S30V or D2?

[Cliff Stamp]

...more to do with the size of the carbides

I have read this too, but this is actually the opposite of what the CPM process is supposed to achieve which is a finer grain not a coarser one, compared to other similar alloys of course, it will still be coarse compared to 52100 but should be way finer than D2 which has one of the most coarse structures of the commonly used blade steels.

I don't put D2 in the same class as ceramic.

The performance you describe is how ceramic knives behave so yes that is what you are saying. A tempered D2 knife should not be that brittle it breaks if you accidently drop it, only ceramic and carbide blades are generally that fragile. Are there D2 blades which can behave in this manner, sure, but this isn't how the steel should behave when properly hardened.

Could it be that the factory maybe had a reason for the thickness they chose n the steel they use?

Yeah lots of them I would assume they are doing it after all and the design isn't likely random, but it isn't that they cut better, sharpen easier, or have better edge lifetime that way.

I could do the thinning down of a blade also with just about anything out there but that doesn't mean it will hold up ...

Mine hold up fine for cutting things, otherwise I would not grind them accordingly and I am not overly gentle with them.

I think if I had a choice between two blades that are super thin I'd take the D2 though and certainly over S30V at least right now.

If it was a random shoot so would I and it would not even be a close decision. I have not seen nearly as many reports of problems with D2 as I have with S30V, only one actually, Sodak's problems described in the reviews forum recently.

But choosing a custom made blade is different, the maker should be testing the blades on a regular basis and can tell you the expected performance and should know the benefits and drawbacks of the steels he is using so just ask him some questions and pick the one which has what you need.

-Cliff