N960 vs D2 | What’ll you pick for your knife?
Are you searching for the best steel at an affordable budget? Then you can’t ignore the popular steel N960 and d2. This high-end stainless steel offers great performance at a budget-friendly cost. But, picking the right one between them is tough as well. Hence, differentiating between N960 and d2 will make your work easier!
There are huge differences between N960 and D2. The D2 steel blade shows better hardness, toughness, and excellent edge retention. Whereas N960 is great for its superior corrosion resistance and ease of sharpening. Although D2 is hard to sharpen, it doesn’t require frequent sharpening.
Both sheets of steel have their advantages and disadvantages. So, you’ve to know the detailed comparison to get the right steel according to your needs! Let’s find out the best steel with this entire article.
About N960: Overview
N960 Bohler steel is a popular stainless steel known for its high corrosion resistance and excellent edge retention. A high percentage of chromium (about 17.3%) is made of premium-quality steel.
You can use the N960 steel blade in humid conditions because it can resist any corrosion or rust from moisture, salt, or water.
The perfect blend of alloying elements is the reason behind its all-rounder performance. Knife users choose the N960 steel blade for its affordable budget.
About D2: Overview
D2 is high-quality steel but not stainless steel! D2 is great for its hardness, toughness, and excellent edge retention. It also shows decent corrosion resistance. The perfect combination of carbon, chromium, and vanadium makes it balanced steel for any task!
You don’t need to tense about the frequent sharpening of the blade because it holds the edge longer. Moreover, D2 steel always comes with a friendly budget in the market.
Quick comparison chart table
| Basis for comparison | n960 | D2 |
| Chemical compounds | Carbon 1.07%; Chromium 17.30%; Molybdenum 1.1%; Silicon 0.4%; Vanadium 0.10%; Manganenes 0.4%; Cobalt 1.65%. | Carbon 1.5%; Chromium 12%; Molybdenum 0.9%; Vanadium 1.10%; Nitrogen 0.03%; Manganese 0.6%; Silicon 0.6%; Phosphorus 0.03%; Sulfur 0.03%; Cobalt 1.0%. |
| Hardness | 55-60 HRC | 52-62 HRC |
| Toughness | Better | Excellent |
| Corrosion resistance | Excellent | Better |
| Edge retention | Good | Excellent |
| Ease of Sharpening | Easy | Hard |
| Maintenance | Require more maintenance | Require less maintenance |
| Cost | Affordable | Affordable |
Key differences
The quick chart comparison table can give you a little hint. But, you have to explore more things to make a final decision. The detailed comparison is therefore described below
1. Hardness
At first, the harder steel makes an impression on the overall performance. In this round, D2 will win for its better hardness over N960. That’s not mean that N960 has bad hardness. N960 also shows decent hardness.
According to the Rockwell report, N960 has a hardness of 55-60 HRC, whereas D2 shows a hardness of 52-62HRC.
2. Toughness
The next point will win D2 for having excellent toughness. N960 steel does not have the toughness to resist any chipping or breaking! Whereas D2 shows enough toughness to resist chipping and breaking while doing tasks.
3. Corrosion Resistance
Well, N960 will win a big point in this round for its excellent corrosion resistance. About 17.30% chromium is present in this premium steel which shows superior resistance to any rust, corrosion, or dust.
Whereas D2 only contains 12% chromium, which is very low to show that much corrosion resistance like N960.
4. Edge retention
The general rule is- The harder the steel, the better edge retention it has! As D2 is harder than N960; So, it obviously holds the edge longer. That means it doesn’t require frequent sharpening.
Again, N960 also offers good edge retention, but it is lower than D2. So, D2 Steel won in this round.
5. Ease of sharpening
N960 is very easy to sharpen as it is less hard than the D2. Again, D2 is comparatively hard to sharpen.
So, N960 is still in the race to win a plus point in this round.
6. Price
There’s no huge difference in price between N960 and D2 steel. You can buy both sheets of steel on an affordable budget. The price may vary for the latest version of the steel.
Like to read more comparisons dive below,
My opinion (Which I Recommend)
The decision is completely yours. You’ve to choose the right one according to your personal preference. But, if you’re looking for steel that has better hardness, toughness, and excellent edge retention, then you can go with D2 steel.
Again, if you want better durability & great corrosion resistance, you can pick N960 without any doubt. Hopefully, you’re already decided what you’ll pick! Let me know the answer in the comment section. No more today!
My favorite knives in each category
You are now thinking about buying a new knife, right? Sounds good! It’s always better to get a new knife and a new steel blade. If you don’t understand which knife will be better, check two of my favorite ones I’ve listed below
1. OKNIFE Splint Folding Knife| (N960 steel)
It is the little knife that performs like a pro for my indoor use to outdoor camping! This is very lightweight to carry in a pocket and also convenient to hold comfortably.
The unique handle for grip, the sharpening edge, and extreme durability remain the same for over 3 years in my kitchen. This small knife is great for its affordable price, amazing looks, and superior performance. I recommend you buy this special one if you haven’t!
2. OKC RAT 2 Folding Knife (D2 steel)
It is more than the perfect knife I have ever used for my regular task! The pocket knife is very lightweight to carry every day.
Very comfortable to work with a secure grip handle. You don’t have to care about its maintenance. Because the blade doesn’t require sharpening frequently. One-hand opening and closing of the knife features are also included in it.
You will get a higher durability than other knives you have thought of buying! So, yeah! You can buy this knife without any doubt!
