Benchmade D2 performance?

C

Cajun Carry

Joined
Jun 29, 2022
Messages
83
I am looking at picking up another Benchmade Griptilian to have as a backup/beater. I already have a full sized sheepsfoot in s30v, which has been great. I noticed Cabelas/Bass Pro have an exclusive grip/mini grip in D2 steel. Anyone have any experience with Benchmade's D2? Worth it just to try out something new, or just stick with S30V?
 
D2 is getting an incredibly undeserved negative rap lately, due mostly to the influx of cheaply made, poorly heat treated Chinese crap.

Benchmade does D2 just fine. I have a several that perform without issue. While I also have several S30V Benchmades, I tend to go for D2 when toughness is a requirement.

Note that BM uses CPM D2, which is different than D2. CPM D2 offers better toughness, wear and edge retention due to the smaller carbide size.
 
Last edited:
If I recall the discontinued 710 was in d2 and mine held an edge quite well. It was a pretty highly regarded knife at the time and I don’t remember many complaints about it. D2 is a good steel if heat treated properly
 
Benchmade's D2 is great, and many originally considered it an upgrade in edge retention over their standard 154CM. They've since upgraded to S30V across their lineup, but D2 is still a great option for a beater.
 
Benchmade does D2 well. Like all D2, it will pepper-spot with dots of corrosion if not looked after on a regular basis. But it does hold an edge well.
 
I bought a Claymore in D2 a couple of months ago. I purchased it specifically to beat on it at work, and it has not disappointed. Cut, dragged, dropped when it snapped open out of my hand.

I am super impressed. It's not Cruwear, but it's a performer.
 
I think benchmade does D2 better than most, for production guys at least. If you're just after something different than S30V, it's a fine option. I wouldn't pay more for it than S30V though (not sure what they're charging for the exclusive).

I've also had some of the best 440C from Benchmade in their fixed blades, back when they still used it. For the most part, I think they get the heat treat right in the steels they choose to use. Some of their CPM 3V knives were not the best as it was softer than it should have been for a year or two, IMO. I think it was the bailout and puukko that were soft. Otherwise, they do a pretty good job.
 
I never really spent a whole lot of time with D2 as a serious user knife until lately. I didn't expect much because of what you hear and because it's a Petrified Fish, but I wanted to try a PF. It's been my "throw in my pocket when I'm wrenching and doing yard work and anything harsh that I don't like doing with some of my other knives-knife" It has surpassed my other beater knife in S30v so far. I sharpened them both at the same time with the same method and just had to sharpen the S30V today while the D2 is still cutting pretty dang good. It's not a benchmade but some D2 experience anyway.
 
shane45-1911 said:
D2 is getting an incredibly undeserved negative rap lately, due mostly to the influx of cheaply made, poorly heat treated Chinese crap.

Benchmade does D2 just fine. I have a several that perform without issue. While I also have several S30V Benchmades, I tend to go for D2 when toughness is a requirement.

Note that BM uses CPM D2, which is different that D2. CPM D2 offers better toughness, wear resistance and edge retention due to the smaller carbide size.
Click to expand...

Great point. It's important to differentiate. Many if not most of the D2 blades coming out of China right now have issues. Their "D2" is produced and used in large quantities. It automatically sells well because it says "D2" on the blade and that steel already had a good reputation here.

On the one hand, this Chinese D2 rarely holds up to what you'd get from Benchmade or other companies making their knives here. There is a lot of speculation on why. Some of it might be the purity or consistency of the starting material. For instance, XRF testing via LuvThemKnives shows the vanadium level varying more than it should in Chinese D2, with values going low more often than high. Some of it definitely could be heat treatment. Some companies also seem to have a better handle on it than others. Whether or not that means they have a better heat treatment protocol, they got their "D2" from Producer X versus Producer Y within China, or some combination of factors; I don't know.

On the other hand, Chinese D2 is generally a good step up from 8Cr13Mov on edge retention. Chinese D2 shows up in a lot of very affordable knives that are often competitive with contemporaneous models in 8Cr13Mov. A great example of this is the Petrified Fish knives. They have several D2 models available in the $30-40 range. They also seem to be doing a better job with it than some of the other Chinese companies. This is where I think the Chinese D2 shines.
 
Benchmade's D2 seems very fine-grained, judging by my 710 and Cabella's Grippie. Both take a very fine edge on DMT fine (600 grit) and hold it a long time. My Dozier K2 by comparison seems to have a coarser grain and responds best sharpened on a DMT Dia-Sharp Extra Coarse 220 grit -- not complaining, it cuts like a little chainsaw.
 
I had a D2 Adamas that I carried ( abused ) daily for over 7 years. I did horrible things to that knife: prybar for paint cans, cutting metal straps off pallets, cutting open cement bags, throwing, dropping, deliberately dropping, using in place of flat bar for roofing tiles, lifting floor tile, prying open stuck cabinets.. the D2 held up fine. I don’t remember any chips I couldn’t get out with a light sharpening. Benchmade does D2 right.

The HK line Benchmade did was a different story. I dropped an axis Tanto once, the edge looked serrated afterwards. I was able to sharpen it out in 20 min. I’m guessing the heat treatment was bad.

44DF47B8-3C17-47D5-A890-E415FF50BDC5.jpeg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top