Hey Simon,
Must you have D2? What's your budget? What's your preferred blade length? Do you have some special "hand" considerations (big.small hands)?

I've never handled Ritters Mk3 but I have fondled BM's Griptilian. I like them and Ritter's blade has a nicer belly to it, G-10 scales (instead of BM's plastic), a great looking coating on the blade, and it's S30V steel.... slightly better than D2 I'm told. ($165). I want one, but I'm so cheap I can't muster the courage. I'd get one of these before I ever bought a TOPS or Busse (of the same stye). It kind of looks like a Game Warden. Super-Extra plus for this knife: made by Benchmade.

The Ontario RAT series of knives are Rock SOLID pieces of equipment. I own the RAT-3 which is a 3.5" blade in epoxy-coated D-2 with Micarta scales ($75). I love it and want a RAT-5 in D-2, though I'm tempted to just get their 1095 carbon blade ($80). They have a RAT-7 in D-2 (blades too big for my tastes ($90). The RAT series are Solid....not prybars, and they don;t have quite the fit and finish of a BM Snody....but they're not cheapos...they're excellent knives. If you like 5" blades, it's rumored Ontario may spit out a few RAT-5's in D2 this year....due to people screaming and whinning and such.

ANY BM fixed blade. Sounds to me like you might consider the H&K Snody 14100 or 14150... both in 440C though, I think. I have a Nimravus in 154CM steel that I love, and wouldn't have a problem getting stuck somewhere with it on my belt. BM's CSK fixed blade is nice....154CM steel I'm pretty sure... 5" blade, 3/16" steel, pretty thick handle (3/4") if you like that. The BM-Snody 220 is nice too, smaller than than the CSK. Ahem..... ANY Snody knife is nice...you choose.... just close your eyes and point to one....any one.

Simon, there are a literal ton of good knives out there. Kabar's "Impact" series excites me.... if there was a little more belly to the blade. It look slike they're ready to take their lagging fixed blades to another level....finally. Otherwise they're solid and reasonably priced.

Buck, as always has good knives.

But, I have to beg an answer to this question.... Why just D2? I mean, I like it, but the other steels are just as good...relatively speaking. I mean, it's a stainless, but it will rust (almost) as quick as a high-carbon 1095. It's tough and holds an edge, but no better than ATS-34 or S30V I don;t think. Some say it's hard to sharpen and, to some degree, I can attest to that. I just can;t get it back to hair-shaving sharp on my Sharpmaker, but I suspect that's because of my lack of skill, as opposed to the alloy of D2.

If you're concerned about rust... don;t be. As I said, having D2 steel doesn;t mean the blade won;t rust. Look, NONE of these knives are going to rust. You're just not going to let it happen.

IF it were me, I woudn;t limit myself to D2. Instead, I would look for length of blade and handle, blade geometry, scales material, weight, sheath, manufacturer's reputation, and then, almost last, steel. I say that because all these steels are good, they are each marginally better or worse than the next one at different tasks or criteria.