What's the scoop on Chinese D2 steel?

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Since the O.P. asked about Chinese D2: I've got a Chinese D2, a Taiwanese D2, and a couple of USA D2 knives. They seem to be holding up to my abuse equally...
 
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sharpknives23 said:
Yes, I do plan to use it. I like the aesthetic look of the item, as well as the overall length. There are some abandoned buildings I'd like to go and explore, and because the item is marketed as a 'breaching' tool, I'm wondering how it would fare if I were to use it as 'an expedient Halligan tool' to pry open a locked door, or even a shuttered window. I don't necessarily want to use it as a weapon, although I would if I ever encountered some coyotes or other wild animal that attacked me while I'm out doing urban ex.
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Thats some funny stuff...so what you're really asking is would the D2 that Spyderco uses make a good breaking and entering tool....thats just great......
 
Spencer Frazier, the founder of SOG Knives, wanted to build a tribute knife based on the "S.O.G. Bowie" used in the war. He contracted Hattori to build his dream, as Hattori was one of the manufacturers of the original. The SOG S1 is not an exact copy of ANY known S.O.G. Bowie, but rather a stylized tribute. It's also a MUCH better knife than ANY of the originals. Heat treatment was generally poor on the originals, leading to tip breakage on a lot of them. And just so's ya know, my Dad had an original that he brought back from Vietnam in 1967, when I was 5, a Japan Sword model most likely. I have a SOG S1, it's thicker, heavier, has better heat treatment, and a better leather handle. The S.O.G. handle washers would shrink and loosen over time, the S1 does NOT have this problem.

You can call SOG Knives Harry Butts, for all I care. The company has no relation to the Studies and Observations Group, aside from the letters in the name. And just in case you missed it, there are no periods after the letters in SOG Knives, as opposed to S.O.G..
 
In order to hate myself less for reading such a ridiculous thread, I had to look up the Warrior Hawk. I'm not impressed.

I know they're obligated to put a hole in it, but that seems like exactly the wrong place for a big void. That beard looks designed to get stuck, and judging geometry from marketing pictures is a bad idea, but I don't have high hopes for this one. And others who know far more about this stuff than I have already mentioned D2 seems like a questionable choice for things you're going to bang around with.
 
Arathol said:
Thats some funny stuff...so what you're really asking is would the D2 that Spyderco uses make a good breaking and entering tool....thats just great......
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Well, aside from using it to murder or maim someone with, I don't think it'd be particularly suited to make me a strong cup of Joe..

In all seriousness, if I wedged it in between a door and pried, would it snap in half? People on this forum have all sorts of opinions regarding D2 (both American and Chinese) but to my recollection, there hasn't yet been any side by side testing done comparing the strength of a billet of American made D2 and a billet of Chinese made D2. People say D2 is D2, but is it?
 
And, finally, if ya just WANT to argue semantics, there's actually NO SUCH THING as a S.O.G. Bowie. The nomenclature in gov't stores was 'knife, hunting, indigenous, 6", w/black sheath and whetstone". By far the majority were issued to S. Vietnamese troops being 'advised' by U.S. Special Forces, more commonly referred to as "Green Berets."
 
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sharpknives23 said:
Those are some lovely opinions that you have.

Also, thanks for that link, it still does nothing to answer my query regarding the heat treatment process involved with the Spyderco product itself.

You're wrong about your last point, because the Studies and Observations Group DOES tell you about the hardness of their products, whereas Spyderco does not. I'm sure if you wanted to do the math you could deduce just how they heat treated their items. Why does Spyderco leave this detail omitted on their website?
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You definately feel like a SOG knives person. Get in there!!
 
sharpknives23 said:
Well, aside from using it to murder or maim someone with, I don't think it'd be particularly suited to make me a strong cup of Joe..

In all seriousness, if I wedged it in between a door and pried, would it snap in half? People on this forum have all sorts of opinions regarding D2 (both American and Chinese) but to my recollection, there hasn't yet been any side by side testing done comparing the strength of a billet of American made D2 and a billet of Chinese made D2. People say D2 is D2, but is it?
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Wrong tool for the job. Get yourself a REAL prybar...
 
Arathol said:
Thats some funny stuff...so what you're really asking is would the D2 that Spyderco uses make a good breaking and entering tool....thats just great......
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-and would you mind doing some aiding and abetting of a series of criminal acts...or "urban ex" as the kids are calling it these days.
 
sharpknives23 said:
In all seriousness, if I wedged it in between a door and pried, would it snap in half?
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Probably not as long as you don’t use the blade. The end of the handle has what they call “a stout pry tip.” Spyderco doesn’t make crap. IMO this is priced a little high but if you want it just get it.
 
For what it is worth, CPM D2 has better toughness than D2 to answer that question. Still, it's a strange choice for an axe. Having said that, the heat treatment could have been optimized for lower hardness and carbides and better toughness but that's speculation on my part. Personally I wouldn't consider buying it considering the price etc.
 
sharpknives23 said:
Is a knife made with Chinese D2 worth $352.80 USD?
sharpknives23 said:
Well, aside from using it to murder or maim someone with, I don't think it'd be particularly suited to make me a strong cup of Joe..
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Yet again you have managed to answer your own question. You don't seem to think that the D2 hawk is a good for much, so its not worth buying.
Now that you have figured that out for yourself maybe you don't need to ask again?
 
snuffle said:
In order to hate myself less for reading such a ridiculous thread, I had to look up the Warrior Hawk. I'm not impressed.

I know they're obligated to put a hole in it, but that seems like exactly the wrong place for a big void. That beard looks designed to get stuck, and judging geometry from marketing pictures is a bad idea, but I don't have high hopes for this one. And others who know far more about this stuff than I have already mentioned D2 seems like a questionable choice for things you're going to bang around with.
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According to the designer, that hole is for attaching a lanyard as you would on an ice axe.
 
Arathol said:
Yet again you have managed to answer your own question. You don't seem to think that the D2 hawk is a good for much, so its not worth buying.
Now that you have figured that out for yourself maybe you don't need to ask again?
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If I could use it to break into your house and smash your devices so you'd stop asking me to stop, it'd be well worth the price tag.

(I'm joking)
 
sharpknives23 said:
If I could use it to break into your house and smash your devices so you'd stop asking me to stop, it'd be well worth the price tag.

(I'm joking)
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Well now, there it is.......you like breaking and entering? You seem to be thinking about it quite a bit.....
 
You could try breaking in to MY place. You'd likely find that a tomahawk is a better close combat tool than a breaching axe. Longer handle equals more reach, lighter weight means faster in the hand. And when it gets thrown in the direction of a jerk, whether it hits or not, it gives me a bit of time to draw the .45 Commander that rides my hip. But, that's only IF I don't get to the 12ga first.

You might wanna look at this as a career change opportunity. In fact, I'd STRONGLY advise it....
 
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