I hate D2 steel - it's overrated and rusts like crazy!!! Take my Ontario...

[Heffeb]

I hate D2 steel - it's overrated and rusts like crazy!!! I'll tell you something else, too. I've got several Ontario Rat I and II knives in both D2 and AUS8 steel, and the AUS8 outperformed the D2 in every single category, including edge retention!!!

It is what it is...

 

[Corton93]

Different strokes for different folks I guess..

I've got many d2 blades.. the only aus8 I think I still have is an old CRKT.

For my use I'd generally take d2 over aus8 for 90% of applications. Never found anything too hard about rubbing a little oil on my blades once a month...

 

[ktataragasi]

Body chemistry seems to be a large factor. I've never rusted any blade. I've had/used c75, 1095, Maxamet, K390, m2, M4 and had no issues. Other people rust S35vn.... The good news is that aus8 is a good steel when done right and there are many good budget options available.

 

[dericdesmond]

Everything is what it is.

 

[Sharpoholic]

Not all d2 is the same

 

[trevitrace]

Everything is what it is.

 

[shane45-1911]

Says the guy who states "The best fixed blade edc knife is the ESEE Xancudo in S35VN steel."

I take everything you say with a grain of salt, as all your posts are borderline trolling.

There is nothing wrong with D2 when heat treated correctly and with suitable edge geometry. In fact, my opinion is that quality D2 is actually under-rated.

 

[P.C.E.]

I enjoy my AD20.5 with K110 D2 a lot.

 

[bdmicarta]

There is nothing wrong with D2 when heat treated correctly and with suitable edge geometry. In fact, my opinion is that quality D2 is actually under-rated.

This is my opinion too.
One of my favorite styles is the Benchmade 913 and mine is D2 steel. It is in my EDC rotation and I've never had a problem with it rusting. I bought one used that had a mirror polished edge and it was the sharpest knife I've ever bought and it held its edge for a long time.
I've noticed that knifemakers have a lot of respect for D2, but knife enthusiasts chasing the latest greatest thing look down at it. In my EDC rotation I have M4, Rex45, S110V and K390, I'm happy to carry D2.

 

[YaArArYa]

I have some D2 . haven't seen it even patina yet. But i dis-like

 

[220-9er]

I hate D2 steel - it's overrated and rusts like crazy!!! I'll tell you something else, too. I've got several Ontario Rat I and II knives in both D2 and AUS8 steel, and the AUS8 outperformed the D2 in every single category, including edge retention!!!

It is what it is...

Any chance you picked up a knockoff?
I‘ve had a Rat 1 & 2 D2 for several years and live in a humid environment and mine show no signs of rust.

 

[Alberta Ed]

No problems with my Dozier.

 

[Danny Linguini]

Maybe everything is what it is, but not everything is as it seems.

 

[shane45-1911]

I‘ve had a Rat 1 & 2 D2 for several years and live in a humid environment and mine show no signs of rust.

Ditto.

 

[MolokaiRider]

Wait until you try 1095 carbon steel.

It practically falls apart when you give it a stern look.









































*Just kidding I love 1095*

 

[David Mary]

Wait until you try 1095 carbon steel.

It practically falls apart when you give it a stern look.

Okay not just a chuckle, but an all out snorty giggle! Well done!

 

[dirc]

another point to remember, much of the rust resistance depends on how much chrome ends up 'in solution'...
you can read about it in Larrin article on d2 ->

All About D2 Steel - Development, Use in Knives, and Properties - Knife Steel Nerds

Thanks to Robert Erickson, knifeandgear_swiss, Dale Bushness, and Paul Hart for becoming Knife Steel Nerds Patreon supporters! Update 10/22/2020: I now have an article with how to heat treat D2, PSF27, and CPM-D2 and it also includes toughness testing of each steel and edge retention testing of...

knifesteelnerds.com

 

[slyraven]

How do you stop a knife from rusting if its prone to rust?

 

[Chronovore]

I generally keep my pocket knives clean. I generally apply a very light coat of mineral oil whenever I clean them. That's usually fine.

K ktataragasi is right about body chemistry. I can carry D2 three seasons out of the year. Then in the summer, when the heat and humidity creep up, I start to have trouble. I can step up my maintenance, but unless I want to carry around one of those silicone cloths, D2 is going to spot on me. It's because of sweat and poor evaporation in my pockets. Yeah, that's gross and all, but it's reality. At 90F and 90% humidity, D2 is no longer an acceptable EDC steel for me. (That won't be true for everyone but hey, my ancestors were from the north.)

One year, I preemptively put away all my D2 at the start of summer. They were perfectly fine in a drawer. Once or twice, I took them out, oiled them, looked them over, etc. Well, one of those times apparently involved me leaving a salty fingerprint when checking for blade play and adjusting the pivot tension, after oiling. I got a nice surprise a few weeks later.

AUS-8 and 8Cr13Mov are right on the border line. I've only occasionally gotten a spot in the years I relied on those for primary EDC. Now I just carry more stainless steels and don't worry about it. My three favorite budget steels also happen to be steels that have never rusted on me: 9Cr18Mov, 14C28N, and N690. Having worn an IWB fixed blade in S35VN, that's fine too. My magic number from Larrin's corrosion resistance ratings seems to be 7.5.

 

[pholder]

How do you stop a knife from rusting if its prone to rust?

Use it