D2 tough or not???

F

Fox Creek

Joined
Oct 26, 1999
Messages
820
There is a current thread about D2 steel that sings it praises. D2 is one of Wayne Goddards favorites too for smaller blades. BUT another maker who has some rather strongly worded things to say about other makers (including a "famous Oregon knifesmith") on his web site seems to say that he thinks D2 is too brittle for general use. Did I read something wrong here? Is D2 tough enough for general use???
 
D2 does have a low impact toughness as compared to O1, A2 etc., however it does have better wear resistance and corrosion resistance. How suitable it is for any given knife depends on the stresses it would see. I have a small light utility knife made by Mel Sorg out of D2 at 62 RC. It is still in one piece.

-Cliff
 
D2 is a fine steel and unless you're planning on chopping nails it will give you good service. Like most steels, if it's heat treated properly to relieve any internal stresses, you'll not have a problem with "brittleness".

I don't think I'd make a long skinny filet knife out of it, but for hunters and utility knives, it will serve you well. Besides, if it's still in one piece after Cliff's had it for awhile, it has to be tough.
smile.gif


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Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com
 
I just have one knife made of D-2, it behaves nicely.
Sometime ago, surfing the net I found a page (don't remember the address, sorry)on cryo treatment, which said:
D-2 is the "most sensitive" steel to deep cryo treatment. If done so it will be VERY tough and still keep its hardness. If NOT cryo-treated it's extra brittle stuff of just limited use.
No guarantee of mine to be true!

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D.T. UTZINGER

[This message has been edited by ZUT&ZUT (edited 04-26-2000).]
 
Drawing the D-2 at 950F will give a RC58-59 and flexability in the range you would expect to see in ATS-34. Anytime you get D-2 up to a RC60+ is going to chip at some point in time, Just the nature of the stuff.

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old pete
 
Fox Creek - I'd be interested in taking a look at that website you referred to. Do you have a link?

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Kelly

SenatorsPlace.com
AKTI Member #A000289

Deo Vindice


 
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=269728&a=2006217&p=18947993
link to pic of Madpoet Camp Set in D2/ironwood
I have several knives in D2. Mel's knives for me were heat treated and cryo-ed to RC 60.
The larger semi skinner shown above is ground to a thin and VERY sharp edge but I chopped thru the spine of a mature whitetail with no chipping. Also held a great edge for the disassembly of two deer.
I'm a big fan of D2 (but I'm growing increasingly fond of a large custom fixed blade in 440V by Wegner/Boguszuski.)
 
Originally posted by Cliff Stamp:
I have a small light utility knife made by Mel Sorg out of D2 at 62 RC. It is still in one piece.-Cliff
Click to expand...

My God. I had no idea D2 was that durable!
--Will

 
I would send a snail mail to Bob Dozier - or give him a call:

Dozier Bob P.O. Box 1941;Springdale, AR 72765 501-756-0023

(the geezer doesn't run his own site...)

But - not only is most of his work made of D-2 - A.G. Russell knife encyclopedia calls him the most devoted D-2 maker...

Quote: "The first heavy user was Jimmy Lile; the strongest convert has been Bob Dozier. This air hardening steel takes a really good edge, and holds it."

the encyclopedia is at:
http://www.agrussell.com/faq/qanda.html

Mr. Dozier ought to know...

 
Allow me this opportunity to show off my latest model (it's D2)
smile.gif

Amninja.jpg

I'm calling it the American Ninja!!
I usually make my fighters in this size (11 3/4: OAL) range out of A2 rather than D2. The main reason is the added toughness and shock resistance.
Over the past few months I've been experimenting with the higher draw temps as mentioned above by Pete. I was first put on to this process by Randy Martin in the Shop Talk area. So far, I have had excellent results at around 58-59 Rc with my larger D2 knives.
Neil

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Website just updated!
Blackwood Knives
http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Meeting/5520/index.html

[This message has been edited by Dr.Lathe (edited 04-26-2000).]
 
Hi Everybody!

I have made combat knives and camp knives out of D2. I have been very impressed with it. I had Paul Bos heat treat the blades (he does all our treating). One blade in particular has seen extensive use with a U.S. Marine. He has reported no problems or complaints.

I carry a D2 blade when I go out on my Search & Rescue calls. I have used this blade to cut, chop, dig, & pry with. I have had no problems whatsoever with this knife. I store the knife with all my SAR gear in the back of my car. It has been there for over 2 years now and there has been no rust on the blade. The tang usually pits up slightly, but cleans up nicely with a Cratex eraser.

D2 makes a great knife. You just have to adjust the hardness for the intended use of the knife, just like any other steel.

Paul Bos is the man to go to for heat treating D2 in my opinion.

BTW, I have my combat and camp knives out of D2 hardened to 58-59.
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Barry
Jones Knives
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=126319&a=926274
"For DUTY and HUMANITY!"
Curly, Moe, & Larry

[This message has been edited by BARRY JONES (edited 04-26-2000).]
 
I agree 100% with Barry Jones' comments about Paul Bos and D-2. Mr. Bos does an outstanding job at bringing out all the potential this steel has to offer.

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The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.
Sun Tzu
 
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