D2 like M2 and M4?

H

Helderberg

Joined
Dec 8, 2013
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So, if I understand this, D2 is similar to a M2 or M4 as far as rust and discoloration? I wanted to buy a D2 710, but I did not want to get a knife I had to be concerned with rust. Any advice or experience would be vary appreciated. 154 may be a middle grade steel, but it is a steel I do not worry about. The 390 710 is not a realistic alternative as I want a knife I can be guilt free using for anything and at that price I could not.
I posted the first line of this on another post but did not want to change the topic of the OP so I started this.
Frank.
 
H, while I'm regurgitating some of this, I'm also basing the meat of it on personal experience, having carried and used BM's D2 for two years now...

D2 is considered a semi-stainless tool steel, containing enough of the ingredients of the more stain-less cutlery steels that some folks consider it stainless (I'm one of those folks). M2 and M4 are true tool steels, and are considerably more proned to corrosion if uncoated or uncared for. D2, especially BM's D2 at ~61 RC in my experience, is probably one of the better performing steels on an available production knife out there for under $200. It requires care, but in my experience not that much more than ATS34/154CM or S30V (my small Sebenza would develop light surface oxidation around the thumblug between cleanings -- no big deal). An occasional light coat of lube is all mine has required to remain oxidation-free for two years, and I rinse it under water after getting it mucked up and occasionally remove/re-install the blade to clean/lube the pivot area.

BM's D2 is, in my opinion, the best of both worlds (stainless and carbon steels) for folks who actually cut stuff.

Prof.
 
Helderberg said:
So, if I understand this, D2 is similar to a M2 or M4 as far as rust and discoloration? I wanted to buy a D2 710, but I did not want to get a knife I had to be concerned with rust. Any advice or experience would be vary appreciated. 154 may be a middle grade steel, but it is a steel I do not worry about. The 390 710 is not a realistic alternative as I want a knife I can be guilt free using for anything and at that price I could not.
I posted the first line of this on another post but did not want to change the topic of the OP so I started this.
Frank.
Click to expand...

I posted my answer below to your question in the other post. "Professor" has given some very good hands-on information/experience.


Posted in the other thread:

Between those steels D2 has a lot more Chromium (rust inhibitor) content. I believe the requirement to be classified as stainless is 13.00% or greater Chromium content. According to Benchmade's Data Sheet:

Chromium Content:
D2 = 12.00%
M2 = 4.15%
M4 = 4.0%

So, D2 should be MUCH more stain and rust resistant than the other two. 154CM has 14.00% Chromium. The difference between D2 and 154CM isn't much, but how much of a difference does 2% REALLY make in the real world is what I'm trying to determine.


Edited to change 1% to 2%
 
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Thank you for the replies. I feel better now having heard back from people who have knowledge and real world experience.
Thanks you again, Frank.
 
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