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Am I the only one that prefers Nitro-V steel to D2?

T

Tajbral

Joined
Mar 1, 2024
Messages
92
It's too bad that knife manufacturers make so many knives in D2 these days. So many times I have passed on a beautifully executed knife because it only comes in D2 blade steel. I don't like that. I know that D2 is cheap steel. That said, I really like the knives that I own that have come in Nitro-V and AEB-L steel blades. Take a Vosteed or a Kizer for instance. I have Vosteed Nitro V Nightshade knife and the steel is awesome. I edc the knife all the time. It may not have as good a steel as the elmax version, but it's way better than D2 stuff. I wish Kershaw would stop making so many of their knives in D2. I like AUS-8 better than D2.
 
D2 is a go-to steel for a couple of reasons for some makers, it's inexpensive, very tough, and holds an edge reasonably well, and for a long enough time for most casual users. Nitro-V is good steel also, and AEBL is incredibly tough.

You're entirely welcome to not like D2, plenty of knives out there in steels you like. That said, I will say that I'm glad that Kershaw and other inexpensive knife makers are using D2 because it's better than 8cr in my experience.

Also, well done CPM-D2 is a different matter altogether.
 
What year is this?

I don't come across tons of D2 by and large. (Nor is Nitro-V or AEB-L on lots of menus...but I suppose I'm looking at different makers than you are.)

I used to have to ask makers to use D2 or later CPM D2. Haven't had a new one in D2 in several years, though. (I like AEB-L, but have no experience with Nitro-V)
 
Blues said:
What year is this?

I don't come across tons of D2 by and large. (Nor is Nitro-V or AEB-L on lots of menus...but I suppose I'm looking at different makers than you are.)

I used to have to ask makers to use D2 or later CPM D2. Haven't had a new one in D2 in several years, though. (I like AEB-L, but have no experience with Nitro-V)
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I have been looking at lower budget offerings mostly in Civivi, Kizer, Kershaw, and Vosteed, but they are all higher in price than they used to be. I do have one D2 knife I bought from Kershaw. It wasn't that inexpensive though. It is the Iridium. I don't know what year it came out, but I hadn't seen it before.
 
Tajbral said:
I have been looking at lower budget offerings mostly in Civivi, Kizer, Kershaw, and Vosteed, but they are all higher in price than they used to be. I do have one D2 knife I bought from Kershaw. It wasn't that inexpensive though. It is the Iridium. I don't know what year it came out, but I hadn't seen it before.
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Gotcha. I suspected we were looking at the knives from different makers.

We all have our pet favorites, but fine knives can be made of even what are considered "lesser" steels as long as the heat treat and the grind are well done.

And you can always make a suggestion to the companies.
 
I agree with ya....I prefer aus8 to d2 and pretty much most other knife used steels. im not a d2 fan at all. it's okay....does what it needs to do, but given same knife in different steel choice..... im always picking the other choice.
 
Tajbral said:
I have been looking at lower budget offerings mostly in Civivi, Kizer, Kershaw, and Vosteed, but they are all higher in price than they used to be. I do have one D2 knife I bought from Kershaw. It wasn't that inexpensive though. It is the Iridium. I don't know what year it came out, but I hadn't seen it before.
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Those were....last year, I believe. I also have an Iridium, and it's not too bad as a cheap knife to keep in the center console of your ride for those rare days where you may have forgotten to bring a knife. I would say that there's now an auto available in Magnacut which is a superior knife all around, though of course, at over twice the price.
 
D2 is fine. I've seen it mentioned that the reason it's cheap is that it's widely available, and it's widely available because it's cheap. It was a premium tool steel until recently, and it only considered inferior because better powdered steel technologies have come along. That's just what I hear, though. I like it for being easy to sharpen on blades that I don't mind abusing. Because it's cheap.

I don't have anything in Nitro-v that I recall, and I haven't used AEB-L enough to form a preference.
 
Blues said:
Gotcha. I suspected we were looking at the knives from different makers.

We all have our pet favorites, but fine knives can be made of even what are considered "lesser" steels as long as the heat treat and the grind are well done.

And you can always make a suggestion to the companies.
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I'm hoping that all the knife companies read the Blade Forums threads! :)
 
D2 is Not a cheap steel.

1/4" thick x 2" D2 $56 per foot
1/4" thick x 2" Nitro V $32 per foot

Edit to add....
I Love Nitro V/AEB-L....and I Love good D2
Nitro can get a thinner, finer, lower angle edge.
But Ingot D2 is Very toothy.

This edc fixed blade pattern I call "No Love"
This particular one is D2 Ingot, specially treated and Cryo....it Cuts & Cuts....
Only problem is it's ole timey, with a Lignum Vitae wood....I keep dropping it. :/








 
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IDK man, I'm not seeing that much D2 anymore... I mean even the useage of AUS8 is going down lately...

I see a lot more of S35VN, M390, 3V and MagnaCut, useage of these steels is increasing in my experience
 
EatingSarma said:
IDK man, I'm not seeing that much D2 anymore... I mean even the useage of AUS8 is going down lately...

I see a lot more of S35VN, M390, 3V and MagnaCut, useage of these steels is increasing in my experience
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D2 was very popular 10-15 years ago. Not so much now. Chinese D2 is questionable at best. It could really be anything.
 
Depends on the heat treat of the D2.
D2 can be heat treated to 61HRC, and at that hardness will give S30V and S35VN competition for edge retention. Benchmade used to heat Treat D2 blades to that hardness.
Ontario RAT 1 D2 blades are/were heat treated to the mid to medium high 50s. At that harness, the steel is fair edge retention but definitely has lower edge retention than any of the S30V knives I've tested.
 
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