Because a2 is a tool steel it is used for many applications in addition to knife blades.
A2 tool steel knife.
Benefiting from 0 2 percent vanadium content w 2 holds an edge well and is reasonably tough.
A2 is an air hardening medium alloy tool steel which is heat treatable to hrc 60 62.
This is one of those most ubiquitous steels in knives.
I found claims that harry morseth began using a2 in the 1930 s 9 10 but i found this somewhat questionable because a2 would have either been brand new or non existent at that time.
A2 tool steel is a versatile air hardening tool steel that is characterized by good toughness and excellent dimensional stability in heat treatment a2 is intermediate in wear resistance between o1 oil hardening tool steel and d2 high carbon high chromium tool steel.
With slightly decreased.
Bark river knives.
Bark river knife tool over the past few years has started making more and more of their models available in a variety of steels including a2 the old standby cpm 3v and many more.
A2 is a mid range air hardening tool steel it s known for its good toughness its tougher than d2 steel or m2 steel and it has a wear resistance in between o1 steel and d2 it s used for punches and dies chuck jaws cutting tools for woodworking tooling for plastic injection dowel pins hammers industrial knives and gage.
It also has decent toughness for a tool steel.
This is one of the most wear resistant tool steels.
When it comes to steel choices we are fortunate to have a lot of options be it stainless good old tool steels or the new breed of super steels.
Often used for combat knives.
This grade can be treated cryogenically to improve edge retention.
Cpm 10v steel cpm stands for crucible particle metallurgy which is a brand name.
That means a2 is common easy to get and affordable.
O1 is a small step below a2 in terms of blade steel performance.
I have sharpening ocd though and i maintain knife edges.
But if my a2 knife has been used at all a quick strop is all it ever needs to maintain a wicked edge.
Keep your blade oiled as d2 is prone to rusting and corrosion.
Popular a2 steel knives.
Good edge retention toughness and sharpenability d2 has been a popular knife tool steel dating back to wwii and for good reason.
Because it offers a combination of good toughness along with moderate wear resistance it has been widely used for many years in variety of cold work applications which require fairly.