thoughts on CPM D2 (updated)

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kane22

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Feb 25, 2013
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I've got one on the way. With the added toughness and finer grain structure of cpm d2 over regular d2, it looks like a pretty balanced steel to me. If it doesn't take a nice edge I'll be a little disappointed. I think Benchmade runs their's around 61HRC.
 
Benchmade has done a good job with D2 in my experience.. I don’t know if CPMD2 will be different to heat treat. Looking forward to your feedback on it after some use. I’ve read CPMD2 is similar to PSF27 ( great steel ).
 
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I'm curious how you like it, too.
I love regular, good, ingot D2.

Please keep us posted.
 
I've also seen it compared to Carpenter's XHP. On paper it seems like it should be a pretty well rounded steel. My goal was to have something tougher than my s30v, and m390, that will still hold a decent edge. The blade is coated so I'm too worried about rust.

I'll let you guys know what I think.
 
Is this just a general edc type knife, or do you have specific things to cut?
Steel type is usually picked for use.
 
I’ve had my Benchmade Claymore in CPM D2 for about a year and have no complaints so far. The Claymore is my first knife in this steel but I’ve had numerous D2 knives over the years. Personally, I can’t tell much of a difference performance wise.
 
Crag the Brewer said:
Is this just a general edc type knife, or do you have specific things to cut?
Steel type is usually picked for use.
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I've been a big fan of the Doug Ritter Grips. Both as edc and a hunting knife. I have a lot of nice fixed blades, but I till end up with a Griptilian in my pocket more times than not when I'm in the woods (and every day). I couple days of climbing up and down the mountains and want to carry as little as possible. The Benchmade Redoubt looks like it has a good blade shape for skinning work.
 
I have a couple Benchmade's in D2, a 710 acquired when they first came out over a decade ago, and a Cabela's Grippie. Both seem very fine grained, compared to my only other D2 blade, a Dozier K1 General Utility. (Same for Benchmade's S30V, a Mini Rukus, and the first knife I acquired in S30V. Maybe it has to do with Benchmade's heat treat.) I have a CS American Lawman in CTS-XHP, which also seems very fine grained. It would be difficult to tell much difference between CPM-D2 -- they're all excellent steels.
 
SMKW did a video on CPM D2 a while back and part of the bit was how the CPM version isn't quite the same as ingot D2. Besides the powder metallurgy side they also changed the mix a little. Almost made it sound like a product improved D2 besides having finer carbides.
 
In Larrin's article on heat treating D2 he says the composition is the same with ingot and PM version. I have tried CPM D2 and it had the same heat treat response as ingot D2.

I like CPM D2, has good enough edge stability for me, much better than the ingot version.
 
Larrin's work shows CPM D2 to be a fair amount tougher than PSF27, which in turn is better -- tougher -- than ingot D2.

All three steel have the same composition, but spray technology improve grain structure and powder technology improves grain structure even more.

D2 is fairly popular and CPM D2 is better. But in today's steel world, it's difficult to think of a situation where some high-end steel wouldn't have much better performance than any form of D2.
 
Wolverine666 said:
Interesting thread. I wonder how CPM D2 compares to CPM CruWear. Similarities? Differences?
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Cruwear will be a little tougher, and should have better wear resistance. CPM D2 has more chromium so it should have the edge in corrosion resistance. No first hard experience yet, but that's what I'm thinking.
 
Twindog said:
Larrin's work shows CPM D2 to be a fair amount tougher than PSF27, which in turn is better -- tougher -- than ingot D2.

All three steel have the same composition, but spray technology improve grain structure and powder technology improves grain structure even more.

D2 is fairly popular and CPM D2 is better. But in today's steel world, it's difficult to think of a situation where some high-end steel wouldn't have much better performance than any form of D2.
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I have only used ingot form of D2.
I've read here from a well known maker Here. One of the "more popular ones"
That they prefer the original version because the chrome carbide stays large and chunky. While it's true that CPM, and spray versions are tougher, those two types have the carbide spread out more evenly within itself. Look at the steel structure, compare the versions. It's dramatic.

Those chunky carbide are great for slicing through rope, hide, and flesh.....heck, even tomatoes. They are like toothy serrations. They cut/slice better than the newer updated versions.

So, Yes the newer types Are tougher, but cut not the same.
 
Here's ingot D2 from Larrin's website that I linked to:

1725584470478.png

Herre's CPM D2

1725584502622.png


I can see what you're saying in theory, but I've never seen it test out that way. In Ankerson's rope cutting (a sticky in the Knife Review subform), Dozier D2 got 220 cuts. PSF27 got 280 cuts. He didn't test CPM D2, but I'd guess it would have done better.

But the high-end steels did a lot better. M4 was 500-740 cuts. 10V was 1,100 to 2,400 cuts. Both of those steels are tougher than ingot D2.
 
Twindog said:
Here's ingot D2 from Larrin's website that I linked to:

View attachment 2654800

Herre's CPM D2

View attachment 2654801


I can see what you're saying in theory, but I've never seen it test out that way. In Ankerson's rope cutting (a sticky in the Knife Review subform), Dozier D2 got 220 cuts. PSF27 got 280 cuts. He didn't test CPM D2, but I'd guess it would have done better.

But the high-end steels did a lot better. M4 was 500-740 cuts. 10V was 1,100 to 2,400 cuts. Both of those steels are tougher than ingot D2.
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Yeah, those Other steels have completely different make ups, different steels.

Not sure about the Dozier test? Was the edge angle the same? Similar bte? Idk?

Personally, I'm not really arguing as I haven't tried the CPM or spray versions. I Would, but just haven't felt the need. I think I'd choose handle design over regardless if it had which version of D2...

But I Do like the original, With a good heat treatment.
 
Crag the Brewer said:
Yeah, those Other steels have completely different make ups, different steels.

Not sure about the Dozier test? Was the edge angle the same? Similar bte? Idk?

Personally, I'm not really arguing as I haven't tried the CPM or spray versions. I Would, but just haven't felt the need. I think I'd choose handle design over regardless if it had which version of D2...

But I Do like the original, With a good heat treatment.
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There is no doubt that you can make an excellent knife from ingot D2. When I started on the forum, people would rave about how D2 would take a bad edge and hold it forever. And you look at those huge, jagged carbides and you'd think that it would make a jagged, sawtoothed micro-edge that would never stop cutting rope.

I was surprised at the Dozier results, too. But Ankerson had an excellent testing protocol. He worked with Phil Wilson to get it down to a science. The edge he used in testing was 30 degrees inclusive, polished with 6,000 grit. Maybe that is too fine a polish for D2.
 
Twindog said:
There is no doubt that you can make an excellent knife from ingot D2. When I started on the forum, people would rave about how D2 would take a bad edge and hold it forever. And you look at those huge, jagged carbides and you'd think that it would make a jagged, sawtoothed micro-edge that would never stop cutting rope.

I was surprised at the Dozier results, too. But Ankerson had an excellent testing protocol. He worked with Phil Wilson to get it down to a science. The edge he used in testing was 30 degrees inclusive, polished with 6,000 grit. Maybe that is too fine a polish for D2.
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That is pretty smooth 6k. It might of changed things
 
Protech runs it in several models, I trust them to produce a good product so it must be decent stuff ☺️
 
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