D'Eskabar: D2 steel and cooking?

[alexwrig]

Hi,

I want by buy a Becker Necker or a D'Eskabar, because I love the shape and how those knives can be personalized by using paracord or self made scales.

I do a lot of cooking in my mini van and therefore I got accustomed to using my stainless folders for cooking and even for eating. But I would really like to give one of the above knives a try. From my only non-stainless knife (Opinel Carbone) I know that this kind of steel occasionally reacts with acids from fruit and stuff and sometimes even leaves those reaction products on the pieces of fruit you just cut.

I clean my knives immediately after cooking and apply some oil but this does not keep a knife from reacting with acids while cutting.

So this is my question: I prefer the Necker design but I am afraid I'll run into those problems with cooking once the protective coat of the blade has started fading. So the other option might be to take a D2 Eskabar.

Does anyone have a D2 Eskabar and can you tell me if the steel reacts immediately when cutting fruit or other stuff containing small amounts of acid and leave a bad taste or stain on the fruit—or is there some delay due to the fact that D2 is usually considered a semi-stainless steel? So, when I cut onion or lemon or whatever—will the steel stay without stain when I clean it and apply oil within ten minutes (for example)?

Thank you,
Stefan

 

[jkulysses]

You have to pretty much work at getting a patina on D2. If you used it then immediately washed it off and wiped it down it should be fine for what your wanting to do.

On a side note your line "I do a lot of cooking in my mini van and therefore I got accustomed to using my stainless folders for cooking and even for eating." really cracked me up and I have to ask why you are doing a lot of cooking in your mini van?

 

[Tdhurl1103]

Probably because these days its extremely financially lucrative to live in a vehicle. Think about it.

Sh/t, I'd do it if I didn't have a wife and kids.

 

[alexwrig]

On a side note your line "I do a lot of cooking in my mini van and therefore I got accustomed to using my stainless folders for cooking and even for eating." really cracked me up and I have to ask why you are doing a lot of cooking in your mini van?

Thank you for your reply! I am an RC plane addict and I don't have a club airfield but put the planes in my van and drive a few miles to reach the location where I usually fly. Sometimes when the weather is fine I stay out there for a few hours. A few months ago I bought a Campingaz—so I don't have to leave when I get hungry. And I get cheap coffee, too

Stefan

 

[jkulysses]

Probably because these days its extremely financially lucrative to live in a vehicle. Think about it.

Sh/t, I'd do it if I didn't have a wife and kids.

I did think about and I came to the conclusion that he wouldn't be joining Bladeforums to ask about buying a new Kabar because he was so poor he had to live in a van down by the river.

Thank you for your reply! I am an RC plane addict and I don't have a club airfield but put the planes in my van and drive a few miles to reach the location where I usually fly. Sometimes when the weather is fine I stay out there for a few hours. After a few months bought a Campingaz—so I did not have to leave when I got hungry. And I get cheap coffee, too

Stefan

This makes perfect sense to me! Those RC Planes are a blast and I love to watch them fly. They had a place for RC Plane hobbyists outside of Ft. Riley, KS when I was stationed there and I used to ride my motorcycle there on the weekends and sit and watch them for a while. Very entertaining.

 

[alexwrig]

This makes perfect sense to me! Those RC Planes are a blast and I love to watch them fly. They had a place for RC Plane hobbyists outside of Ft. Riley, KS when I was stationed there and I used to ride my motorcycle there on the weekends and sit and watch them for a while. Very entertaining.

It's a fantastic hobby. It gives me a mix of woodcrafting challenges, electronics, art (aerobatics) and being out there breathing fresh air instead of staring at a wall or even an LCD. But just like excessive knife collecting it eats up a lot of budget.

Somewhere on this one acre I use as an airfield there must be my CRKT M16-01KZ. I lost it a few weeks ago and I just can't find it. I loved this little knife.

Stefan

 

[Alberta Ed]

Should be no problem with corrosion when using D2 blades for food prep. I just wash my Dozier off after use and store it dry in the Kydex sheath. Not a blemish after half a decade of regular use.

 

[Bladite]

i've left my D2 Eskabar soaking in blood, fat, food acids, and stuff. no issues that i can detect. no rust. no patina.

it's VERY good D2 that KaBar got on this batch. basically the stuff is .2% from being "true stainless"? iirc.

very nice. very good.

buy buy buy...

 

[stvpourciau]

i've left my D2 Eskabar soaking in blood, fat, food acids, and stuff. no issues that i can detect. no rust. no patina.

it's VERY good D2 that KaBar got on this batch. basically the stuff is .2% from being "true stainless"? iirc.

very nice. very good.

buy buy buy...

Do you do Becker work with it?

Will the Es'Kabar design take as much punishment as the Necker design.

Is the steel choice gunna mean that I shouldn't beat on it as hard as the others?

You can see my "BK 11 as 1st Becker" thread In Becker forum or " What do you pair with your KA-BAR?" thread here to see my intended use for these as a small belt knife.

Not to hijack but it is good info on the D'Eskabar and opinions are much thanked in advance.

 

[Alnamvet68]

I like the 24, but wish they would put a polish on it to make it really stand out, as well make it more kitchen worthy.

 

[Bladite]

I like the 24, but wish they would put a polish on it to make it really stand out, as well make it more kitchen worthy.

would you pay 50% more?

it's an outdoor knife, mostly, not a kitchen knife. a little 2000 grit sandpaper, and work up, and you'll have a nice polish in a couple hours. finish with water stone or a buffing wheel. don't get it too hot.

though i've HEARD some D2 doesn't take a shine well, hence the rock finish works great

 

[Alnamvet68]

would you pay 50% more?

it's an outdoor knife, mostly, not a kitchen knife. a little 2000 grit sandpaper, and work up, and you'll have a nice polish in a couple hours. finish with water stone or a buffing wheel. don't get it too hot.

though i've HEARD some D2 doesn't take a shine well, hence the rock finish works great

Let's see, an average street price of $45.00 to $50.00, add 50% for a fine satin polish job (like the Benchmade Bone Collector Skinner)....hell yeah I'd pay $75.00 more or less. Many crazoids paid that and much more for a non-USA made BK-11 San Mai that won't even accept standard production scales.

When I suggest that the BK-24 could be a kitchen knife, I'm thinking a nice set of eight polished D2 knives to keep in one's Winnebago for meal use, or when camping, etc. Take the painted knives for hard use, and the more "sanitary" stainless knives for food prep and slicing Saratoga cut boar chops.

 

[Bladite]

Let's see, an average street price of $45.00 to $50.00, add 50% for a fine satin polish job (like the Benchmade Bone Collector Skinner)....hell yeah I'd pay $75.00 more or less. Many crazoids paid that and much more for a non-USA made BK-11 San Mai that won't even accept standard production scales.

When I suggest that the BK-24 could be a kitchen knife, I'm thinking a nice set of eight polished D2 knives to keep in one's Winnebago for meal use, or when camping, etc. Take the painted knives for hard use, and the more "sanitary" stainless knives for food prep and slicing Saratoga cut boar chops.

well, i'm SURE there's a knifemaker type out there that will accept your money for a polish job. it's what they do

the san mai was "special". mine takes handles just fine. course, i got an early one, that was hand sharpened, paper wheeled, and tested. smooth.

the later ones were a little "rough" if you know what i mean. they could use a little work, but they're great cutters. also the discount/closeout price was excellent.