D2, A2 or Bohler N690 what do you as a customer prefer ?

Z

zingzong2005

Joined
Oct 18, 2005
Messages
205
Hello,
I was wondering what you guys prefer?

if you buy a production knife or order a custom what would you prefer if you could choose between D2, A2 , Bohler N690 and why?

On a german forum most said N690 so I was wondering what american customers would like/prefer....

THANKS

AL
 
N690 isn't that popular yet in the US, but it will basically have the same performance as VG-10, but better in my experience.

I would pick N690 over the other 2 because it's both stainless (VERY) and it's a very aggressive cutter.
 
I know nothing about N690... i have had VERY good experiences with small knives in D2. It's my second favorite steel after INFI
 
Funny, whenever some n00b asks "which steel is the best" or something along those lines, dozens of ppl jump in with the standard "what for" (alone with the "use the search" replies)...
So, now I am curious, how come nobody asked in this case what for...
Are we assuming folders automatically, OP doesn't really say that?
Otherwise, for different uses, I could easily pick each of those alloys...
 
not asking what´s the best..already know *ha*

No seriously the idea behind this thread is that I wanna figure out what americans like/prefer...

I should have mentioned that I ´m a parttime knifemaker and the knives I make are mostly up to 1/4" thick medium sized EDC with mostly hardcore use in mind... www.zzknives.blogspot.com

and since I´m out of steel again and can´t decide which one I´d get next I wanted to know what you guys like....

So when it comes to medium sized knives you wanna use in the field for whatever needs to be done what would you prefer?

by medium sized I mean up to OAL: 9"

I chose D2, A2 and N690 because they would basicallly cost the same...

thx
AL
 
zingzong2005 said:
not asking what´s the best..already know *ha*

No seriously the idea behind this thread is that I wanna figure out what americans like/prefer...
Click to expand...
I wasn't joking either, I am not sworn to any alloy, I try to pick best fir tor a purpose/use etc.

zingzong2005 said:
the knives I make are mostly up to 1/4" thick medium sized EDC with mostly hardcore use in mind...
Click to expand...
Ok, that makes things clearer :)
 
zingzong2005 said:
not asking what´s the best..already know *ha*

No seriously the idea behind this thread is that I wanna figure out what americans like/prefer...

I should have mentioned that I ´m a parttime knifemaker and the knives I make are mostly up to 1/4" thick medium sized EDC with mostly hardcore use in mind... www.zzknives.blogspot.com

and since I´m out of steel again and can´t decide which one I´d get next I wanted to know what you guys like....

So when it comes to medium sized knives you wanna use in the field for whatever needs to be done what would you prefer?

by medium sized I mean up to OAL: 9"

I chose D2, A2 and N690 because they would basicallly cost the same...

thx
AL
Click to expand...

D2 would likely sell better as it's more well known.
 
Gator97 said:
Funny, whenever some n00b asks "which steel is the best" or something along those lines, dozens of ppl jump in with the standard "what for" (alone with the "use the search" replies)...
So, now I am curious, how come nobody asked in this case what for...
Are we assuming folders automatically, OP doesn't really say that?
Otherwise, for different uses, I could easily pick each of those alloys...
Click to expand...

I think when the question of "which do you prefer" is asked, people automatically think about how they use particular knives in their favorite manner.

The first thing I thought of was small EDC uses (and D2 is my favorite of those listed because it's stainless enough and I'm familiar enough with it's edge-retention and sharpening ease).
 
actually that´s what I thought..that D2 is more popular and better known in the US...Loveless liked it, Dozier still uses it...even the cool asian maker Kiku seems to use it quite often...Raidops uses is now too if I´m not mistaken

maybe I´d really give it a shot...
 
zingzong2005 said:
Hello,
I was wondering what you guys prefer?

if you buy a production knife or order a custom what would you prefer if you could choose between D2, A2 , Bohler N690 and why?

On a german forum most said N690 so I was wondering what american customers would like/prefer....

THANKS

AL
Click to expand...

I dunno, depends on what kind of knife.
I'm pretty partial to N690. If it were an EDC or a hunting knife, N690 would likely be my pick. Holds an edge maybe a bit better than VG10 or 154CM. It is pretty stainless. Takes a really fine edge with not much work. Dinkum stahl.
 
Ankerson said:
N690 isn't that popular yet in the US, but it will basically have the same performance as VG-10, but better in my experience.

I would pick N690 over the other 2 because it's both stainless (VERY) and it's a very aggressive cutter.
Click to expand...

What Jim said. N690 is a great steel on a number of fronts.
 
I'm a non stainless guy in a lot of cases though some are great to carry & use. Between these 3 steels I'll pick A2 for a user steel. I'd love it if a manufacturer made a Buck 110 type and size knife in A2, or several other steels. I like D2 plenty, but have loads of knives in D2 ranging from great knives, to aberrations that shouldn't have been made. One of my first home made knives was D2, and I liked it a lot back then. I guess I've been D2'ed out for now. A2 takes a nicer edge and finish IMO. I do like sharp, biting edges. Maximum wear resistance isn't my most important attribute, and corrosion resistance even less.

Some other steels I really like are W2, M2/M4, Cruwear, Super Blue, etc.
 
I'd pay a tad more for N690 over A2 & D2. I've had great results using and sharpening both Bokers and Arno Bernard (Jr & Sr) examples of the Bohler steel. I like m390, too - thanks mainly to Benchmade. D2 is great - from a reputable knifemaker - and until it needs resharpening. My only A2 blades tend to 'round over'... oh yeah, they are Bark River knives... they start out convex! Seriously, I've never had A2 in a flat grind!

Stainz
 
thx..finally a few guys who like A2... was wondering where you were hidding since many makers in the US seem to use it...

but I´m surprised that so many like or would choose N690... and noone posted N6 f**** what yet... ;-) so I might stick to it overall ..I really like it but what does it help if a maker likes a certain steel if the customers don´t *ha*
 
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