Im a machinist for many years and I have ground my share of cutting tools and a knife or 2. I use D-2 for a variety of things like shear blades with great success. I am considering a 6" multi=purpose hunting knife. I would like to go with 3/32 D-2 for the blank. Ill machine the shape and taper the edge before hardening then grind the edge in with a belt machine after. Done a few from o-1 with fair results.