D2 Chinese steel

D2 is D2, except when it's not. First you have to know you actually got D2 and the reality is that with mass produced cheap chinese knives or chinese steel used in american or anything knives starts off suspect.

However, assuming both are D2 and not knowing what mill either came from makes them equal. So then the difference is all in the processing and HT. And which do you trust more. A crappy HT can turn the best steel into a worthless pile of junk.
 
kreole said:
Kind of related to Cobalt Cobalt 's point, it would be a more meaningful discussion to ask about a particular brand's D2 than everything coming out of a huge manufacturing country. Have one you're curious about?
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This. It's hard to make sweeping general statements given the number of companies involved.
More relevant, is the fact that there aren't really any US makers using D2 in folding knives other than Medford (there's a variant of the Buck 110, and not much else). I doubt you'd see much, if any, performance difference between a budget Chinese knife to a $400+ Medford in the same steel.
In semi-scientific cut tests, CJRB and Civivi D2 had good results. LINK
If you're buying from a reputable manufacturer (like CJRB/Artisan or WE/Civivi), you can be confident that what you get is what they say it is, and that it'll be done with competence.
 
There's also CPM D2 as well, which I believe has a little better edge retention but I don't believe it was all that significant.
 
sabre cat said:
How can you tell?
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Some folks have sent knives out to be tested, and they've come back as something other than what was advertised. Except for a few cases (e.g., Bear & Sons) , they were low-end, relatively obscure Chinese brands.

Also, Bohler's Chinese factory shouldn't have any impact on "Chinese D2"; Bohler's D2 analog is called K110, so unless you see it advertised as K110, no reason to expect it's from Bohler.
 
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My experience, since I own alot of D2 in different brands.

Civivi: good edge retention, decent toughness, surprisingly stain/patinaless. I put an exarch through a bunch of nylon and cardboard for a week and it remained paper cutting sharp.

Rat 2 D2: good edge retention, no thoughts on toughness, patina/stain easy. I've used a r2d2 as my garden knife for a bit and it's very reliable and holds a good edge.

ArtisanCutlery: good edge retention, decent toughness (dropped my centros on the floor one time, no chip) and good stainless quality.

Rando D2: I have a fixed blade made by Pardue Jr and it's very well done. I dig roots and put it through stuff I normally reserve for 3V, and it pulls it off just as well while staying sharp. This one patinas easy as well. I also have a bunch of D2 from small companies that I rarely carry/use.

My experience. Thanks for keeping it PC guys; I'm very curious if anyone have an example of a company with bad D2? I'd like to buy one and try it lol.

Cheers.
 
If you stick with reputable manufacturers, you will more than likely get a quality D2 product even if it’s made overseas. If you go with a low cost, unknown, sweatshop manufacturer, you could end up with a blade labeled M390, when it’s actually 420j2 or 440A.
 
Dergyll said:
My experience, since I own alot of D2 in different brands.

Civivi: good edge retention, decent toughness, surprisingly stain/patinaless. I put an exarch through a bunch of nylon and cardboard for a week and it remained paper cutting sharp.

Rat 2 D2: good edge retention, no thoughts on toughness, patina/stain easy. I've used a r2d2 as my garden knife for a bit and it's very reliable and holds a good edge.

ArtisanCutlery: good edge retention, decent toughness (dropped my centros on the floor one time, no chip) and good stainless quality.

Rando D2: I have a fixed blade made by Pardue Jr and it's very well done. I dig roots and put it through stuff I normally reserve for 3V, and it pulls it off just as well while staying sharp. This one patinas easy as well. I also have a bunch of D2 from small companies that I rarely carry/use.

My experience. Thanks for keeping it PC guys; I'm very curious if anyone have an example of a company with bad D2? I'd like to buy one and try it lol.

Cheers.
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Eafengrow (random Chinese brand that sells a lot on Amazon) has had issues with its D2 not actually testing out as D2 (usually tested as 8Cr13MoV).
 
I avoid most Chinese makers myself but from the few who I would consider buying I would expect it to be D2 which will be that same no matter where it originating. I also think the Bohler Chinese facility is probably more for producing M390 for the Chinese as I know there is a lot of use of it in the Chinese knives.
 
kreole said:
Kind of related to Cobalt Cobalt 's point, it would be a more meaningful discussion to ask about a particular brand's D2 than everything coming out of a huge manufacturing country. Have one you're curious about?
Click to expand...
Civivi is one, others in same price range like Boker, especially their autos
 
PirateSeulb said:
I avoid most Chinese makers myself but from the few who I would consider buying I would expect it to be D2 which will be that same no matter where it originating. I also think the Bohler Chinese facility is probably more for producing M390 for the Chinese as I know there is a lot of use of it in the Chinese knives.
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I have avoided them too, but I bought my grandson a RR Loom fixer in T-10 carbon and it’s impressive. Soooo, I thought about getting a flipper knife. Civivi, Kershaw etc for ez one hand open edc. I have a number of Case, GEC, and some old 70s knives from Eye Brand and Boker. I have NO modern folders, so I got a bug to try one.
 
Doppler Bob said:
Civivi is one, others in same price range like Boker, especially their autos
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No problems with either. Civivi is moving slightly upmarket, with Sencut taking over as WE's representative in the $40ish budget range.

Doppler Bob said:
I probably should have asked the question better, like what US steel does Chinese D2 compare with.
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Edge retention testing (Larrin's more formal testing or Pete's quasi-scientific ones) put D2 right in line with CPM-154, and slightly below CPM-S35VN and CruWear.
 
OrangeBlueOrangeBlue said:
This. It's hard to make sweeping general statements given the number of companies involved.
More relevant, is the fact that there aren't really any US makers using D2 in folding knives other than Medford (there's a variant of the Buck 110, and not much else). I doubt you'd see much, if any, performance difference between a budget Chinese knife to a $400+ Medford in the same steel.
In semi-scientific cut tests, CJRB and Civivi D2 had good results. LINK
If you're buying from a reputable manufacturer (like CJRB/Artisan or WE/Civivi), you can be confident that what you get is what they say it is, and that it'll be done with competence.
Click to expand...
Doesn't Freeman knives still use D2?
 
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