AG Russell Deer Hunter - which steel to choose?

A

Aeneas

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Dec 24, 2001
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The AG Russell Deer Hunter is now available in VG-10 and D2 in addition to AUS8A. The AUS8A is $50; the VG-10 and D2 are $70. I'm leaning towards the VG-10. Any opinions? TIA
 
I've been thinking about this, too.
Always wanted to try a Deerhunter, and to try VG-10 as well. I need another knife about like I need cancer, but this one is hard to resist.
I can't help but think that the intended use should determine the steel. I see the VG-10 as choice for food prep, maybe use on game, stuff like that, because of its greater stain resistance, and ASSume that the D2 at the same hardness might have better edgeholding which would be something to think about for a working knife where corrosion isn't as big an issue. Those are just my impressions from what I've read, not from actual use.
I don't know how VG-10 stacks up vs D2 in toughness, having never used it, but would like to hear from some people who have.

To tell the truth, it seems like it would be a great knife in either steel, and I kind of wonder why it's being offered in both (maybe just because both of these steels seem to have a strong following?).
Feedback, feedback!
 
D2 has a much higher wear resistance than VG-10, neither are that tough. This is pretty much the ideal blade profile for D2. I would only go for the VG-10 for the extra corrosion resistance, a lot of acidic foods prep, saltwater work, or don't want to have to oil your blades.

-Cliff
 
If I answered without thinking, I'd just say -- D-2.

However, my own experiences with the Deerhunter are: whenever I go camping, everyone in camp borrows my Deerhunter instead of using their own knives, since the Deerhunter outperforms everything else that everyone else brings, period. Plus, with the swinger sheath, it's always clipped somewhere that's convenient for people to grab. [Obviously, this is for light camp use, not chopping down trees.]

Anyway, given how often it's used, and the fact that not all my fellow campers are a reverent about their knives as I am, I've become a fan of high-performance stainless for my light camp knife. As a result, I lean towards VG-10 here. It's a fine steel in its own right, and sharpens up easily to an astoundingly sharp edge.

Joe
 
A.G. never makes it easy to choose espcially with this knife.
My choice is easy. While I like and use all the steels offered
I would buy the Aus-8 version over the others. I find it is
much easier to sharpen with minimul equipment over the
other steels. An important point when I'm in the field and
may only have a rock to sharpen with. ;)
 
You may never get another chance to buy a moderately priced production knife that is nearly this well designed in D2 alloy. For that reason I'd go for the D2. It will cut like crazy and stay sharp a very long time. If you keep it away from crazy campmates it should be an incredible performer. (On the other hand it should be amazing with VG-10 and not much harder to sharpen than AUS-8). By the way, I helped talk AG into offering the Deer Hunter in these alloys. I plan to get both.
 
I would go , in fact I am going to go, with the VG-10. I like VG-10 better than any stainless I have tried, mainly because of the kind of edge I can put on it. It also hold its edge pretty well.

The D2 ought to be a dandy too. This is a case of not being able to go wrong either way.
 
Jeff Clark's post has made me change my mind. He's right -- an incredibly well-designed knife, in D-2. How often does this come around? If you're a knife nut, you probably owe it to yourself to have at least one D-2 knife in your collection, and I can't think of one I'd want more, unless it's a Dozier that cost double or triple the price.

Tough choice, I agree!

Joe
 
Decisions, decisions. I have been thinking about this question for a while, since I intend to get a Deer Hunter, as soon as I have the $'s to spend.
For hunting, I would choose D2, since rust is not a much of a problem, since I like to keep my hunting knives oiled in their sheaths until I need to use them (I use a SAK for utility), so that they are fully sharp.
For camping/hiking I would choose VG10 for the same reasons Joe mentioned. For my non-hunting outdoor activities, I would use the Deer Hunter as instead of an EDC folder for ultility, camp food prep and such, so I would be willing to give up a bit of edge holding for stainlessness (it is always nice to have more low maintenance gear in the "field").
I am sure I would be happy with the AUS8 version as well, but I prefer VG10.

- Frank
 
Isn't Dozier's heat treat a large part of what makes his D2 so good?How good is D2 without Dozier's HT? Anyone know where Russell's D2 comes from and what kind of HT it gets?
 
Ya, I don't think anyone is expecting Dozier-class heat treat. D-2 with competent heat treating is still a great performer though.
 
If I gave the Japanese the details of Dozier's heat treat then they would be able to use that for any of their customers. So the standard heat treat for D2 is used to yield 59-61 Rc.

Not Dozier but still, if I do say so, darn good.

A. G.
 
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