I was looking at this new knife from Bnechmade:

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=201

and wondered if D2 (using the spine) will spark with natural flint/quartz like regular non-stainless high carbon steel? I know D2 isn't a stainless steel, so I was wondering. Does anyone know or could test another D2 blade?

D2 sparks just fine. It's a medium-carbon content "almost" stainless steel. It's still called stainless. My one D2 blade is an Ontario RAT-3, which has an epoxy coating on the blade and tang. I had to file a small area of the epoxy off of the tang. It was one of the first things I did after getting it - to make sure I could use it with a flint.

Paul, For any carbon knife to spark a very high Rockwell @ 58-60 is required. So first it would depend on how the blade was tempered in the spine area.

So I guess all I can do is buy it and try it?

Hmm, it's time for a new knife anyway. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

By the way, the new Snody 201 is something I secretly wished for and, guess what? Benchmade must've been thinking the same thing! A large version of the 210/211 Activators.....very nice. If only they would offer it in the carbon fiber/G10 scales like the model 210. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Yea, I have a 210 with the neck sheath and it's a good knife. A very stout little EDC fixed blade and quite comfortable to use. If the 201 is just like the 210, but with a longer blade, it would be almost perfect.

Paul,
It's a Benchmade...they advertise their D2 to be 57-61.... that doesn;t mean it won;t come a little harder, but it'll be in that range. It will spark for you....
Oops...just looked on their site.....their claiming 60-62RC. It's hard stuff and their using one of the best heat-treating annealing businesses in the knife world.

Maybe Chris would know if it will spark, seeing as it may be harder than 60HRC.... or is it that it must be a minimum of 58RC to make sparks?

Anyway, if you buy it and don;t like it because it won;t spark....I'll buy it from you at internet sales price <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I like that knife.

This must be one of my oldest forum tutorials. A carbon knife and flint duplicates a flintlock firearm. The molecules of carbon in the knife are the combustable material. The Rockwell hardness is necessary for the flint to percus the carbon. Anything softer and it will merely dig in. This really should be a backup method and not your primary strategy. You are in effect degrading the cosmetics of your knife. The carbon Moras, with the spine properly dressed are again superb training knives. You might also consider buying a period flint and steel firemaking kit. So called metal matches simply reverse the roles and again can cause a degree of cosmetic damage. With metal matches a section of hacksaw blade is a superior striker. So practise with a $9 Mora, try it once proficient on your Benchmade and buy a few Bics with the change.

I have a few flint/steel kits, I've also started fires with quartz rocks that I've found. I also use ferrocium rods, lighters, matches, fire-by-friction, ect. I just like knowing I have one more method of making fire in my "arsenal". As to cosmetics, doesn't matter to me one bit. I like the knife, so I am going to buy it anyway and use the heck out of it. I was just wondering if it would throw sparks or not.