D2 Sharpening

Joined
Jun 15, 2006
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I was wondering what would be a good sharpener for D2 steel? I just recieved a Ka-Bar next generation and I do not own a diamond sharpener. Thanks.
 
if your technique is right anything will work, and if its wrong nothing will work.

DMT duofolds are the best imho for D2/M2/etc, followed by norton india stones, followed by a good hard & soft ark stone. ya can get a good sized norton stone for ~$20 and other than the diamond stuff it will work as good as anything imho. the only thing is the DMT is gonna be faster.

a spyderco sharpmaker will work good also.
 
You don't need a diamond stone however you do need a coarse stone and multiple grits. D2 has a very low grindability so you don't want to try to restore a blunted edge with a very fine stone. You also want to heavily consider micro-beveling to compensate for the grindability issues.

-Cliff
 
As others said, get some corse stone and you will be set. Cliff Stamp said it well. You don't want to restore/reprofile D2 edge with fine stone. I tried, then got out coarse stone and done with it.

It's tough to sharpen but it's pretty good steel. (I just recently got one and love it)
With fine stone, It takes some effort even for touch up.
I used soft arkansas for sharpening. Hard arkansas for touch ups.
 
Well it says on Ka-Bars webpage to use diamond sharpeners which is why I asked.

"Knives made with D2 steel require diamond or ceramic sharpeners. "

My father owns a Tri-8 Tri-Hone by Arkansas Hone Inc.(we live in Arkansas,the best state) If you guys say it woll work than that is what I will use, Thanks.
 
Arkansas stones are chert mohs hardness about 5.5, which will work great on ordinary carbon steels, but not so good on some of the high tech steels with a lot of hard carbides (tungsten, vanadium and even chrome carbide are harder than chert) They will sort of work on D2, but rather slowly compared to much harder abrasives, so if you get frustrated, give the DMT's, India or waterstones a try.
 
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