steel advise please

kalama

kalama

Joined
Feb 27, 2008
Messages
1,231
looking to get two blades a folder an a fix blade,options are,folder comes in D2(60-61) or s30v,,,fix comes in D-2,O1(58-59),aus 8,,,,looking for some advise,i like O1 an tried aus 8,,but never tried D2 or s30v????
 
Look, you're going to get a lot of fanboys who will tell you one's better than the other, but I'm pleased as punch to own anything in either S30V or D2. I might lean slighty towards the S30V for corrosion resistance, but that's not really a big deal.

I love O1 too. But man, you know it rusts if you look at it the wrong way. PITA.
 
ok the fixed would be a hunter/bushcraft blade,,,the folder will just cut boxes,rope use as a pocket knife for work an every day carry
 
D-2 and S30V are both damn good steels and are great steel for folders. You can't go wrong with either one.
 
Well, I don't own any D2, but I've read around about it on the forums here. I do have a knife in S30V though, but one of the things that makes discussing this kind of thing so difficult is that from manufacturer to manufacturer, steel can be a little bit differently heat treated. So for example, Kerhsaw's S30V is apparently much more abrasive resistant than Benchmade's, or so I've heard knifenut contend. Again I only have a BM930 in S30V, so you can take my advice with a grain of salt.

In any case, S30V seems to be more ideal for wear resistance and D2 for impact resistance/deformity resistance kind of thing. I've been explained that with something that might cause S30V's edge to roll over and burr, D2's will have more of a simple dent where the steel becomes duller and mashed in at the location. On the other hand, in terms of wear resistance, S30v is often said to get "toothier" when it dulls because of the extra vanandium, and this characteristic is said to give it slicing ability for much longer than D2, because as D2 dulls the edge simply gets kind of rounded off instead of coarser. As far as how fast each of them actually reaches this stage of wear I've heard that it's about the same amount, depending on hardness and heat treat.

You could check out this thread for some S30V vs D2 comparison, but it's not all that thorough. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=769447
 
I will agree with the Sith...1095, D2, and S30V is going to get you through 99.9% of everything you can think of. The other .01%, just grab a Snickers.
 
I've had good luck with AUS8 in a couple of folders, other folks hate it -- like any other steel it largely depends on the heat treat.
S30V will be the least likely to rust of your choices, O1 the most likely.
O1 done right is a superb cutter with good edge holding.
D2 is "semi-stainless" - I just spent 4 days camping in 90+ degree temps and frequent rain showers. there is some spotting on my D2 folder -- and it'll come off with a scotch brite pad. Edge shows no damage.
I've heard AUS8 from some companies shows surface rust pretty easy, but I've never had a problem with my cheap <$20 edc folder. It doesn't hold an edge as well as your other 3 choices, though.
 
kalama said:
ok the fixed would be a hunter/bushcraft blade,,,the folder will just cut boxes,rope use as a pocket knife for work an every day carry
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cool. that was the first step. now the second one - Heat Treat
S30V and D2 will have, somewhat different characteristics, depending on manufacturer. when it comes to S30V - my personal choice - Buck, Paul Bos does amazing HT. if D2 is your choice - then Dozier is a hands down winner
just remember - not all hunting knives will suit bush-crafting needs. hunting "assumes" working with soft materials, bush-crafting - with hard. you might wanna look for something in between - A2 from BRKT.
Fox River would be a good choice. There is always another option - purchase some CPM D2 and find a good knivemaker
all of the above - is a IMO, of cause
 
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kalama said:
looking to get two blades a folder an a fix blade,options are,folder comes in D2(60-61) or s30v,,,fix comes in D-2,O1(58-59),aus 8,,,,looking for some advise,i like O1 an tried aus 8,,but never tried D2 or s30v????
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Samael said:
Look, you're going to get a lot of fanboys who will tell you one's better than the other, but I'm pleased as punch to own anything in either S30V or D2. I might lean slighty towards the S30V for corrosion resistance, but that's not really a big deal.

I love O1 too. But man, you know it rusts if you look at it the wrong way. PITA.
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I agree with Samael. I think you would be happy with either.
 
Hey Kalama,
I'd say you should give SV30 a whirl if you haven't tried it yet. If you are looking for a performance steel for your pig hunting forays, the toughness of the steel plus corrosion resistance are big pluses.
 
I'd go with D2 all around, a little hard to sharpen (about the same as S30V) but edge performance will exceed the other options.
 
kalama said:
looking to get two blades a folder an a fix blade,options are,folder comes in D2(60-61) or s30v,,,fix comes in D-2,O1(58-59),aus 8,,,,looking for some advise,i like O1 an tried aus 8,,but never tried D2 or s30v????
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D2 and S30V are my two favorite blade steels. The S30V will offer additional corrosion resistance, otherwise, they are both great choices!

D2 is pretty rust resistant for a non-stainless steel. The only slight trouble I've had with it has been some tiny freckles of rust on the blade of a folder that had been carried during the hot, humid, sweaty conditions of summer and not looked after.

Try the folder in S30V and the fixed blade in D2. You will love them both!

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
Are the blades identical other than steel? If not then go for style, because the steels are close enough that personal preference will easily tip the balance.
 
With your useage requirements I'm go D2 for fixed and AUS8 for the folder. You could do D2 for both but it really isn't required for either. :)
 
I like AUS 8. My first Spydercos were AUS 8, and held an edge while being easy to sharpen. I have a Kabar Dozier folder in AUS 8 that I think was a very good deal. Honestly I don't think blade steel makes nearly as much difference as people say, especially given the sharp increases in price that usually come with the better steels.
 
WvHiker said:
I like AUS 8. My first Spydercos were AUS 8, and held an edge while being easy to sharpen. I have a Kabar Dozier folder in AUS 8 that I think was a very good deal. Honestly I don't think blade steel makes nearly as much difference as people say, especially given the sharp increases in price that usually come with the better steels.
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Exactly, you can have the best building materials in the world, but that doesn't make it a house. It's entirely about how it's all put together.
 
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