+'s and -'s of D2?

What are D2's qualities, especially in a large camp/chopper/survival blade?
 
A

Ambassador

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D2 is a premium dendretic steel. (dendretic refers to the branching crystals of carbides in the steel.) When the edge is subjected to wear the hard carbides protrude somwhat like a microscopic saw edge. This gives the edge longwearing qualities as well as a characteristic "bite"
D2 is about the best of the tool steels for holding an edge.
Hope this helps.
Hays knives are made with D2. Take a look a
www.haysknivesmontana.com
 
Funny you should post, I am going to purchase a Hays Commander! That's why I was asking! Sounds good to me. I have heard that it's somewhat rust resistant, is that true?
 
It holds a great edge a long time. It rusts like nothing else I own, even the High Carbon Tool steels like 1095 seem to resist rust better with MST Cloth.

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Wayne.
"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
Tennyson
Ranger motto

A few useful details on UK laws and some nice reviews!
http://members.aol.com/knivesuk/
Certified steel snob!
 
I think the extent to which it is rust resistant depends on the heat treatment and not nessarily just the steel "chemistry".

It is 11 to 13% chromium and should exhibit reasonable rust resistance.

Bob Dozier has shown excellent results with it for a long time. He has shown his ability to handle this steel. I can't speak for the others.

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Dick

AKTI Member # A001365
 
I've made two knives out of D2, one forged and one stock removal. The forged blade doesn't resist rust anywhere NEAR as well as the stock removal one, but both perform beautifully. I'd make more out of that steel, but it's incredibly hard to work and rather expensive, as steels go. Great stuff to HAVE knives out of, though.
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Oz


"Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken!" -Tyler Durden
Check out my egocentric homepage! Updated just last November!
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For a large camp/chopper/survival blade, D2 properly heat treated, ROCKS! Takes a great edge and holds it a long time. It is not a stainless steel, not even close, it will rust and discolor but for what you are asking about, who cares?
 
Ambassador said:

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">D2 is a premium dendretic (sic) steel.</font>
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Well, D2 IS available in a dendritic form. This means that it is cast, usually in a porcelain mold which is in the shape of the final blade. I believe, however, that most D2 is a standard billet steel, and NOT dendritic.

That it is not stain resistant should not be a surprise. There is a borderline amount of Cr present to begin with, which is decreased by the formation of Cr carbides, thus the free Cr (which provides stain resistance) is lower.

Walt
 
According to a chart I saw earlier today, D2 is regarded as a fairly weak steel -- I believe in the sense of the ability to withstand shock.

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Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
Once in a while it may be of use, to remember what a steel was originally invented for.
D-2 is a "die"-steel.
Resists to VERY high pressure without much deformation, meaning: "yield" is very close to UTS. (very high in carbon).
Cracks easily, if you go over that limit.
Is hard and "nicely" edgeholding but not a "chopper".
Is NOT stainless, because low in chromium while very high in carbon...
Has been used for knives quite often and with good results. Quality depends on HT !
Happy sharpening
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Ted
 
I have been using D2 for my knives about 3 years now. I ask my heat treater to mantain a 58-59 Rc., which they ensure by Rc testing every blade. Thus far, from well over 100 knives sold, I have had no complaints of breakage or excess wear. Something I did learn this past weekend though - dont wipe a brand new knife with an acid soaked rag!! Rusts while you are lookin' at it!! Use Sentry Tough Cloth to protect the finish. And sometimes, that stain patina gives the knife character anyway!

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Chris Hatin

http://www.hatintec.com

"Are you ready for the defendant, Judge?"
"Yup. Bring the guilty bastard in."
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Bugs3x:
According to a chart I saw earlier today, D2 is regarded as a fairly weak steel -- I believe in the sense of the ability to withstand shock.
</font>
Click to expand...

Bugs: Right idea, wrong term. D2 can be made very hard and strong (strong being the opposite of weak). But, shock-resistance-wise, it is not known as the toughest alloy steel in the world. However, it's important to keep this in perspective. No, D-2 will not be as tough as 5160, or L6, or even A2. But, it will be tougher than ATS-34 at similar hardness. And people are making big camp knives, and even machetes out of ATS-34!

D-2 holds an edge a long time. Against all other non-stainless cutlery steels (e.g., M-2, L-6, 5160, 52100, A-2, 3V, etc.), D-2 will be more rust resistant (some people call D-2 "semi-stainless"), but typically a bit less tough at similar hardness. Against stainless cutlery steels that can reach the 60+ hardness range like D-2 can, D-2 won't be quite as rust-proof, but it will be tougher, and will hold an edge better than most.

D-2 is a great steel with qualities that provides some great trade-offs for many applications. It would not necessarily be my first choice for a dedicated chopper, like an axe, say. Since people are making big "survival" knives out of ATS-34, it's clear you could do the same with D-2, although you'd have to keep the edge thicker than if you had used a tougher steel.

I really favor D-2 for smaller blades than dedicated choppers.

Joe

 
The only first-hand experience I have with D2 is my D2E Sifu. It has a needle sharp point and I can do a full power stab into wood and snap it out sideways with absolutely no damage at all. I use Tuff-Cloth about once every two weeks and no signs of rust so far. D2E is, however, very difficult to sharpen. My Lansky coarse stone won't touch it.
 
The knife in question won't be used mostly for chopping per se. But I like a knife that can be pummeled on the spine to get it through a log. Light prying and digging, fine whittling, etc. The list of what I want knives to do, is probably asking a lot, but I use them pretty hard. I don't consider it abuse, and I take good care of my bladeware.
 
I have chopped with my D2 Ka Bar knife in D2 (around Rc 60) with no chipping or problems at all. I have cut thick wood and used it for general largish knife tasks no problems at all.

I have also used an 154CM 6.25" knife around the camp site hardened to between 62-64 Rc without any chipping or damage other than the blade dulling from a lot of use.

Joe, is CPM 10V at a similar Rc (slightly under 60) tougher than either of these steels? Crucible claim it is in fact tougher than M2 steel! And about 40% tougher than D2.

I have been told this chart is in fact incorrect or missleading in some way, what do you think?

Here is a link

http://www.crucibleservice.com/cruts.htm

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Wayne.
"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
Tennyson
Ranger motto

A few useful details on UK laws and some nice reviews!
http://members.aol.com/knivesuk/
Certified steel snob!
 
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