D2 vs S30V
S30V is tougher and resists corrosion better, and the two tie on edge retention and ease of sharpening. The biggest gap is corrosion resistance (7/10 vs 4/10). D2 is the cheaper steel (budget vs mid-range price tier).
Who wins each property
Side by side
| D2 | S30V | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Tool steels | Powder metallurgy stainless steels |
| Hardness | 58–61 HRC | 58–61 HRC |
| Edge retention | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Toughness | 3/10 | 4/10 |
| Corrosion resistance | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Ease of sharpening | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Price tier | Budget | Mid-range |
| Maker | Generic (AISI) | Crucible |
Composition
| Element | D2 | S30V |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 1.5 | 1.45 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 12 | 14 |
| Vanadium (V) | 0.9 | 4 |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 1 | 2 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.03 | 0.03 |
Property by property
Edge retention
Both rate 6/10 for edge retention. Vanadium: 0.9% vs 4%; more vanadium carbide generally means more wear resistance.
Toughness
S30V is tougher: 4/10 against 3/10 for D2, a 1-point gap.
Corrosion resistance
S30V resists corrosion better: 7/10 against 4/10 for D2, a 3-point gap. Chromium: 12% vs 14%, though what matters is the chromium left in solution, not the total.
Ease of sharpening
Both rate 4/10 for ease of sharpening.
Knives in each steel
D2
| Knife | Brand | Blade | Weight | Lock | List price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civivi Elementum C907A | Civivi | 2.96" | 2.89 oz | Liner lock | $59 | Blade HQ |
| QSP Penguin QS130 | QSP | 3.06" | 3.14 oz | Liner lock | — | Blade HQ |
S30V
| Knife | Brand | Blade | Weight | Lock | List price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benchmade Bugout 535 | Benchmade | 3.24" | 1.85 oz | AXIS lock | $200 | Blade HQ |
| Benchmade 940 Osborne | Benchmade | 3.4" | 2.9 oz | AXIS lock | $300 | Blade HQ |
| Benchmade Griptilian 551-S30V | Benchmade | 3.45" | 3.88 oz | AXIS lock | $175 | Blade HQ |
Shop D2 knives Shop S30V knives
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FAQ
Which is better, D2 or S30V?
S30V is tougher and resists corrosion better, and the two tie on edge retention and ease of sharpening. The biggest gap is corrosion resistance (7/10 vs 4/10). D2 is the cheaper steel (budget vs mid-range price tier).
Which is harder, D2 or S30V?
D2 is typically run at 58–61 HRC and S30V at 58–61 HRC.
Is D2 or S30V more rust resistant?
S30V (7/10). D2 is a tool steel; S30V is a powder metallurgy stainless steel.