D2 vs. INFI

Rhinoman

Rhinoman

Joined
Dec 13, 2011
Messages
258
Hey, I've always had a love for D2 steel as my first serious knife was made from it. I've also owned a BATAC (wish I still did!).

After watching videos I know that INFI is a wonderful knife steel but I still have strong love for D2.

I'm not chopping up cars or cinder blocks but I do love the idea of strong, thick knives.

I can't imagine that, with normal field use or even hard use, that a .200 - .270 piece of D2 from someone like Medford is going to stand up just fine to use and even occasional abuse.

So, INFI is GREAT and D2 is _____ ?

Any thoughts are appreciated! :)
 
D2 doesn't have high impact resistance/"toughness" compared to many other steels. Many makers use D2 because it's been around for ages and it's easily recognized because makers like Bob Dozier use and promote it. D2 has its pros and cons like every other steel. However, just because a maker like Medford uses it doesn't really mean anything. There are makers that pick various steels for various reasons and some of those reasons have to do with marketing and selling their product. Personally I don't know why anyone would make a large chopper out of D2. Its particular set of qualities isn't really suited for a chopper. 3V is a much better choice for a chopper type knife because of its excellent toughness. I like D2 for smaller blades where the goal is a toothy, coarse edge. D2 is fine in thin blades too and there are slipjoint companies that use D2, but it's really not meant for chopping. I'd hate to have to fix a chipped D2 edge...

And as for INFI, well I think you already know.
 
Jerry used D2 early on, I've got a Busse & a Swamp Rat in D2.

The SR Bog Dog is D2, there's some destructive testing video they did floating around on the internet. The HT on the Bog Dog is incredible.
 
Good steel, but not in the same use class as INFI. D2 like many have said, can be made very hard, and Bob Dozier certainly has mastere it. That said, D2 would be poorly suited to the knives that Busse does so well. D2, unless it was run pretty soft would likely chip and possibly fracture in a Busse sized chopper. This is my take on the two. D2 is a good blade in a skinner or a smaller fixed blade, Leave the big choppers to INFI and 3V.
 
D2, properly heat treated is excellent steel for knife-like
uses.
Most d2 is fair chopping medium for INFI or SR-101.
IMHO, of course.:)
 
About the only times I would take D2 over INFI would be on a folder and a dedicated skinning knife. My reasoning for this is actually pretty simple edge retention. Properly heat treated D2 is still an extremely good steel for these tasks, it hold its working course edge for a very long time and I have personal not found a steel I like better for skinning than hard D2.

Now one thing to keep in mind is that unlike INFI there is a ton of D2 out there, but give me good quality D2 (CPM-D2 would be the best) ran up near 60 HRC and I will be a happy hunter.
 
No question, I have great respect for INFI and for the knowledge of those on this forum.

I DO have this insane attraction to D2! I think I'll keep the D2 to my folders and a couple mid sized Medford kit knives and leave the heavy lifting and hitting to the INFI. :)
 
I believe Jerry busse did a live test where he cut 1 inch thick hemp rope (details are a little sketchy I'm going off memory) and after 2000 cuts the basic 11 blade still was shaving sharp , from my recollection it lost shaving ability around the 2500th cut , and as if this isn't impressive enough already he Only used a 2 inch section of the blade for the entire test. I believe there is a thread floating around about it...... No live demonstration of its kind has ever been preformed, Jerry has extended his to hand to many a knife maker to take the challenge with him, as far as I have read ALL have declined.


If any of this info is incorrect feel free to set me straight.
 
Mikeynyc said:
I believe Jerry busse did a live test where he cut 1 inch thick hemp rope (details are a little sketchy I'm going off memory) and after 2000 cuts the basic 11 blade still was shaving sharp , from my recollection it lost shaving ability around the 2500th cut , and as if this isn't impressive enough already he Only used a 2 inch section of the blade for the entire test. I believe there is a thread floating around about it...... No live demonstration of its kind has ever been preformed, Jerry has extended his to hand to many a knife maker to take the challenge with him, as far as I have read ALL have declined.


If any of this info is incorrect feel free to set me straight.
Click to expand...
He only stopped because he ran out of rope. The test was performed with an original basic 9.
If anyone's search fu is strong the video and narrative was posted by Andy Prisco.
 
Correct me if I am wrong on this but wasn't that done with a aysm edge on INFI-M at around 60 RC? If so then the edge holding of that knife would be far higher than anything Busse has made recently short of the BAD.
 
PatrickKnight said:
Correct me if I am wrong on this but wasn't that done with a aysm edge on INFI-M at around 60 RC? If so then the edge holding of that knife would be far higher than anything Busse has made recently short of the BAD.
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INFI-M indeed. Hardness I'm not sure of.
 
D2 is a good choice for making cutter or skinner , not for high impact chopper and weapons(like swords)
 
Bottom line, if you are happy with D2 and it accomplishes your missions and you are satisfied with it your good to go bro, there is no need to make yourself feel as if you are carrying a D2 knife that is superior to an Infi knife. If it works for what you need it to work for whats the difference.
That's like wanting to upgrade the knife you butter your toast with because the butchers knife is stronger.
 
Jerry has made a knife or two with D2, he told a story about it, right here in this Forum, a Suitable search 10 to 12 years ago should turn it up!
 
D2 is the reason I sold all of my small Busses (AD, GW, etc.). For a non-chopper, I think it is a better choice.
 
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