Elmax or D2?

gull wing

gull wing

Joined
May 4, 2002
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Looking for a folding razor. Thinking of the LEEK in ELMAX or D2.
I would like a blade that gets very sharp and not too hard to sharpen.
I like D2, but Elmax???
 
I personally found d2 easier to sharpen than elmax, both will get very sharp.

Elmax is more corrosion resistant.
 
I've found Elmax to be easier to sharpen. Both will get very sharp. I generally leave my D2 blades a bit coarse (DMT fine, or medium rods on the Sharpmaker), as I've found that works better for me. I'll take my Elmax blades to a near mirror edge. I've used my CB Leek quite a bit, and it's one of my favorite EDC blades. I got an Elmax one as well, but haven't really used it much.
 
I think both will get very very sharp, they certainly come out of the box that way. The difference is maintenance and preference to be honest. My father carries a composite blade leek and uses it a ton. I sharpen it about once a month for him and it usually still has a decent edge on it when he brings it in. I have never had a problem sharpening it back up to a very sharp edge. I have a few customers who are knife knuts and they have the Elmax Leek and say the same things as far as edge retention and resharpening. So either way I don't think you will go wrong!
 
ELMAX is right now my favorite Steel for a knife...

Performance vs. Maintenance is near perfectly balanced...
 
Elmax isn't much different than M390, and being that it's a powdered steel, it will have a better (and finer) distribution of carbide. In other words, it will take a very keen edge (better than D2).

D2 is an ingot steel, and unless it's CPM-D2 you're talking about, Elmax is the winner here.
 
Blues Bender said:
Elmax isn't much different than M390, and being that it's a powdered steel, it will have a better (and finer) distribution of carbide. In other words, it will take a very keen edge (better than D2).

D2 is an ingot steel, and unless it's CPM-D2 you're talking about, Elmax is the winner here.
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I gotta go with Blues on this one.

Go get that one with the brown handles and blackwashed Elmax blade from Whitty over at USA Made Blade.
 
D2 is a pile of poop compared to Elmax. Elmax is my favorite steel and for many reasons.
 
Blues is right unless the D2 is really soft and the Elmax is really hard then it'd seem like D2 can get sharper if your sharpening skills aren't that great. If thickness and hardness are the same then elmax is the winner all the way around unless you want chunky carbides.
 
HST said:
I have no idea whom that is or why I'd want to tell him something so remedial.
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Because people say Bob Dozier is the king of D2. What people don't mention is that Ankerson tested Dozier's D2 and it didn't do that well in his cutting tests. Spray formed D2 did better and it wasn't made by the "king" of anything.
 
Bob Dozier , do some research. And d2 isn't a pile of poop by a long shot, are there better all around steels now a days? yes. Does that mean that d2 is such a poor performing steel that it should be referred to as dodo? hell no.
HST said:
I have no idea whom that is or why I'd want to tell him something so remedial.
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Blues Bender said:
Elmax isn't much different than M390, and being that it's a powdered steel, it will have a better (and finer) distribution of carbide. In other words, it will take a very keen edge (better than D2).

D2 is an ingot steel, and unless it's CPM-D2 you're talking about, Elmax is the winner here.
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Pretty sure the D2 leek is the composite with CPM-D2. That said I would still go for Elmax. The steel is pretty much all around better in terms of a pocket knife. The Leek won't be thrashed so the toughness isn't really important, pretty much all you need is edge retention and rust resistance, both of which Elmax edges out D2 on.
 
HST said:
I have no idea whom that is or why I'd want to tell him something so remedial.
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I would like you to call Bob Dozier and explain your theory to him in detail. You have no idea who he is? Then post less.

D2 is wonderful stuff. But with the price difference between the D2 version and the brown handled Elmax, I still recommend the latter.
 
I don't do remedial research, however, solid advice, thanks.
 
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My folding razor is Tenacious (8Cr) and GB (M4). Other steels I tried on my folders are yet getting that level of comfort during a dry shave.
Love 52100 but I don't have it as folder.
Couldn't make the D2 as keen (also a custom fixed blade, thin)
Never tried Elmax.

I chimed in only because OP's quest is similar to me. I want a pocket razor too.
 
Chris "Anagarika";15520684 said:
My folding razor is Tenacious (8Cr) and GB (M4). Other steels I tried on my folders are yet getting that level of comfort during a dry shave.
Love 52100 but I don't have it as folder.
Couldn't make the D2 as keen (also a custom fixed blade, thin)
Never tried Elmax.

I chimed in only because OP's quest is similar to me. I want a pocket razor too.
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Pretty much every US made Kershaw has a steel that can be used for a pocket razor (the Sandvik models literally use a razor steel).
 
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