Ok, so I have a Benchmade 912 stryker with D2 steel....what will it cut through?

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nauss

Joined
Feb 18, 2008
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Since I bought my Benchmade 912 Stryker I have enjoyed it. The Nitrous assisted opening is very good and the knife is all around 9.5 out of 10 in my book (if not a bit higher).

So, having D2 steel, I've found it hard to explain to people just what that means. I know it has a "Blade Hardness: 60-62HRC" but what does that really mean in real life?

Anybody care to explain a bit?

Can you start shaving the edge of another, lesser metaled knife like whittling wood or what?

:confused::confused:
 
nauss said:
Since I bought my Benchmade 912 Stryker I have enjoyed it. The Nitrous assisted opening is very good and the knife is all around 9.5 out of 10 in my book (if not a bit higher).

So, having D2 steel, I've found it hard to explain to people just what that means. I know it has a "Blade Hardness: 60-62HRC" but what does that really mean in real life?

Anybody care to explain a bit?

Can you start shaving the edge of another, lesser metaled knife like whittling wood or what?

:confused::confused:
Click to expand...

Yeah go ahead and try that. . . :D
 
D2 is an air-hardened tool steel. Most would call it a semi-stainless steel. My experience is Benchmade does a superb job of heat treating the blades for their knives, and D2 is one of my very favorites, next to M2.

D2 holds a beautiful edge, is normally a little 'toothy' out of the box, but will take a polish very well. One of my friends who uses his Edge Pro for sharpening says it's one of his favorite knife steels. As already said, it's mine too.

On your last question, don't be talked into using a good knife like yours on anything as hard as metal. Tough and sharp is one thing...it's not designed for that and I know you were just kidding!!

Hope that helps!
 
Yeah, it might do it but not on my dime!

I think it would make a mess of both blades.

I'd love to see it on a broken blade someone has out there.

I wanted to see if someone knew what the blade is capable of and so on.

I just wanted to get some info on D2 steel and how to explain it away
to those who ask me why my knife cost what it does.

Most folks don't believe I paid $175 for a flashlight either (Surefire L2)
Honestly, some of the best money I've ever spent was on that light.

Benchmade makes a great knife and it should last a lifetime if treated well.
 
Here is my EDC package. The Benchmade 912 is the newest addition.



Yes, I carry the silencer too.
 
seriously, the shaving other knives probably is not a good idea.

d2 is harder than most other knife steels, but only in a relative sense. you might be able to shave the edge from a real soft 440, but you will almost certainly ruin the edge on your benchmade.

other than hardened materials, like a knife's tempering, it should cut darn near everything.

people think im nuts for what i spend on knives, lights, guns, packs, etc. who cares, everyone spends their money on something, right? :)
 
You are fighting a losing battle to try and explain why you pay what you do for knives and lights. Only another knife person is capable of understanding, and appreciating the cost. To most people a $20 knife and a $20 flashlight are all anyone needs.
 
basically the D2 should stay sharp during normal usage for longer than a lesser steel with a lower hardness. this doesn't mean you can whittle on engine blocks and then shave, it just means that the blade will maintain its sharpness longer doing the normal everyday stuff which means less sharpening. as far as justifying the price you might as well try to teach a pig to sing, people just don't get it.
 
Oh, and just because you're curious, yes you can "shave" off bits of softer metals, even softer steel, but it's not terribly impressive looking and you need to be careful, too much pressure and you'll chip the edge out severely.
 
I heard a story about a Cold Steel VG-1 folder shaving the edge off a Buck hunter in a bout of one-upsmanship. I can't vouch for authenticity, but it doesn't sound impossible.
 
nauss - why the 2 different guns for EDC? are you a type law enforcement? i'm not, and i always found 1 enough, if not sometimes a pain.. i couldnt imagine wanting to carry two.... especially one with the added length of a silencer
 
ahgar said:
basically the D2 should stay sharp during normal usage for longer than a lesser steel with a lower hardness. this doesn't mean you can whittle on engine blocks and then shave, it just means that the blade will maintain its sharpness longer doing the normal everyday stuff which means less sharpening. as far as justifying the price you might as well try to teach a pig to sing, people just don't get it.
Click to expand...

"this doesn't mean you can whittle on engine blocks and then shave"

Love that:p
 
mytowrig said:
nauss - why the 2 different guns for EDC? are you a type law enforcement? i'm not, and i always found 1 enough, if not sometimes a pain.. i couldnt imagine wanting to carry two.... especially one with the added length of a silencer
Click to expand...

Not LE yet, I should be by the end of the year if all goes right.

I don't carry the .22 with suppressor on it every day. Just on days when I wear a coat and such. Really started as a joke to my sister and went from there. People love to see it and always say "Isn't that illegal?"

Not in Tennessee. 35 states legal. Handgun carry permit in Tennessee doesn't prohibit it so why not?
 
missin_hobo said:
I heard a story about a Cold Steel VG-1 folder shaving the edge off a Buck hunter in a bout of one-upsmanship. I can't vouch for authenticity, but it doesn't sound impossible.
Click to expand...

It does not sound possible to me.
VG-1 is hardened to about 59
Buck hardens their blades 58
That is not enough difference to let one shave the other.


To answer the original question,
Having a D2 blade means that you will need to sharpen your blade less often than if you had 440A, 440C, AUS8, AUS10, or VG10. And that's about all it means. For a lot of us, that is enough.
 
The best way I have been able to explain what D2 is to non knife people is to tell them that it is a TOOL STEEL. And when they ask what that is,
Tool Steel is used to cut regular metal. Tool steel is harder and stronger so it dose not dull or break as easily as regular steel or other metals.
Usually when they figure out what that means they understand, somewhat.
 
missin_hobo said:
I heard a story about a Cold Steel VG-1 folder shaving the edge off a Buck hunter in a bout of one-upsmanship. I can't vouch for authenticity, but it doesn't sound impossible.
Click to expand...

Quick, where's that "You can cut through a tank with a Katana!" jpg from the "images that make you laugh" thread? :D
 
Tiny86 said:
The best way I have been able to explain what D2 is to non knife people is to tell them that it is a TOOL STEEL. And when they ask what that is,
Tool Steel is used to cut regular metal. Tool steel is harder and stronger so it dose not dull or break as easily as regular steel or other metals.
Usually when they figure out what that means they understand, somewhat.
Click to expand...

And then either ask you to cut other metals, or try it themselves. Great explanation, but I highly suggest not handing off your knife for inspection if you explain it that way!
 
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