Benchmade D2 and Swamp Rat D2

mathman

mathman

Joined
Jul 1, 2005
Messages
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For those who are more knowledgeable than me, how does the D2 steels from Benchmade and Swamp Rat compare? I mean, are they essentially the same? It seems that D2 is a very good steel (if corrosion resistance is not a top priority).
 
I heard that some steels like D2 and S30V were not good for knives over 6 inches. Rust should not be a problem with D2 because it is almost stainless.
A good steel that does not get any credit is 440C
I would bet that D2 from Benchmade or Swamprat are exactly the same and probably even from the same supplier. Even if from different supplier the steel could be exactly the same but how it is heat treated is more important.
 
It will take someone who has owned knives from each maker to tell for certain, I suspect.

There is a high probability that each firm performs a different heat treatment, which affect the performance.

I have had no issues with Benchmade's older D2 knives (model 806) and have yet to read anything negative in regards to Swamprat's D2.
 
Unsub said:
I heard that some steels like D2 and S30V were not good for knives over 6 inches. Rust should not be a problem with D2 because it is almost stainless.
A good steel that does not get any credit is 440C
I would bet that D2 from Benchmade or Swamprat are exactly the same and probably even from the same supplier. Even if from different supplier the steel could be exactly the same but how it is heat treated is more important.
Click to expand...

S30V not good for longer blades.. that I have heard, but D2 not good for longer blade? Have not heard of that one... would be good if someone could confirm...
 
Not what you are asking I know but I have a Ka-Bar Impact spear Point in D2 and has held up far better than I expected.The blade came razor sharp and and never needs sharpening.....and yes I do use it before you ask !!!!
 
mathman said:
For those who are more knowledgeable than me, how does the D2 steels from Benchmade and Swamp Rat compare? I mean, are they essentially the same? It seems that D2 is a very good steel (if corrosion resistance is not a top priority).
Click to expand...




I don't have any Swamp Rat knives, but I live in a very damp environment, and my D2 BMs have never shown any trace of rust corrosion whatsoever.
 
I don't know where anyone gets this nonsense about D2 not being suitable for longer blades.

Maybe the individual who posted that ought to call Bob Dozier and let him know.....:rolleyes:
 
I think the concern about D2 and long blades is due to the high chromium content of D2, which makes it more brittle than low chromium carbon steel, and thus more prone to breakage, like stainless steel. But I am not sure how long is too long. Maybe you would not want to make a sword from D2, just as no one uses stainless steel for sword blades (except for the cheap non-functional swords).
 
Thanks. I have heard good things about D2 and I may buy a BM Drop Point Hunter in D2. It's relatively inexpensive for a fixed blade with a sheath (approximately $80) and so I was just curious about the quality of D2. I know that Swamp Rat's D2 is highly regarded by many...and so I wondered if BM's D2 was similar.
 
mathman said:
Thanks. I have heard good things about D2 and I may buy a BM Drop Point Hunter in D2. It's relatively inexpensive for a fixed blade with a sheath (approximately $80) and so I was just curious about the quality of D2. I know that Swamp Rat's D2 is highly regarded by many...and so I wondered if BM's D2 was similar.
Click to expand...

I have a Swamp Rat D2 blade (Bog Dog), or rather I did until my wife discovered it and it now lives in the kitchen knife drawer. LOL

It seems to me, D2 is D2 until you get to the heat treat.

Busse's heat treatment of both D2 and SR101 (52100) seems to make both perform way beyond what other makers get.

I'm talking production here, not custom, or people who specialize in these 2 particular steels.

Rob
 
It was on the Busse or swamprat forum I read about D2 and longer knives.
If I was going to do alot of prying and chopping with my kbar I would stick with 1095 if edge retention was more important D2 would be better at that.
Just because some steels have different strengths and weaknesses does not make one crap.
 
I wonder if D2 is any more brittle than common stainless steels like ATS-34 and 440C? There are plenty of large knives (7-9 inch blades) made in those stainless steels, but I haven't seen any reports claiming breakage is a problem with them.
 
Don't get mad at me I read it at the swampshack steel FAQ. For a chopper like a swamprat I can see it but I would have no problem with a 9 inch D2 santuko
or chefs knife.
 
I don't think anybody's mad at you. I was just observing that while it has been said that D2 is too brittle for large knives, I have yet to see complaints about large D2 knives breaking. I am pretty sure we would see threads about it here on Bladeforums if members were experiencing breakages.

On the other hand, it could be that people are more careful with their D2 knives (except for bennytheblade), and this is why we don't hear about breakages.
 
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