D-2 and other new things

Bob Taylor

Platinum Member
Joined
Dec 10, 1998
Messages
400
We have finished our testing and now with a few prototypes in peoples hands and their favorable testing we are going ahead with D-2 blades. This is a modified D-2, which holds a superior edge to ATS-34, and yes it will be a bit harder to sharpen. The shock resistance it is almost twice ATS-34. So far with the stonewashed finish corrosion resistance is close to if not as good as ATS-34. D-2 knives will be available in late 2000. We are marking them as D-2 Stain Resistant.
Jeff Randall will be taking a D-2 Carnivore to Peru for on site testing real world and from his favorable response in his testing so far it looks promising. So far according to Jeff it smoked VG-10 in corrosion resistance.
We are looking at 154CM as another alternative to ATS-34
The Carnivore Cub will be out soon, as will the new Savant the replacement for the Pioneer Series. Hopefully at the Blade Show


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Some days it's not worth chewing through the restraints and escaping.
 
WOW!!
A whole lotta good news!
Can't wait for the new products and can't wait to get me mitts on that modified D-2!
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The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.
Sun Tzu
 
Cool news Bob, std D2 is good stuff! I am sure this modififed D2 will be equally good, if not better.

Carnivour Cub should be HOT!
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I like the std Carny a lot, but is a bit big to use around work.
wink.gif


We look forward to the goodies!



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Ray 'md2020'

ATKI member #A001042
 
Oh boy! I can see it now. My first REKAT folder is gonna be a full size Carny in D-2 Mod. Sweet!
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iktomi
 
Thanks guys. I was all set to go out and get a Carnivore, but now you go and make my life more difficult! I just have to wait and see what the Savant looks like; not to mention the Carnivore Cub. How soon before the full size Carnivore is available in modified D-2?
That is unquestionably a better steel.
 
Hi Bob & Co.,
Is the Savant the D. Ralph design? I haven't heard anything else about them in a long time. If so, that knife in D2 will be the bee's knees. If your D2 is even close to Bob Dozier's...hell, I can't wait.
Regards,
Mike

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Runs With Scissors
AKTI# A000107
 
Verrrrrrry interesting indeed, looking forward to them !

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Buck Collectors Club Member # 572
Dedicated ELU
Talonite fan
Knifeknut(just ask my wife)
 
ROBB
The Cub Blade length is about 3.2 inch. We will have a limited number at Blade along with a few D-2 Carnivores and som other goodies.

Bob Taylor

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Some days it's not worth chewing through the restraints and escaping.
 
Having a machine shop background that worked exclusively in tool steels, we use to make roll forming dies out of D2. The stuff would rust if you looked at it wrong even though the Chromium content put it on the border line of being called a 'stainless' steel.

Bob and I have discussed what makes his D2 work and actually more of a stainless steel than many that actually wear the name. I'll leave that for Bob to discuss if he so chooses.

I've run the D2 Carnivore through several tests trying to get it to rust and it just keeps on staying nice. I also compared it with other 'stainless' steels and the D2 is beating them hands down.

I'll save the rest for the Tactical Knives review after we get back from the jungle.

BTW Bob, I'm only going to make the Sunday part of Blade due to prior commitments, so I'll run by and throw my hat in. Take care wild man.

Jeff

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Randall's Adventure & Training
jeff@jungletraining.com
 
What does the modified refer to? How are you getting an increase in corrosion resistance, wear resistance and impact toughness all at the same time? As for comparing it to ATS-34, whose ATS-34?

-Cliff
 
Just when I had decided what to spend my current knife budget on, you guys do this! Oh, well, the kids eat too much anyhow. I, for one, really appreciate REKAT making models for lefties, will any of the new ones be set up for left-handed use? Please? Thanks.
smile.gif
 
Hey Bob, glad to hear the D-2 is working out. Ill be seeing you day after tomorrow at Blade, if I dont run into you in the airport!
 
Bob, When is REKAT changing over to d-2 steel? Any chance the Bladeforums Carnivore's and Sifu's will be made with
D-2?
 
Easyrider
We have to run out all the ATS-34 blades first and will switch in late 2000. We have a ton comming in and will switch slowly over all the D-2 Is marked D-2 Stain Resistant
Cliff
There is only one ATS-34 thats Hatchi and if you look at the specs of D-2 its all at the top end with the Ch,Mo, Va and a trace of W and 1.95% carbon

Bob Taylor

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Some days it's not worth chewing through the restraints and escaping.
 
Oh, I forgot to mention that the same test with Bob's D2 against the ATS 34 on a Benchmade mini-AFCK produced the same results as the VG10 - the D2 has yet to produce any rust and the ATS is already getting those annyoing little rust pits. The D2 is doing much better at resisting rust with the tests I've been running. One thing I will say is this D2 is tougher to sharpen but damn it holds an edge forever. The Spyderco 204 does a good job on the recurve.

Jeff

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Randall's Adventure & Training
jeff@jungletraining.com
 
Hey Jeff, you are right, if I see Bob I will get in a different line so we can make it through. I have enough steel in my right leg that I get wanded every time!
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Hope to see you there Jeff!



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www.simonichknives.com
 
To clarify, I meant who did the heat treatment on the ATS-34. If you carbide out the Cr in ATS-34 then the impact toughness and stain resistance is low but the wear resitance is high, if you don't then the impact toughness and stain resistance is high but the wear resistance is low. I think strength is greater in the carbided case but it is good in both and doesn't change as much as the other factors.

Along these same lines it would not be difficult to heat treat a piece of D2 and get it more stain resistant, or tougher or wear resistant than a piece of ATS-34. You could just heat treat to maximize one element in one steel and not in the other. It is the combination of all three that is interesting. However you need to clarify how the ATS-34 is being heat treated and what the RC specs are as without it the performance statement is a little vague.

One possibility would be to keep the Cr in the matrix in D2 and let the V be the Carbide former and compare this to ATS-34 with the Cr cabrided out. That would give you high toughness and stain resistance in D2 as the Cr would still be "free" as compared to the ATS-34 however the very hard V carbides in the D2 should be able to compete with the Cr ones in the ATS-34 and give an aggressive cutting action and long edge life.

-Cliff
 
Cliff
I think Jeff stated it was a Benchmade mini AFCK and I don't even pretend to know Benchmades heat treat process. And yes the best steel can be destroyed or made better with heat treating. As to our new D-2 steel and the heat treat we use, shhhh its a secret. We heat treat our ATS-34 diffrently than most and have good results. That is also somthing we don't disscuss. Results is what should matter to the consumer. Our testing and some outside testing makes us dance with joy.
Bob Brothers was talking to Chris Reeves at Eugene about the stone washed finish as opposed to Bead Blast and Satin Finish. Chris, Bob and I all will agree that it helps greatly in the corrosion resistance department even though CRK and REKAT use diffrent processes. We are also trying some diffrent things with 154CM. One steel or another we will no longer use ATS-34 in the near future.

Bob Taylor

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Some days it's not worth chewing through the restraints and escaping.
 
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