Here is some Buck D2 (from SK). Full flat grind, these blades have some serious thickness. D2 like this on a camp knife will handle all sorts of abuse.
I voted CPM-154, but really these are all good choices.
Beautiful pair!
D2 makes sense in those knives for the same reason 440C would make sense. But then, you're not going baton with those knives either.
IMO, the steel should match the purpose as should the entire design of the knife.
If the poll had selected the 119, I would understand the implied purpose of the knife to be for hunting and D2 would make perfect sense.
But for a survival/camp knife, the selection might have better been: 420HC, 1095, 5160, 3V, AELB.
Some of have suggested that it would be nice if this knife had break out appeal to the survival bushcraft market in ways the Selkirk hasn't yet and perhaps more like the original Ron Hood Bucks started to.
Others have suggested issues of novelty compared to the abundance of 420HC and 5160 options already out there. That suggests to me that some view this build out less from users POV and more from a collectors POV. Collecting is fine and I'm sure SK will sell out the run to collectors if the blade is novel and D2 may scratch that itch.
I try hard not to collect and try to only buy knives I'll put in rotation. This Compadre is up against a Buck Reaper (420HC) and on old Schrade H-15 (1095). I'd find new homes for one or maybe both with a good Compadre.
Speaking as a somebody who might use this as they're primary user, the knife is only compelling enough to me to lay out money for if it improves on what I already own.
A saber flat grind in 5160 (or 420HC or 3V or AELB) would do that. I'd consider CPM-154 too.
This is shaping up to be a nice collectible and I'm sure it will sell out. But I'll end up passing on it and sticking with my Reaper and old Schrade for now.