Does anyone have any more info regarding the strength of this blade?

[sharpknives23]

It's the Spyderco Warrior Hawk
https://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details/H03/Warrior-Hawk/1133

Spyderco doesn't give specifics regarding the heat treating process. Can I trust Spyderco to have heat treated this thing properly? Having read several threads on this forum regarding D2 steel, I'm hesitant to pay $400 that might break when put to task. Although, I do really want it, it is a nice knife. Just unsure of how to get more info

 

[littleknife]

It depends what do you want to do with it.
D2 is not used in woodworking hatchets or not much even in tactical hawks.
There is a reason for that: D2 does not have high impact toughness.
The target customers for this hawk are likely people who would have a lot of disposable income but would rarely, if ever, use it.
The steel and heat treatment are probably more than sufficient for using it as a weapon.
I am doubtful it would be adequate as a breaching or outdoors tool.
Puncturing a tire, breaking a window or puncturing fuel tanks are not that demanding and can be hardly defined as breaching.
I would not use it to puncture repeatedly oil drums, smash concrete blocks or pry open metal framed doors.
Since it was made of D2, they likely kept it really soft, which means they used a steel at parameters at which its potentials are left unrealized.
There are many tactical hawks out there which are made of tougher steel and would likely cost less too.
On the other hand if you want a cool tactical weapon designed by Laci Szabo and made by Spyderco, I say go for it.

 

[sharpknives23]

It depends what do you want to do with it.
D2 is not used in woodworking hatchets or not much even in tactical hawks.
There is a reason for that: D2 does not have high impact toughness.
The target customers for this hawk are likely people who would have a lot of disposable income but would rarely, if ever, use it.
The steel and heat treatment are probably more than sufficient for using it as a weapon.
I am doubtful it would be adequate as a breaching or outdoors tool.
Puncturing a tire, breaking a window or puncturing fuel tanks are not that demanding and can be hardly defined as breaching.
I would not use it to puncture repeatedly oil drums, smash concrete blocks or pry open metal framed doors.
Since it was made of D2, they likely kept it really soft, which means they used a steel at parameters at which its potentials are left unrealized.
There are many tactical hawks out there which are made of tougher steel and would likely cost less too.
On the other hand if you want a cool tactical weapon designed by Laci Szabo and made by Spyderco, I say go for it.

So in other words, it's a glorified shelf ornament. I mean, there are several weapons I could acquire from my local flea market for under $30 that couldn't be used to pry open doors or windows, but could cut someone or something really deeply.

Why would Spyderco, or Szabo make a weapon with flimsy steel? If it was marketed for half the price, I might be able to understand why. But if it's going to break when put to use, I just don't understand a $400 price tag.

 

[littleknife]

So in other words, it's a glorified shelf ornament. I mean, there are several weapons I could acquire from my local flea market for under $30 that couldn't be used to pry open doors or windows, but could cut someone or something really deeply.

Why would Spyderco, or Szabo make a weapon with flimsy steel? If it was marketed for half the price, I might be able to understand why. But if it's going to break when put to use, I just don't understand a $400 price tag.

Well, I did not say that it is a glorified shelf ornament or that the steel per se is flimsy. D2 is a great tool steel used in metal dies or for knives requiring abrasion resistance.
Weapons don't have to be demolition or woodworking tools. The Szabo/Spyderco hawk is a weapon ("Warrior Hawk"). It is probably plenty tough for that purpose.
Swords are not agricultural or woodworking tools either, but that does not necessarily make them shelf ornaments, even though there are definitely some which are just wall hanger sword replicas, or sword-like objects.
I don't know why did Spyderco choose D2 steel for this hawk, but it is more than adequate for making a good weapon. Maybe because the steel choice is unusual and that can set the product apart from other tactical hawks in a relatively saturated market and justify the higher price.

Once again, if you like the design, the designer and the company/brand, go for it.

 

[justjed]

Had they used 5160, or some other decent carbon steel, and priced it about $250 less, I might be interested. It's not that I don't care for D2 in a chopping tool, I just think there are better choices. Especially considering the job it's intended to do, the people it's marketed towards(people who might actually use it for its intended purpose), and the price.

I have owned a Mineral Mountain Hatchet Works fighting hatchet for more than 25 years. Most folks today would call it a full-tang 'hawk, but it's really more of a re-imagined crash-ax. Parkerized 3/8" 5160, with torch-hardened edges, and walnut handles. I'd put it up against the Spydie any day.

 

[EngrSorenson]

I probably don’t have much to add here, except that I would trust simple carbon steels for axes or hatchets always. I’m sure folks could play games with different heat treats, and optimize almost any steel for beating, but I don’t see much benefit to D2 as a striking tool steel. Who knows? Maybe there’s enough material, consistent heat treating, etc, etc, to make it useful, but who’d risk 400 bucks on a gamble?

also, for context, bronze swords were historically effective for combat.

editing for clarity on that last note- bronze is very soft and even that was used in weapons. I don’t really understand the whole “tomahawk as a weapon” thing, but even one made from bronze could serve that use.