Need D2 expertise for advice

[Jason B.]

Don't confuse D2 and CPM-D2, they are similar but very different.

 

[cotdt]

Don't confuse D2 and CPM-D2, they are similar but very different.

That's interesting. I know the CPM version of D2 is finer grained, but what else? In my knives, CPM154 outperforms 154CM significantly, but later I found out that the CPM version gets a couple points harder under the same heat treat, so the difference was mostly in the hardness for the 154's.

My response was to the quoted knifemaker saying about D2 "They go dull in minutes of work" when a diamond sharpener is used which is not really true. If it is actually heat treated well and gets a polished edge, it will serve you for more than a few minutes.

 

[The Mastiff]

I'm not the biggest fan of D2 around, but I have to admit it's not at all bad at what it does. CPM D2 at RC62 is very nice, with a few of the problems solved.

What I don't like about this statement is this:

I love it when people tell me that it is no problem to sharpen - they use a Diamond Hone or Diamond Sharpener.

That - of course - leaves it toothy. Large Carbide steels and toothy edges are a riot.

They go dull in minutes of work because the large carbides that are left exposed just break out of the matrix so - Back to the Diamond Hone.

A Properly Sharpened D-2 Edge that is refined and Polished will last remarkably but there are not a lot of folks out there than both know how to do it and are willing to invest the time to do it right.

It's a pretty arrogant statement whomever made it IMO.It would seem he looks down on the people that make up his customer base.

There are steels a lot harder to master than ingot D2 from a sharpening perspective too. Perhaps we should have to apply for permits to use these steels, test of course administered by him.

 

[dogtownhootie]

I skipped over all the replies to the original poster after the 1st or 2nd reply(the one who used the word "adjudicate").All I can say about D2 steel is what I know from personal experience.Bob Dozier makes blades that hold an edge better than most if not all.

 

[Will Power]

Most here seem to like it, I'm not such a fan though. The crucial thing is whether or not the knife comes new with a proper edge or not, if it arrives dull I've found D2 very difficult to get an edge on it. I don't much like the orange peel effect on it when it is polished either, it's better as matte. The patina is not very nice , very blotchy and spotty-none of carbon's colour or the advantages of stainless. I haven't found the edge holding to be that exceptional.Perhaps some people are bewitched by the words tool steel... I have no Dozier knives (I would like to!) but I certainly don't doubt them at all.

It's alright but it doesn't enthuse me, I certainly prefer decent carbon,Sandvik or 154 given the choice.

 

[DennisStrickland]

i love it when you guys talk carbides. high polish on d2 is not achivable but knifemakers since the 70s have informed us this fact, no one was kept in dark. we all should be aware of this fact as well as the fact carbon steels can mirror polish but can stain from one lemon.personally i prefer 1095 but being raised before good stainless in knives was available, all of us learned to maintain our guns & knives without expecting rust problems.i've used most of the newer alloys & would say the majority are good products.i just like the grab of o6 or 1095. talked to a gunsmith yrs.back & HE COMMENTED THAT THE LACK OF grab was due to vanadium carbides which made a really sharp edge not grab like carbon steel. said the van. made edges feel smoother than they really were. stainless steels were a lot sharper than the feel test indicated.i hope to give you guys my test results on cpm3v, duratech20v, & cpmd2 in the next month. d2 does have large carbides but unlike some large carbide alloys it really holds fast the carbides in the matrix.

 

[Wolverine666]

How is Benchmade's heat treating of D2 ? I just ordered the Benchmade Harley-Davidson Mini Hardtail with the D2 blade. I keep reading comparisons between D2 and 154CM. I think I understand the differences but is there really one clear "winner" as to which is better ? They both seem to be premium steels that are ideal for knives. For an EDC like the Mini Hardtail it seems that the differences are minimal. And although D2 is not "stainless" it is often considered "semi-stainless" due to it's chromium content being right on the threshold of the "stainless minimum" (D2 has 12% chromium , stainless = 13% minimum). All in all , for an EDC folder , I see very little difference. But again , how is Benchmade's rep for heat treating D2 ?

 

[BlackKnight86]

Let us all in on the maker and no doubt someone will chime in with the rest of the story. You might find an ulterior motive for the statement.

The Bark River owner.

I hope I didn't start anything...I kept his name out of it because it was a technical question. It sounded logical; but I wanted to doublecheck. Thanks, everyone, for your replies; that helps me to learn!

Wolverine666
How is Benchmade's heat treating of D2 ?

+1! I'd like to know, as well!



Dogtownhootie...here ya go:

www.dictionary.com

"Adjudicate" takes less time to type than "figure out whether he's right or not". Seemed the most efficient approach.

 

[3Guardsmen]

Sounds like you're talking about Mike Stewart.

threeman I think you are wrong. Mike is not in VA and Mike is not going to rain on someone else's parade.

The Bark River owner.

Hate to say "I told you so," A. G., but Mike Stewart's the only guy I know of who spells carbide with a capital c.

Example:

BlackKnight's Mike Stewart quote- "It's edge holding is higher then 440C but it is an even larger Carbide Steel - I mean HUGE...."

My Mike Stewart quote- "The D-2 has huge Carbides that can break out of the edge."

 

[Matt The Loader]

I have a benchmade 710 D2, I put a polished edge on it this morning, it does take longer than other steels, but you can do it. Cutting through 2 layer cardboard today, i hit the floor, and ROLLED the edge. As for rust, last summer, working outside 8 hours a day in 100- 120 degree weather, watering plants, moving tons of bricks, the blade rusted slightly, but then again, so did my s30v leek and my zt 0301. I see no problems with this steel.

 

[neeman]

I love it when people tell me that it is no problem to sharpen - they use a Diamond Hone or Diamond Sharpener.

That - of course - leaves it toothy. Large Carbide steels and toothy edges are a riot.

They go dull in minutes of work because the large carbides that are left exposed just break out of the matrix so

Excuse me but??

What is wrong in using diamonds to sharpen harder steels that my regular stones will not sharpen?
And I am a pleb because I use a jig to get easy and fast results?
And is an Extra Fine DMT stone @ (9 micron / 1200 mesh) toothy or polished?

A couple of minutes??? Buy the man a watch

 

[dogknott]

My only experience with D2 is a couple Queen knives. I use diamonds to 600 grit and then stone from 600-2000. I have not had any problems at all.I don't cut cardboard or whittle wood, mine are used for skinning critters. The only regret I have , Is I wish I would have found D2 sooner in life.