen. D2 seems a little harder to sharpen to me, but I am only speaking from my own experience. YMMV. They are both excellent steels and in my opinion, you could not go wrong with either one.
 
Hi Hey Rhesus Feces....

I am so pleased to help you spend your money and I am glad if you are not spending it on a BK&T you are spending it with a worthwhile maker and on a worthwhile knife. I have one of Kit's
neck knives and it is a pretty piece for sure!

BTW thanks to Emanual for the nice welcome..I finally bought one of these silicon filled boxes for my very own and as soon as I am more comfortable using it you will probably get sick of seeing me!

All Best...

Ethan
 
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