KIZLYAR SUPREME: AUS8 OR D2 ??????????? Performance and quality.....

[ronie1988]

I am interested in Kizlyar Supreme Aggressor / Delta knives. One query, How good are these knives? Which is better steel in them, AUS8 or D2. If anyone has experience then please recommend. Thanks brothers.

 

[Inazone]

I have a Kizlyar Savage in D2, and while I haven't cut anything with it yet, I did make a point to get the D2 version because it seemed like a shame to buy a nice knife with a lesser steel when better steel was available for a little more money. That was my reasoning, anyway. The workmanship on my Savage is excellent, and I have considered picking up a D2 Delta eventually.

 

[ronie1988]

I have a Kizlyar Savage in D2, and while I haven't cut anything with it yet, I did make a point to get the D2 version because it seemed like a shame to buy a nice knife with a lesser steel when better steel was available for a little more money. That was my reasoning, anyway. The workmanship on my Savage is excellent, and I have considered picking up a D2 Delta eventually.

Is it sharp, I mean D2 is generally sharp and how are the grinds and all that?

 

[Inazone]

Oh yeah, it's extremely sharp. I've been fortunate that most of the knives I've bought over the years have been as sharp as I would expect, but I wasn't sure on a knife coming from Russia. The grind on my Savage is perfect. Based on this purchase, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Kizlyar, a fixed blade anyway. I have no experience with their folders.

 

[Rostovsky]

These knives are really from Russia. This is a Russian manufacturer. But made in China. As some of the cold steel knives. These knives are very popular in Russia.

 

[Mick P]

I have a few Kizlyar knives, some in D2, some in Aus8. the Aus8 is easier to sharpen in the field, but doesn't hold the edge as long as the D2. I actually prefer the Aus8 as the edge is held really well.
What are you going to use it for? We just did a comparison of the Kizlyar supreme Maximus -v Legion at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKUeb7-Cbcw
They are both Aus8, quality is superb and finish is great. I am a Kizlyar fan.

 

[Rostovsky]

I'm also a fan of knives Kizlyar. There is the trademark "Kizlyar knives", and there is the trademark "Kizlyar Supreme", which makes the knives more similar to European and American knives.
The knife pictured is the knife the so-called Finnish (Scandinavian) type, quite common from Northern Europe to Northern Japan, including the North of Russia.

 

[PURPLEDC]

These knives are really from Russia. This is a Russian manufacturer. But made in China. As some of the cold steel knives. These knives are very popular in Russia.

They are a russian company. The manufacturer as you say is chinese.

 

[Rat Finkenstein]

I wouldn't buy one in either steel.

 

[Rostovsky]

Never say "never".

 

[AntDog]

I'd go with D2. It's only a few bucks more and D2 is far and away better than AUS8.
By the way, my Savage says "Made In Russia" right on the spine, and all over the box. There is no "made in china" anywhere, and no indication that I've seen that it was.
There is Kizlyar knives, and Kizlyar Supreme - as far as I know they are two different companies.

 

[Charr]

I'd go with D2. It's only a few bucks more and D2 is far and away better than AUS8.
By the way, my Savage says "Made In Russia" right on the spine, and all over the box. There is no "made in china" anywhere, and no indication that I've seen that it was.
There is Kizlyar knives, and Kizlyar Supreme - as far as I know they are two different companies.

From my undertsanding you are right. They are the same ownership, but different divisions of the company, much like Byrd is a smaller division of Spyrderco, and HK is a smaller portion of Benchmade. At least, that is how I undertsand their relationship.

I would say that you should ALWAYS go for D2 over AUS8. In terms of performance, the only thing that AUS8 wins on is corrosion reistance, and not by enough to ever really matter to most users who know how to take care of their blades, especially on a coated blade.
We had a discussion about CTS-XHP vs. AUS8 recently, regarding the recent upgrade that Cold Steel just went through from AUS8 to CTS-XHP. Essentially, CTS-XHP is a more stainless version of D2 in terms of performance, and it greatly outclasses AUS8, which we pretty much proved after some...discussion.

I'll see if I can find the comparison chart and generate one for D2 vs AUS8 for you.

 

[Charr]

Found it.



For those who don't understand that the small differences in some elements can make a big difference, just ask what the differences do. I can help out on most of it, and whatever I don't know off-hand myself, I can get from someone else as needed.

 

[Rostovsky]

Steel corrodes in sea water at a speed of 0.12 mm per year. On the air slower. The knife will not rust through in your life. Who knife works, knife will not rust.
The Knife Kizlyar the most popular models with steel Х12МФ, which conditionally stainless.

 

[Charr]

Steel corrodes in sea water at a speed of 0.12 mm per year. On the air slower. The knife will not rust through in your life. Someone with a knife is that the knife does not rust.
The Knife Kizlyar the most popular models with steel Х12МФ, which conditionally stainless.

That steel is the Russian equivelant of D2. And I don't see honestly the point you are trying to make. We're not concerned that our knives will rust through, but the edge and the stability of the blade in general can be destroyed by rust much faster than what you're describing.

Not to mention the fact that you're just talking about "steel". There are a ton of different steels and they will all corrode at a different rate than what you have described. For example, 1095 will rust MUCH faster than that, while N680, Z-FiNit, or H1 would show almost not corrosion, if any, after being exposed to salt water.
So I really don't get the point you are trying to make (this is not to say I don't understand you-I get what you're saying just fine), or what evidence you are trying to use.

 

[Rostovsky]

Charr, no one wanted to offend.
We have among fans of knives are very popular knives of carbon steel, rusty. Usually these knives are made of steels of local production, so us counterparts to give an example of difficult. Yes and I'm not a great specialist steels. Just user, admirer.
Here found. X12 MT is the conditional analogue of D2 steel
A lot of people in Russia live in the far North, that hunters, anglers. They use simple models of knives are carbon steel and not at all concerned that the cutting edge will suffer. Cutting edge does not have time to suffer, because it works all the time. And the appearance of the knife angler spit.
And I sit at the computer in the office and worried that my favorite knife appeared spots of corrosion.
I apologize for my English. Very hard.
But we digress from the topic?

 

[Charr]

Charr, no one wanted to offend.
We have among fans of knives are very popular knives of carbon steel, rusty. Usually these knives are made of steels of local production, so us counterparts to give an example of difficult. Yes and I'm not a great specialist steels. Just user, admirer.
Here found. X12 MT is the conditional analogue of D2 steel
A lot of people in Russia live in the far North, that hunters, anglers. They use simple models of knives are carbon steel and not at all concerned that the cutting edge will suffer. Cutting edge does not have time to suffer, because it works all the time. And the appearance of the knife angler spit.
And I sit at the computer in the office and worried that my favorite knife appeared spots of corrosion.
I apologize for my English. Very hard.
But we digress from the topic?

No offense taken at all man. I was just hoestly not understanding the point at the time was all, and don't worry about the English. I have several friends who have English as a second language, and I understand what you're saying pretty much perfectly. Have some friends who speak Russian as a first language as well, and I am particularly used to talking and typing with them.

I do get what you were saying now though.
I will say that people who use their knives constantly in the North of Russia using carbon steel probably develope a Patina on their steel very quickly, which will protect their blade from rust that could damage the blade's integrity.
You and I are the ones who have to worry about the rust all the time since we sit at our computers, and on that, it seems we definitely agree

I don't think we moved too far off topic, but getting back on the subject:

Essentially, you will find that D2 will hold an edge much better than AUS8 in use, but like Mick P said, the AUS8 is easier to sharpen, especially if you only bring minimal tools with you on a hike or something.
Personally, I would choose to take D2 with me every time like I've said, and just take a fine diamond rod and a good strop with some fine compound loaded into it to maintain the edge, but that works best if the edge is convex-ground, and I believe that Kizlyar starts with a V-ground edge on their knives.

So, my overall recommendation is to get the D2 version, put a good convex edge on it (if you have any trouble with that contact one of the excellent service providers on the exchange and they can do it for you at a fair price), and take a good strop and rod with you when you're out in the field for any extended amount of time.

 

[Rostovsky]

These people do not really care, what kind of steel their knives are made of. The knife tool for them, as for me, a hammer or a wrench, no more. Sorry for a lot of photos.
Steel D2 fully agree with you. Again, its counterpart is very popular in Russia. In the Kizlyar user survey, the majority were in favour of an analogue of D2.

 

[Thomas Linton]

On a lark, I ended up with the Kizlyar Supreme "Survivalist" in D2. It came sharp and is still sharp after 90 minutes of chopping dead White Ash and dead apple. (Ed: For different values of "sharp")

I did lose a bolt somehow, but I emailed Kizlyar asking for the specs of the bolt so I could buy a replacement here. They seem to be sending me a replacement.

A review said the hollow handle (So now I own such a critter. ) was not watertight. Don't know about the reviewer's example, but this one is absolutely watertight - perhaps airtight.

 

[FCCBCT]

I am interested in Kizlyar Supreme Aggressor / Delta knives. One query, How good are these knives? Which is better steel in them, AUS8 or D2. If anyone has experience then please recommend. Thanks brothers.

I have several of their knives and have also reviewed some of them actually using them in the field from Europe to Australia, testing them in different environments basically for real world tasks (my real world i.e. not me hacking down steel doors etc with knives). Personally I think they are great knives for the price and build quality.
The most recent models are in fact made in Russia as the laser engraving says. I'm not sure where the made in China thing came from. They were sourcing some raw materials from outside of The Russian Federation, like many manufacturers do in Europe and the USA, i.e. source cheaper priced (as apposed to poor quality- what some people refer to "cheap steels") raw materials. They also source raw products from Japan and of course Russia itself.

BTW the above info came from the CEO that I asked directly so it's not made up by me.

In regards to your question, sorry i got distracted, some say AUS8 is no good, well I've never been in the Kizlyar Supreme Factory (yet ) but however, they are heat treating their AUS8 and D2 they must be doing something right. I never had cause to complain about premature loss of edge, or chipping etc.

If you check their website you can follow their history of new acquisitions of CNC mills etc and see heat treatment going on, they certainly don't look like Chinese factory workers to me LOL.
I've hacked into one year old seasoned eucalyptus (it's like steel) and never blunted one of their D2 blades after about two weeks of this, even that amazed me to be honest.



FCCBCT