Batoning with D-2 Steel?

[borrowed time]

i have a Kershaw Outcast in D-2 tool steel. i realize that D-2 is "brittle" as its the same as files. if i try to baton with my Outcast what's the likelyhood of breaking it?

 

[Ankerson]

It could handle the smaller stuff, but I wouldn't try and split anything really thick with it and you should be fine.

I would say keep it 3" and under to be safe.

 

[seth2915]

I have an Outcast.

When I got it, I realized the grind on the false edge was asymmetrical. So I fixed it. Then I realized I would like it better without the false edge, so I ground it down (kept the heat treat and didn't get it too hot).

Then I found the grind wasn't off, the knife was slightly bent. So I built a straigntening jig in the vice and fixed.

THen I took it outside and threw it at a tree for awhile. I used to be decent, but I had gotten out of practice at that point.

It stayed in one piece through all of this. My experience is this knife is plenty tough for batoning as long as you don't use a hammer.

BTW, files are generally W-1, not D-2. And W-1 can make a decent knife as long as you draw it down to the upper 50s.

 

[borrowed time]

Thank you very much , makes me feel better about my purchase! and thanks for setting me straight on the file steel.

 

[t1mpani]

Factory geometry on the outcast tends towards the ridiculously thick. Its cutting ability is certainly questionable, but it should baton/split just fine in terms of durability.