D2 hardness question

I think it is btween 60 - 62. I have a KABAR D2 extreme and I believe it was adveritsed at about 60-62. Look around though, I might be a little off.
 
Sounds about right. I have a queen D2 stockman and it is hard stuff, and I've heard 60-62 somewhere else too..
(Diamond stones are very helpful)
Seems to stay sharp (almost) forever... though I have seen some small (very small) rust pits, so I would keep it oiled or very dry.
 
Well, i don´t want to be academic, but last year as i was preparing my first custom (in D2) a asked myself the same.

You can´t say optimum hardness without asking for the rest of the heat treatment. That means different hardening temperatures result in different hardness and / or properties (excuse me if written wrong).

Usually D2 blades are offered between 59 to 61 or 62 HRC. Temperatures are usually held down for the reducement of remaining austenite. This is a good way for industrial production. No difference to what steel mills are recommending. It´s the best for hardness and corrosion resistance. That´s the way Benchmade goes.

Best way is to go for secondary hardness (high temperature hardnening and tempering at 450 - 500°C). That was recommended by engineers of steel mills aswell as from Mr. Bob Dozier, if you aim for the best relation between hardness and toughness.

He himself aims for edge holding at the price of a little toughness, as shown in one of Cliff Stamps reviews. I guess, he uses higher temperatures to harden but stays in the normal range (100 - 200 °C) to temper them. Both ways feature the risk of remaining austenit, so you have to be very careful about it.

But a custom knifemaker will fix this.

So you can get three different blades, all at HRC 61, but all different in their performance.

I am very satisfied with the custom, which get high Temperatures. Nearly as fine grain as a carbon and no rust issue. It´s a fixed blade, easy to maintain.

Which knife are you thinking of?
 
Just remember the higher the RC the harder it is to resharpen along with the chance of a brittle edge. Depends on who's doing the heat treating.
Scott
 
The general rule of thumb is to take the blade to its maximum hardness, then temper it back 10%. This will leave D2 at Rc60 +/- 1. There is always a range quoted when heat treating to allow the heat treater some leeway.
 
Razorback - Knives said:
Depends on who's doing the heat treating.
Scott
Click to expand...

Would say:"Depends on how the heat treating is done", as long as i think everybody tries to do his best.


I second the thump rule as far as low alloyed to carbon steels go. Considering high alloy like D2 or S30V or even A2 secondary hardness is a point to think about.

Damasteel for example recommends two main heat treatments for their RWL34 (a PM - ATS34, as you like): One is "traditional and the other is on high temperatures both claiming hardness 61+HRC.

First one will be better stain resistant, second tougher.

Same hardness, different blades.
 
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