D2

Steelhog

Steelhog

Joined
Jul 2, 2009
Messages
1,176
Hey guys. I think I like D2 more than s30v call me crazy, I just like D2 more. I have many knives in both. I just wanted to know who does D2 the best. The knives I have now in D2 are Benchmade and Knives of Alaska. I have seen that Bob Dozer has some great D2 knives. Just looking for your feedback. Dont make this a D2 vs s30v thing, I myself like it more, you may not.
 
Dozier is pretty much the end-all be-all when it comes to D2. S30V has a finer grain and a more consistent carbide distribution, so the edge is often finer but not a whole lot stronger.
I've used the two steels in a number of similar chores, and while I can't honestly say I see much functional difference, I've noticed a difference in sharpening. They're both about as tough to hone, but I find a D2 edge way harder to bring back from nothing.
 
D2 is what keeps me from buying the newer version of the 710. It performs and holds an edge well but good lord is it a chore to sharpen.

As for who does D2 the best, that is hands down Mr. Bob Dozier. His heat treatment process has earned him the title of the master of D2. I don't what it is but people just rave about it.
 
steelhog said:
Hey guys. I think I like D2 more than s30v call me crazy, I just like D2 more. I have many knives in both. I just wanted to know who does D2 the best. The knives I have now in D2 are Benchmade and Knives of Alaska. I have seen that Bob Dozer has some great D2 knives. Just looking for your feedback. Dont make this a D2 vs s30v thing, I myself like it more, you may not.
Click to expand...

I did some formal testing on edge retention and to my surprise Dozier's D2 take first place being visible ahead of other steel:

http://playground.sun.com/~vasya/Manila-Rope-Results.html

I think he has some magic with D2. But quality differs from D2 to D2. KaBar's Dozier D2 from Japan as well shows pretty good results. But friction forged D2 did not really show any improvement in edge holding - at least on those tests.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
D-2 is actually one of my favorite knife steels :thumbup:

I had it on my microtech socom elite, my benchmade 710, and on my benchmade/nra knife.

It does take a lot of effort, but I learned quickly that a good diamond set does the trick really fast.

It does seem to last forever too :D
 
tjsulli790 said:
D2 is what keeps me from buying the newer version of the 710. It performs and holds an edge well but good lord is it a chore to sharpen.
Click to expand...

If you set the bevels at the correct angles it's an easy steel to touch-up. You'll need diamond rods or stones to make the process faster, but it's worth it. D2 holds a sharp edge for a looooooong time. Gets a little dull? Couple passes on a ceramic and you're good to go.

The 710D2 I played around with had a thick [45-50 degrees inclusive] ass edge on it. Ripped cardboard and wouldn't shave hair. It was a passaround knife so I didn't bother reprofiling it, but what a bummer to have such a nice knife with excellent steel leave the factory with such an inefficient cutting edge put on it.
 
nozh2002 said:
But friction forged D2 did not really show any improvement in edge holding - at least on those tests.

Thanks, Vassili.
Click to expand...

I haven't tried friction forged D2 yet but I read a review that said it has very fine carbide structure that works brilliantly as a knife for dressing game (for which it was designed) but performed poorly on some other materials.
 
antonio_luiz said:
I haven't tried friction forged D2 yet but I read a review that said it has very fine carbide structure that works brilliantly as a knife for dressing game (for which it was designed) but performed poorly on some other materials.
Click to expand...

It was designed for welding steels not for dressing knives...
I tested it on manila rope.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Only knife I have in D2 is the Kershaw Outcast. It's their answer to the machete I guess. Performs pretty well and definetly some strong stuff but personally, I wouldn't want D2 steel in a small folder but for a large fixed blade its good. Just my opinion.

s7_517282_imageset_02
 
jonnyt16 said:
Only knife I have in D2 is the Kershaw Outcast. It's their answer to the machete I guess. Performs pretty well and definetly some strong stuff but personally, I wouldn't want D2 steel in a small folder but for a large fixed blade its good. Just my opinion.
Click to expand...

I would argue the opposite: there are a lot of better less-brittle carbon spring steels out there that make for a better large chopper or fixed blade. D2 seems right at home in the small fixed / pocket knife category where wear resistance and long edge life are paramount. It's an excellent steel for a 'slicer.'
 
nozh2002 said:
It was designed for welding steels not for dressing knives...
I tested it on manila rope.

Thanks, Vassili.
Click to expand...

I remember reading your comparative test results and appreciate the work you put into it - but testing cutting performance on only 1 medium (manilla rope) will not give a true picture of a knife's performance or its suitability for what it was designed to do.

No argument - Diamond Blades D2 ultra fine grain structure will not perform as well on rope and plastic as many other knives - so what? DBK unequivocally aim their knives at deer hunters - not boaties or warehousing. Their friction forging process produces differentially heat treated knives with edges in the 66-68 RC range and other tests and reviews I've read attest that they live up to their claims for the tasks they were designed to do.

And just because a steel was originally designed for 1 purpose (D2 = metal stamping dies) does not preclude it being excellent in other areas. O1 & D2 are tool steels, 10xx series are spring steels etc...... If 1 knife/steel was the best for everyone and everything we wouldn't need the choices.
 
symphonyincminor said:
I would argue the opposite: there are a lot of better less-brittle carbon spring steels out there that make for a better large chopper or fixed blade. D2 seems right at home in the small fixed / pocket knife category where wear resistance and long edge life are paramount. It's an excellent steel for a 'slicer.'
Click to expand...


For the past 4 years I have beat the crap out of my outcast and have never had any of the "problems" that you hear about with D2. Brittle? A steel that's used for dies and punches, In my experience D2 is far from brittle. I always feel like one of few that ever say anything good about D2 and I don't understand this. I have hit my outcast off so many rocks (not on purpose) and never had anything that looked like a chip, it was always just a little flat. If I take a big chop into a tree and the blade becomes stuck I pry it side to side to get it out, creating extreme lateral stress on the edge and still not a chip. I purposely abused this knife to see if I could get some of these results that you always hear about but in the end I feel like I have found one of the best performing steels to date.
 
knifenut1013 said:
For the past 4 years I have beat the crap out of my outcast and have never had any of the "problems" that you hear about with D2. Brittle? A steel that's used for dies and punches, In my experience D2 is far from brittle. I always feel like one of few that ever say anything good about D2 and I don't understand this. I have hit my outcast off so many rocks (not on purpose) and never had anything that looked like a chip, it was always just a little flat. If I take a big chop into a tree and the blade becomes stuck I pry it side to side to get it out, creating extreme lateral stress on the edge and still not a chip. I purposely abused this knife to see if I could get some of these results that you always hear about but in the end I feel like I have found one of the best performing steels to date.
Click to expand...

:thumbup: I've noticed the trend for more tough-use military knives being made in to D2 and while cost is a factor they are also chosen for their performance. Steel used is only one part of the story - heat treat, handle, blade profile and overall shape all go into making a knife suitable for its intended tasks. Look at the magic Paul Bos and Bob Dozier do with their heat treats. The only downsides to D2 are that it isn't a true stainless, is not ideal for forging or welding (sanmai or damascus) and doesn't have the marketing hype and charisma of newer and more expensive 'super-steels'.
 
antonio_luiz said:
I remember reading your comparative test results and appreciate the work you put into it - but testing cutting performance on only 1 medium (manilla rope) will not give a true picture of a knife's performance or its suitability for what it was designed to do.

No argument - Diamond Blades D2 ultra fine grain structure will not perform as well on rope and plastic as many other knives - so what? DBK unequivocally aim their knives at deer hunters - not boaties or warehousing. Their friction forging process produces differentially heat treated knives with edges in the 66-68 RC range and other tests and reviews I've read attest that they live up to their claims for the tasks they were designed to do.

And just because a steel was originally designed for 1 purpose (D2 = metal stamping dies) does not preclude it being excellent in other areas. O1 & D2 are tool steels, 10xx series are spring steels etc...... If 1 knife/steel was the best for everyone and everything we wouldn't need the choices.
Click to expand...

This is interesting theory and as I sad meny times anybody can came up with one or another. However we have only one practical results here so far.

In that test with 27 steels being tested fine grain high hardness steel came to first place, except Friction Forged D2.

Now there is a claimes that it has finer grain and 67 HRC on edge. Was it proven by hardness test and micrography? I did heard and read about this but initial writing was about possibility of finer grain and high hardness, but then it turns somehow into fact - but I never saw any proves.

If it is 67HRC and high grain - why it did not perform as good as other fine grain and high hardness steels? Also when I inspect edge under microscope - i see some bends - not chips. It is not evidence of high hardness.

My conclusion so far - it has best on the market initial sharpness, which is why most ovner were so impressed, and due to this exstreme initial sharpness it does stay longer, which does gave good impression as well.

To me this is very interesting and promicing technology - let wait when it will bring clear benefit. May be different steel? May be laminated steel? We shall see.

But so far among 27 steels tested it take 21 place. And for me it is quite convincing, I doubt media will play so dramatic role in this case.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
antonio_luiz said:
I haven't tried friction forged D2 yet but I read a review that said it has very fine carbide structure that works brilliantly as a knife for dressing game (for which it was designed) but performed poorly on some other materials.
Click to expand...
my brother paid 400.00 for one these f.f. called diamond edge we cleaned hogs and were really not impressed. went back to carbon eye brand folding hunters.









222







2@
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top