Excluding 440V, which I think is a special steel, I like the D-2. I've been dressing animals (deer, pecari, ducks...) for over thirty years and the best fixed blade knive I've had is a D-2 from Reese, which I bought on this site.

D-2 leaves me with the feeling that it is a steel for pro knives, for heavy no non-sense use. The type of edge you get from a well honed D-2 knife is unique, it is razor sharp but somehow ever slightly grippy and it'll last forever as long as you use it correctly. In contrast, ATS-34 has a slick fast edge and won't last as long as D-2.

In terms of stainless, I've never had a D-2 rusting on me. Maybe because I oil and keep my knives clean no matter how hard I work them.