D2 steel
D2 is a tool steel. It rates 6/10 for edge retention, 3/10 for toughness and 4/10 for corrosion resistance, and is usually hardened to 58–61 HRC.
At a glance
- Type
- Tool steels
- Hardness
- 58–61 HRC
- Maker
- Generic (AISI) (USA / various)
- Process
- ingot
- Price tier
- Budget
- Used by
- Civivi, Kizer, Benchmade (Adamas), Ka-Bar, Ontario, QSP, Bob Dozier, ESEE (select)
- Also called
- AISI D2, 1.2379, X153CrMoV12, SKD11
Composition
| Element | Weight % |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 1.5 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 12 |
| Vanadium (V) | 0.9 |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 1 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.4 |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.4 |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.03 |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.03 |
Source: published standard (AISI/DIN/JIS/GB). Nominal values; where a range is published, the midpoint is shown. Phosphorus and sulfur, where listed, are maximums.
What makes D2 behave the way it does
D2 contains 1.5% carbon, a high level that supports high hardness and a large volume of hard carbides; 12% chromium, though much of it is tied up in carbides, so the steel is not fully stainless.
A small vanadium addition (0.9%) mainly refines grain size; molybdenum (1%) improves hardenability.
'Semi-stainless' air-hardening die steel; large chromium carbides. Hugely popular in Chinese production knives.
Equivalent and similar steels
- D2 class (similar class; compositions differ): D2, K110, SLD, CPM D2
Knives in 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 |
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How to sharpen D2
D2 is slow to sharpen (4/10). Its large volume of hard carbides makes conventional stones slow going; diamond plates cut it much faster. Once sharp, it needs touch-ups less often.
Compare D2 with
- 14C28N vs D2
- 440C vs D2
- D2 vs Nitro-V
- 8Cr13MoV vs D2
- 154CM vs D2
- D2 vs S30V
- D2 vs VG-10
- AUS-8 vs D2
- 1095 vs D2
- D2 vs S35VN
FAQ
Is D2 a good knife steel?
D2 is strongest in edge retention (6/10) and weakest in toughness (3/10). Its average across the four ratings is 4.2/10, and it sits in the budget price tier.
Does D2 rust?
Yes, if neglected. D2 rates only 4/10; keep it dry and lightly oiled, especially in humid weather.
Is D2 hard to sharpen?
D2 is slow to sharpen (4/10). Its large volume of hard carbides makes conventional stones slow going; diamond plates cut it much faster. Once sharp, it needs touch-ups less often.
What hardness is D2?
Knives in D2 are usually hardened to 58–61 HRC. Makers can run it outside that range; harder means better edge retention but lower toughness.