What do you know about w2 steel for knives?

BennytheBlade · Post by **BennytheBlade** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 5:19 pm

I looked at the steel guide on agrussell, so I no its non stainless, and the composition of it. Has anyone used a knife made w/ w2 and what do you think? how does it compare to O-1 or 1095?
Any feedback would be aprecitated.

Vagrant · Post by **Vagrant** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 7:09 pm

I love simple carbon steel knives and in my opinion most carbon steels are pretty similar. I'm sure expets may differ but I've salvaged unknown types of carbon steels from the dump and treat them all pretty much the same as far as hardening and tempering. They all show very similar qualities as far as strength and edge holding. The small blade in the pic is carbon steel [unknown type] from the dump. Forged and given a s.w.a.g.
heat treatment it easily went through the larger lock-back blade.

BennytheBlade · Post by **BennytheBlade** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 7:27 pm

wow- very good info to have... I guess I shoulda just put this in the ask vagrant section-
Thanks for the info... Now to go see if I can trade for a knife

Vagrant · Post by **Vagrant** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 7:48 pm

All carbon steel rusts easily [some very easily] so keep it clean and dry.
Protect it with something: oil, car wax, [chapstick works and is non toxic if your cutting food] do not use vegtable oil as some say because it can go rancid and is not good for cutting food once it has. All carbon steel will stain and darken if you use it at all. This does not hurt it [except for appearance] and helps make it a little less likely to rust as easily as a shiny new one.

Pushbutton · Post by **Pushbutton** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 12:56 am

Al what did you think of that M-2 High speed tool steel that was the darling of the custom guys about 6 years ago. I met a new custom maker and designed my own hideaway. Double edged spearpint about 4" Curved and cut out cocobolo for the handle he used custom pins. Anyway I have had no rust problems and this knife shaves when done right on a diamond stone but it's up their on the RC62-64 so it could be brittle but its only ahideaway or last resort and a quite comforting one at that. I remember BM used it for a while but people were complainning cause they were difficult to sharpen and "Poof" they were gone.
PB

mrbigg · Post by **mrbigg** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 6:26 am

wow al i love seeing that done!

benny, does this mean another addition to your massive collection in the near future?

Vagrant · Post by **Vagrant** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 8:18 am

mrbigg wrote:wow al i love seeing that done!

benny, does this mean another addition to your massive collection in the near future?

O.K.

mrbigg · Post by **mrbigg** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 8:20 am

awww stop it al, i'm gonna wet myself

Vagrant · Post by **Vagrant** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 8:23 am

I've never worked with M-2. Also never worked with D-2 which is at 12% chrome is considered "semi-stainless" and has an excellent reputation for being very similar to carbon steel in the way it holds an edge and sharpens easier than most stainless.

BennytheBlade · Post by **BennytheBlade** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 3:03 pm

Mr. Bigg-
Lets hope so

D-2 is probably my favorite steel. some people say its hard to sharpen, I say, you cant have it both ways, it holds its edge well, so its a LITTLE harder to sharpen, well worth the trade off imho. And if you touch it up, you can make a D-2 Edge last a long time.