D2 vs CPM S30V
What each steel is good at, and the cheapest knives in each right now. Prices are the lowest at the US knife dealers we check through the day.
D2
A tool steel with about 12% chromium, so it's semi-stainless: it holds an edge well but can rust if neglected. Common on budget and mid-range knives.
CPM S30V
A powder stainless steel Crucible developed with knifemaker Chris Reeve, released in 2001. Good edge retention and corrosion resistance; toughness is moderate, and it was the premium folder default for most of the 2000s.
| Fact | D2 | CPM S30V |
|---|---|---|
| Knives we track | 21 | 32 |
| Brands | 8 | 3 |
| Price range today | $28.20 to $550.00 | $150.00 to $500.00 |
| Most listed hardness | 58-60 HRC | 58-60 HRC |
Cheapest D2 knives
All D2 knives →- QSP · QS102-D V2ParrotD2 · Blue G101 dealer$28.20
- CIVIVI · C18026C-2Mini PraxisD2 · Black G105 dealers$29.75
- CRKT · 2520TunaD2 · OD Green G10 and Stainless Steel5 dealers$39.02
- CRKT · 6450D2DrifterD2 · Black G103 dealers$42.00
- Kershaw · 7006CUNatrixD2 · Copper6 dealers$44.99
- CRKT · M16-01DZM16D2 · Desert Tan Glass-Reinforced Nylon GRN3 dealers$47.95
Cheapest CPM S30V knives
All CPM S30V knives →- Benchmade · 556-S30VMini GriptilianS30V · Black Noryl GTX12 dealers$150.00
- Benchmade · 533Mini BugoutS30V · Orange Grivory10 dealers$170.00
- Spyderco · C230GPLil' NativeS30V · Black G108 dealers$173.25
- Benchmade · 550-S30VGriptilianS30V · Black Noryl GTX10 dealers$175.00
- Benchmade · 15006-01Steep CountryS30V · Olive Green Santoprene9 dealers$175.00
- Zero Tolerance · 03500350S30V · Black G109 dealers$188.00