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

[DMG]

I have always thought D2 was somewhat subpar unless Dozier did it. It has been so long since I had a D2 knife that I don't really remember why. I think it chipped and rusted?

 

[Blues]

I have always thought D2 was somewhat subpar unless Dozier did it. It has been so long since I had a D2 knife that I don't really remember why. I think it chipped and rusted?

To be honest, many excellent makers have worked with D2...to include "Kit" Carson, Rob Simonich, Nathan Carothers, Dan Farr, Ken Erickson, and several others who don't come immediately to mind in my currently uncaffeinated state.

While Bob Dozier is someone I'm proud to have been a friend of, it would be unfair to consider him the only maker whose work with D2 was worthy. Though I'm definitely a fan.

 

[DMG]

To be honest, many excellent makers have worked with D2...to include "Kit" Carson, Nathan Carothers, Dan Farr, Ken Erickson, and several others who don't come immediately to mind in my currently uncaffeinated state.

While Bob Dozier is someone I'm proud to have been a friend of, it would be unfair to consider him the only maker whose work with D2 was worthy. Though I'm definitely a fan.

I did not know that, thanks for the info. I guess Doziers affinity for D2 left me thinking that he was the D2 guy.

 

[Blues]

I did not know that, thanks for the info. I guess Doziers affinity for D2 left me thinking that he was the D2 guy.

Well, he certainly earned his rep. He made me a wonderful gift of the only convex ground blade he had ever made up to that point in time several years ago. He was adamantly opposed to convex vs "V" grinds, but ended up impressing himself.

 

[Crag the Brewer]

Well, he certainly earned his rep. He made me a wonderful gift of the only convex ground blade he had ever made up to that point in time several years ago. He was adamantly opposed to convex vs "V" grinds, but ended up impressing himself.

Did he ever give any reasoning?
Seems weird, id think convex would be so much better at supporting those large chonky carbides?

 

[Blues]

Did he ever give any reasoning?
Seems weird, id think convex would be so much better at supporting those large chonky carbides?

On another, (outdoor related), forum we tried to convince him of the utility of a convex grind for bushcraft and other usage, but not remembering specifically now, I think it's more that he cut his teeth on the "V" grind and being able to precisely measure angles etc...but being the guy he is, he agreed to produce a convex blade and test it himself as well as send it to some of us.

After he gifted it to me, I had one member of that forum put a handle on it, and another make a leather sheath.

 

[Crag the Brewer]

On another, (outdoor related), forum we tried to convince him of the utility of a convex grind for bushcraft and other usage, but not remembering specifically now, I think it's more that he cut his teeth on the "V" grind and being able to precisely measure angles etc...but being the guy he is, he agreed to produce a convex blade and test it himself as well as send it to some of us.

After he gifted it to me, I had one member of that forum put a handle on it, and another make a leather sheath.

View attachment 2935425View attachment 2935426

Great looking knife.
Looks very useful, and his style carries over strong.
I never had the pleasure of his work, but I admire it alot!
Someday I'd like (I can't remember the model) something like basic buffalo series?
Rounded, full grip handle, metal guard. Simple yet almost elegant.

 

[Blues]

This was a proto (at the time) of a design he was going to produce for A.G. Russell. I bought it from Bob at a Blade Show many moons ago:

 

[SwissHeritageCo]

I've had an unusually difficult time deburring D2 (chinese D2 that is).

 

[ncbuckeye3]

Bob is an amazing guy. He dropped out of high school and got his GED later, and I would consider him one of the most educated people I have ever met. He dedicated himself to whatever trade he was in, whether it was his time as a Union Ironworker or a Knifemaker. For fun he would read Metalurgy textbooks to learn all he could. When he started having me over to the shop about a year ago and we started talking about heat treating and different steels, he bought me a college textbook called Metalurgy, it is sitting beside me right now. He almost has it memorized.

I saw JB Stout at Blade Texas this year, he told me about e-mailing Bob years ago asking him about heat-treating D2. Bob wrote back "it took me years to get it down pat, I hope it doesn't take you as long."

The first time I heat treated D2, I called him and he was not available, at a casino with his girlfriend. I called Chris Taylor and went over what I was going to do and got a decent heat treat. Bob called later that night and I told him what I did. He said, next time do this and I proceeded to write down every word he said and that has been my D2 recipe since then. I take it to the Springdale shop to Rockwell test it and I get the exact same numbers he does. I use D2 for the hidden tang knives he has taught me to make.

I also use AEB-L and Nitro-V because those are about the cheapest steels you can find. D2 is quite a bit more to purchase than those two. D2 needs more care because it is not quite a stainless but it is a good steel. Bob has the first lock back folder he ever made in his trophy room at the house. We looked at it the other day and I think we are going to make a slip joint version of it and plan to do it in D2.

Anyone still reading this, he will be at the Natural State Knife Show in Rogers, AR the next two days so if you want to meet him come by. He is going to be 85 in October so there won't be many more opportunities to see him at shows any longer. We will be going to Louisiana in Sep and he plans to go to Blade Texas in March and these may be the last ones other than the occasional local gun shows that he hits at various times.