d2 steel

[Walter smith]

hi how can you tell if it is real d2 steel at home thank any one for info w.smith

 

[Dean51]

Buy from a reputable maker and dealer, is the only way I know of.

 

[perchjerk]

Is there a particular knife in question that you have in mind? Post some more details and maybe someone will have some insight.

 

[Fanglekai]

You can't without expensive equipment.

 

[22-rimfire]

Overall, you have to depend on specifications of the manufacturer when choosing a knife. After you use it a while, you may get some inkling of the steel type based on sharpening, edge holding, rusting (oxidation), and development of a patina or not.

 

[Cobalt]

You can do what I do, go to a metals treating or processing place and have it analyzed. Most of those places have laser spectral analyzers that can give you all of the mid to high atomic number constituents. They typically do not give carbon, but that would be the balance of what is left anyway along with iron.

HEre is an example of one I had done on one of my blades.

 

[skyhorse]

hi how can you tell if it is real d2 steel at home thank any one for info w.smith

If your blade is relatively difficult to sharpen then it's likely D2. Like others have mentioned buying from a B/Fs Dealer is the best way of eliminating any doubts.
http://knifeinformer.com/discovering-the-best-knife-steel/

 

[Wolverine666]

OP , what's the knife in question? And why are you questioning the steel?

 

[Mo2]

If you can't sharpen it with Arkansas stones it's probably d2.

You can send it to a company that has a metal analysis machine which shows the composition of the metal.
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/is-it-really-s35vn.1511417/#post-17363534

https://www.olympus-ims.com/en/appl...racterization-private-bowie-knife-collection/


More here.
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/how-to-know-or-proof-it-made-from-d2-tool-steel.1055831/

Regardless of the steel... The heat treatment is probably more important.
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/trying-to-understand-d2-heat-treat-and-temper.1258017/

Carothers Performance Knives is probably the pinnacle of D2 heat treatment.
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/any-experience-with-nathans-d2.1470902/#post-16929136

 

[115Italian]

If its a knock off or clone its probably not d2.

 

[jbmonkey]

If its a knock off or clone its probably not d2.

isnt d2 a common easy to get tool steel in china so that actually use it often in knives. that said i doubt its heat treated properly.....

 

[Yonose]

You can do what I do, go to a metals treating or processing place and have it analyzed. Most of those places have laser spectral analyzers that can give you all of the mid to high atomic number constituents. They typically do not give carbon, but that would be the balance of what is left anyway along with iron.

HEre is an example of one I had done on one of my blades.

Hello, sir; What is the typical cost for this kind of analysis? Also, what steel (if known) were you testing? My math doesn’t return any results for those alloy constituents.

 

[Cobalt]

Hello, sir; What is the typical cost for this kind of analysis? Also, what steel (if known) were you testing? My math doesn’t return any results for those alloy constituents.

Most companies use the system for themselves and if you schmooze them, they will do it for literal peanuts, like 20 bucks. That is Busse's SR101 steel whose closest relative is 52100.

 

[115Italian]

isnt d2 a common easy to get tool steel in china so that actually use it often in knives. that said i doubt its heat treated properly.....

True. Could be real d2 but with bad heat treat. So its like its not d2.

 

[19-3ben]

Am I the only one who is suspicious here?

I get the inkling that the OP bought a questionable knife from a questionable dealer and now wants to see if he got ripped off...

 

[DocJD]

Am I the only one who is suspicious here?

I get the inkling that the OP bought a questionable knife from a questionable dealer and now wants to see if he got ripped off...

Which is now a cardinal sin ?

 

[19-3ben]

Which is now a cardinal sin ?

Nope. Not at all. Just using some deductive powers...

 

[DocJD]

This will not tell you a specific steel type ,but may prove a blade is not D2 . Clean all oils off and any coating . Put a dab of mustard or other corrosive onto the bare steel . Usually a fake D2 is actually some cheap stainless which will not give a dark brown , red or black patina like any high carbon type . Obviously don't do this if you don't want to patina stain or refinish your blade .

 

[Rich S]

I wouldn't worry about it. D2 is now a fairly common steel among better Chinese (and US) made knives. Interesting how the major knife maker countries have changed over the last century or so: England and Germany, US, Japan and now China.

Rich