S30V v. D2 steel

Either of the two steels, S30V or D2 are good at holding an edge. I personally have experience with D2. IMO, it excells as a hunting knife steel. The two things that are most important when it comes to edge holding are good heat treatment and tempering and edge geometry.
Scott
 
so what the general senses is...Spyderco Endura 4th Generation 3-3/4" Blade Green Handle ZDP 189 Blade for $80 through knife center, is a better steel application for longer edge retention through gutting and quartering chores over s30v and D2?

S30V bosts the "best" new steel and it seems as though people would prefer BG 42 and D2 over S30V anyday. this is interesting!
 
"S30V bosts the "best" new steel and it seems as though people would prefer BG 42 and D2 over S30V anyday. this is interesting!"

Here is were we have to decide- What is best? D2 is better for me in this regard as I like a toothier edge on my "critter cutters" than would seem optimal for BG42. Also who is making the boast? Any vested interests in saying "Mine is best"? You now also have to look at the knife- sure the steel may be better suited to what you want it to do, but is the knife shape. In the end a more comfortable/ use specific knife in a different steel may speed up your progress just due to comfort.

Back to your original question- I like D2 better but there is not that much difference IMHO- pick the knife that is more pleasing to you as that one you will enjoy using more.

My 2cents only
 
sodak said:
Heat treat plays an important role
here also. I've only gotten one S30V that holds an edge as
advertised, and I had to have it re-heat treated to
60.5 from 57 to get good performance.
Click to expand...
Just curious as to the S30V knife/knives you've
seen that had an RC of 57. Which were they,
and were they all from one manufacturer?

Also, were they foreign or domestic?

Thanks!
 
I only had one tested and it was a small Sebenza, right at 57 HRC before being heat treated. The increase to 60.5 made a huge improvement in edge holding.
 
Interesting about the sebenza, is that the rockwell that CRK specifies, or was it that low by acccident? For comparison, Buck/Bos does it at 60 - 61 and it holds up real well for me. Long lasting edge with no chips.

In my limited experience, Buck S30V vs. Queen D2, the S30V is an all around better steel. S30V a true stainless, D2 stains, but worse it pits on me. The Queen D2 was hard, but the Buck S30V was harder. S30V seems to give a sharper edge. The finish on S30V is nicer than D2.
 
I think that is what is intended. Yeah, I've had some bad luck with S30V knives and edge retention (lots of old threads there), but at 60 or so, it does much better. I have usually had really good luck with D2, but you're right brownshoe, it does pit if you are not careful.
 
I currently have 14 knives in S30V and have yet to have one of them chip. Edge holding has been good, but I wouldn't say phenomenal. To be fair, I have several in D2, including three Doziers, and I have yet to have one of them chip either. Edge holding between the two seems similar, as does cutting ability. S30V takes a finer edge though, and it is stainless. I carry an S30V knife by Bill Siegle as my primary wading belt knife while fishing. This knife is almost constantly wet during the day. I usually dry it in the evenings, but there have been times when I didn't and I have never had a problem with rust. I once put one of my S30V knives away wet, by accident. It did have some rust on it when I pulled it out months later, but a little Flitz took care of it. No pitting.
 
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