Kabar D2 Extreme Fighting/Utility Knife (steel question)

N

Neo

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Sep 12, 2002
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Kabar states:

Cutting tests prove that D2 is one of the toughest steels used in knife making

Is D2 a good steel to use in hard-use (abuse) knives?
I thought D2 isn't really a though steel at all
If I look at these charts I see D2 has a toughness of 31 joule ( 440c has 22 joule) and A2 at 60 RC has 56 joule (almost double)

http://corse76.altervista.org/col.php?noti2=resilienza

I believe D2 would be a good choice for a hunting knife but not for a survival type of knife.
I mentioned kabar because everyone knows them, but in fact I'm looking at another brand with a similar knife also made in D2
I wonder why they use this steel for such knives?
Is it cheaper, easier to machine, heat threat,... ?

Does anybody know the toughness of A8 or viking (see chart)?
Why are these steel not more common?

http:
//corse76.altervista.org/col.php?noti2=acciai

Actually I'm trying to convince myself to buy that knife in spite of the D2
 
I found a chart with A8 mod

Tb.B1.bmp


http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hAft99--3nk/R8QQNBbtbTI/AAAAAAAAAEs/0Rk_xDfQflg/s1600-h/Tb.B1.bmp

.
 
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D2 is only weak if you try and pry with it. Besides that its one of the toughest steels I have ever used.
 
Don't see many in L6 and I have yet to try 3V but I'll still take D2 over the others.
 
When compared with many stainless steels at RC60 (D2 is toughest around RC60 per Crucible's data sheets), D2 is relatively tough. If you compare D2 with non-stainless tool steels (1095, M4, S7, A2, O1, etc), it is more or less in last place in terms of toughness.

For what it's worth, I have a RAT7 in D2 which I have batoned through oak. The only damage the knife sustained was when I put the tip into concrete (I was practicing in my backyard and the tip when right through the mat I had the log on :o). But it wasn't anything I couldn't fix with a diamond rod and some elbow grease. ;)
 
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knifenut1013 said:
D2 is only weak if you try and pry with it. Besides that its one of the toughest steels I have ever used.
Click to expand...

As a general rule, D2 is tougher than stainless cutlery steels.

But there are many, many steels that are much tougher than D2 so using D2 for a hard-use knife is generally considered a poor choice.

Edit: AMRaider was too quick. :)
 
If you look at the charts A2 at 60 HCR is almost twice as though as D2 at 58-60 HCR
S7 more than 5 times as though!!!

Point is for a heavy user where toughness is essential there are far better solutions
 
I like D2. I like it enough to make my own hard-use knife from CPMD2.

I cut with my knives, so I want edge retention. The CPMD2 loses its hair-whittling edge a little faster than I'd like (still better than most), but it stays reasonably sharp forever. I've only chipped D2 on rocks (small chips). If the stock is thick enough, I'd have no worries about breaking the blade even when batoning and stuff.
 
i have had a kabar d2 for years now.i did'nt know they still made them. mine held good edge after chopping on seasoned oak.bought optional sheath with acessory pouch.keep it on my web gear with my bugout pack.weight @ utility still make it number 1 for me. my 4 years in the corps ;i never saw any marine break an issue k-bar.
 
GregY said:
As a general rule, D2 is tougher than stainless cutlery steels.

But there are many, many steels that are much tougher than D2 so using D2 for a hard-use knife is generally considered a poor choice.

Edit: AMRaider was too quick. :)
Click to expand...


Please enlighten me on why its a poor choice.
 
knifenut1013 said:
Please enlighten me on why its a poor choice.
Click to expand...

Simple, D2 is one of the least tough carbon steels.
For a heavy user (big blade) toughness is the most important element.
For this kind of knives it's a poor choice to use D2.

This does not mean D2 is a bad steel.
D2 is still tougher than most stainless steels and almost act as stainless (don't rust easily).
In his tests Vassili found out Doziers' D2 has the best edge retention.

If I was a hunter I bought a dozier in D2 but for a big "survival" there are far better choices in steel
 
The reason D2, 1095 or stainless 420HC, 440, 154CM,12C27, N690 are used so much
is because they are very common and cheap: certainly compared to lets say A8 or even cpm 3V.
I don't have a problem they use these steels but I do have a problem they advertise it as:
Cutting tests prove that D2 is one of the toughest steels used in knife making

They is certainly not KABAR alone
 
Such is marketing.

It is the nature of business to get people to buy your product instead of someone elses. Just look at the stories for almost every Cold Steel knife and some of the Benchmade ones too.
 
Neo said:
Simple, D2 is one of the least tough carbon steels.
For a heavy user (big blade) toughness is the most important element.
For this kind of knives it's a poor choice to use D2.

This does not mean D2 is a bad steel.
D2 is still tougher than most stainless steels and almost act as stainless (don't rust easily).
In his tests Vassili found out Doziers' D2 has the best edge retention.

If I was a hunter I bought a dozier in D2 but for a big "survival" there are far better choices in steel
Click to expand...


I have a 10in D2 blade that has proven very tough and to me the statments you make are more of an opinion than fact. Sure it may not be your ideal choice but it is without a doubt a tough steel. You always hear of D2 being brittle or not tough, I must have a peice of magical D2 because I can't even get mine to chip when I hit rocks.

D2 may be more suited for a smaller blade but in a smaller blade there are also much better steel options. This debate will never end, D2 is just one of those steels that no one can agree on. Just because it "looks good on paper" does not mean that is how it works in real life.
 
knifenut1013 said:
I have a 10in D2 blade that has proven very tough and to me the statments you make are more of an opinion than fact.
Click to expand...

The scientific fact is that it's less though than most other carbon steel.
If you haven't broken your knife fine.
If you are happy with your 10inch D2 blade fine.

If you compare D2 with lets say ATS34 it isn't brittle :rolleyes:
 
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