D-2 rusty?

T

Trixwagen

Joined
Jun 30, 2004
Messages
40
I have a fisherman's knife with D-2 steel blade. It's really a great blade, but everytime I use it out in the field, by the time I get home the blade has some corrosion. Now I know virtually all blades get some rust on them eventually, but is this normal for D-2 to rust so quickly?
 
Is it rust or stain? Are you freshwater or saltwater fishing? I have found that the one thing that will stain D2 is Fish Blood ie stain not rust. Saltwater will impact on any steel except the high chromium stainless steels. Note they call them "stainless" not "no stain" or "no rust". D2 is normally good around freshwater as long as you look after the blade eg wipe it clean on after use and give it a light coat of oil. Some D2 will stain/rust more than others if it has not been heat-treated correctly.
 
Freshwater. It's surface rust. I know its not fish blood because it happens even on those "unlucky" days.
 
I guess what I want to know really is if I get an EDC knife with a D-2 blade will it rust just sitting in my pocket or on my belt. I've have 400a/440c blades and AU8 blades and really never had any corrosion problems at all. Except when I lived on Guam, but that's another story.
 
I have made knives out of D2, I have a Dozier made with D2. I have never had a D2 "rust" with fresh water but then again I have not left them laying about wet. My favourite fixed blade is of D2 and it gets a fair amount of use and has never shown any sign of rust. I think it may come back to the heat-treatment of the particular blade.
 
My bad... My knife actually has AUS 8A stainless steel. The literature that came with the knife implied it was D-2, but apparently virtually every OTHER knife this company makes has D-2 except for this one.
 
D2 is actually a tool steel but since it has a good bit of chromium it's called a stainless steel but in the knife business it's referred to as semi-stainless .Usually it doesn't rust though it might stain.AUS8 has higher amounts of chrome and should not stain or rust except under very harsh conditions. Therefore I would assume that the steel either has not been heat treated properly or the surface has been contaminated ( if they ground or polished the blade using the same wheels that they have used on carbon steel)
 
One of my sons has a custom that has a D2 blade that will rust if he leaves it in the leather sheath and stores it without oiling it good. Even then, if it is left for a long period of time without reoiling it, it will rust again. I live along the gulf coast and have seen other D2 blades rust, although not bad.
 
I had a few of the Carbon Fiber D2 Benchmade 94x knives that were already starting to rust after about 2 weeks sitting in their presentation case in my drawer... never used 'em once. I sold every last one of 'em and did manage to make a nice profit!
IMHO, whatever advantage d2 may have in cutting or edge holding is completely wiped out (and then some), because of the rust problem.
 
Sticky said:
I had a few of the Carbon Fiber D2 Benchmade 94x knives that were already starting to rust after about 2 weeks sitting in their presentation case in my drawer... never used 'em once. I sold every last one of 'em and did manage to make a nice profit!
IMHO, whatever advantage d2 may have in cutting or edge holding is completely wiped out (and then some), because of the rust problem.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing you aren't a fan of carbon blades then? D2 is easier to take care of then most carbon blades and by applying the same maintenance principals it will serve you well. Make sure you oil them before putting them away, and they should be good to go forever.

By the way...if you USE carbon or semi-stainless blades it prevents rust, due to the polishing the sides and edge get from use.
-Kevin
 
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