d2 steel on 806

[James Muehlner]

I read on the benchmade site that the model 806 is made with d2 semi-stainless steel. Does anyone know just how stainless it really is?

 

[Jeff Clark]

Hardly stainless. See this topic where Cliff compares the effects of corrosion on D2 and two real stainless alloys with identical knives.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=242736

 

[switched]

Like Jeff says, it is hardly stainless. Uncoated, it is going to rust, given the right conditions.

But the 806D2 is only produced with BT2 coating. So it is likely to be less prone to rust than a true stainless which is uncoated.

 

[thombrogan]

Left intact, the 806D2 will be fine. Nemo and Fred Perrin abuse the bejeebers out of theirs and Nemo hasn't written to say his 806SD2 has rusted away. Benchmade trusts D2 enough to make the 940D2CF and 941D2CF uncoated while they didn't trust M2 on the 730CFHS, so it's not too worrisome of an issue.

 

[cpirtle]

I have several Doziers along with many other D2 blades (806 included) and have never had one rust. And I don't do anything special to them either.

Given that I live in NE Ohio where it can get pretty Humid that's not bad.

Even ATS-34, S30V etc can rust so the term stainless steel is kind of a misnomer any steel can rust/stain.

But if you absolutely abuse your knife and want to have no concern about rust D2 may not be for you. Wipe it off after you use it and you'll be fine unless you live near the ocean or where it's very very humid, then the occasional coat of oil would help.