Tenable Zues G021A2 D2 Blade D2 Handle Fixed Blade Knife

The Tenable Zues G021A2 is a fixed-blade knife designed for outdoor carry and field tasks. Its 3.95-inch tanto blade is made from D2 tool steel and features a flat grind with a blackwash finish. The matching D2 handle gives the knife a unified material profile. Measuring 8.52 inches overall, it has a 0.25-inch blade thickness and weighs 6.70 ounces. A Kydex sheath is included for convenient storage and carry. Designed by Frank Grissom, the Zues balances a fixed-blade format with a distinctive profile. D2 steel is known for hardness and wear resistance, but it can corrode without proper care. Clean and dry the blade after use, apply protective oil, and use suitable sharpening abrasives to maintain its edge.

D2 Blade Introduction

SPECIFICATIONS

Overall Length	8.52''/216.4mm
Blade Length	3.95''/100.4mm
Blade Thickness	0.25''/6.3mm
Blade & Handle Material	D2
Blade Style	Tanto
Blade Grind	Flat Grind
Blade Finish	Blackwash
Lock Type	Fixed Blade
Weight	6.70 oz/189.9g
Model Name	Zues
Model Number	G021A2
Designer	Frank Grissom
Sheath	Kydex Sheath

Tenable Zues G021A2 - D2 Tool Steel Tanto Fixed Blade with Kydex Sheath

The Tenable Zues G021A2, designed by Frank Grissom, is a full-tang fixed blade: 3.95 inch d2 tool steel tanto on 6.3 mm stock, blackwash finish, with a Kydex sheath included at 189.9 g (6.70 oz). A fixed blade built for field and belt duty.

D2 Tanto on 6.3 mm Stock: Built to Be Used Hard

The Zues runs D2 tool steel through the entire knife - blade and handle are one piece of it, full tang with no joint to fail. At 6.3 mm blade stock the tanto profile puts real strength behind the angular tip, and the flat grind keeps the edge thin enough to actually cut with. D2 is stain resistant rather than stainless: wipe it dry, oil it monthly, and sharpen on diamond. Compare it with 154CM, Nitro-V and CPM-MagnaCut in the table below.

Why the Tenable Zues Belongs in Your Kit

• 3.95 inch D2 Tool Steel tanto blade with a hard angular edge break.
• 6.3 mm (0.25 inch) blade stock - a heavyweight spine for hard utility work.
• Full tang construction with the handle cut from the same steel as the blade.
• Blackwash finish with a long swedge along the angular spine.
• Black Kydex sheath with adjustable retention included.
• Frank Grissom design with integrated handle cut-outs and lanyard option.
• 189.9 g (6.70 oz) on an 8.52 inch frame - a planted full-size belt knife.
• Flat grind that keeps the working edge thin despite the heavy stock.

Best Uses for the Zues G021A2

• Camp and trail duty: kindling, food packs, cordage and feeder work.
• Belt carry as the truck or pack knife that never needs a lock checked.
• Utility and scraping tasks where a tanto tip earns its keep.
• Range and gear work: cutting webbing, straps and cardboard bales.
• Collector display for the aggressive Grissom profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

What steel is the Zues G021A2?
D2 tool steel at 58-61 HRC, used for both blade and handle - a full-tang design with no joint between them. D2-family steels are stain resistant rather than stainless: wipe dry, oil monthly.

Does it come with a sheath?
Yes. Every Zues ships with a black Kydex sheath with adjustable retention screws and belt slots - no upcharge, no hunting for a fit.

Why a tanto blade?
The tanto's straight front edge and angular break put steel directly behind the tip, so it takes piercing and scraping work that would chip a fine drop point.

How big is the Zues?
Overall length is 8.52" (216.4 mm), the blade is 3.95" (100.4 mm) at 0.25" (6.3 mm), and it weighs 189.9 g (6.70 oz) - a full-size fixed blade for belt or pack.

Is the handle steel too cold for winter use?
The handle is the same steel as the blade with machined cut-outs for grip. In freezing weather wear gloves or add a cord wrap through the cut-outs - it takes paracord well.

D2 Tool Steel vs. Common Fixed Blade Steels

Steel	Typical HRC	Edge Retention	Corrosion Resistance	Toughness	Sharpening Ease
D2 (this knife)	58-61	Very Good	Fair	Good	Moderate
CPM-3V	58-60	Good	Good	Excellent	Moderate
154CM	58-61	Good	Good	Very Good	Moderate
Nitro-V	59-61	Good	Very Good	Better	Easy
14C28N	59-61	Good	Excellent	Good	Very Easy
8Cr13MoV	57-59	Fair	Good	Good	Very Easy

D2 is a high-carbon, high-chromium semi-stainless tool steel: at 58-61 HRC it holds a working edge longer than any of the budget stainless steels, and on the Zues' 6.3 mm tanto blade the thick, carbide-rich steel behind the edge takes hard utility work in stride. It is stain resistant, not stainless, so wipe it dry after use and oil it every month or two, and sharpen on a diamond plate - the dense carbides defeat ordinary aluminium-oxide stones. HRC figures are typical mill ranges, not a guarantee for any single blade.

Glossary of Key Terms

Tenable Knives
A US knife brand working with independent designers to deliver mid-to-premium production folders, fixed blades and machined builds.

Zues
Tenable's D2 fixed blade designed by Frank Grissom: a 3.95 inch tanto on 6.3 mm stock, 189.9 g overall, shipped with a Kydex sheath.

Frank Grissom
The knife maker and designer behind the Zues, known for aggressive fixed-blade geometry with angular grinds and integrated cut-outs.

D2 Tool Steel
A high-carbon, high-chromium semi-stainless tool steel at 58-61 HRC. Outstanding wear resistance for the money; wipe it dry and oil it occasionally.

Damascus
Pattern-welded steel made from alternating layers forged and etched to reveal the banding. Every blade's pattern is unique; treat the edge like good carbon steel.

Tanto Blade
A blade with a straight front edge meeting the belly at a hard angular break. It puts strength right behind the tip for piercing and scraping.

Flat Grind
Blade flats that taper in a straight line from spine to edge. It slices better than a hollow grind and leaves more steel directly behind the apex.

Kydex Sheath
A thermoformed plastic sheath with adjustable retention. It locks the knife in place, sheds water and can be re-formed with a heat gun.

6.3 mm Blade Stock
The thickness of the blade. Enough spine to baton kindling edges and take real lateral load without flexing.

Full Tang
The blade steel runs the full length and width of the handle, so there is no joint to fail under hard use.

Rose Gold Finish
A PVD-style coating in warm copper tones. It wears bright at the edge with use and pairs the blade with the match-anodized handle.

8.52 Inch Overall
The total length of the knife. At 8.52 inches the Zues is a full-size belt knife - trail, camp and truck duty.

Who Should Buy the Zues G021A2

• Fixed-blade users who want D2 or Damascus on a full-tang build.
• Buyers who want a Kydex sheath included at a working price.
• Fans of Frank Grissom's angular, cut-out fixed blade designs.
• Campers and trail users who want a tanto for scraping and piercing.
• Collectors who want a distinctive all-steel fixed blade.

Who Should Skip It

• Anyone who will not oil carbon-family steel; it will speckle if stored damp.
• Users who want a lightweight neck knife - 190 g on 8.52 inches is a belt knife.
• Buyers who need a folding knife for pocket carry; this is a sheath knife.
• People who want stainless convenience; pick a 14C28N folder instead.
• Anyone who prys with knives; the hard tip chips under lateral load.

Care & Maintenance

• Wipe the blade and handle dry after every use - the Zues is all D2, and D2 rusts from neglect, not from use.
• Oil the blade every four to eight weeks, including the handle flats; a fixed blade lives against Kydex, where moisture lingers.
• Pull the knife from the Kydex sheath every couple of weeks, wipe the cavity out and let both dry - grit inside a sheath scratches the finish.
• Sharpen on a diamond plate; D2's coarse carbide structure defeats ordinary aluminium-oxide stones.
• Work the tanto edge in section: the straight front edge first, then the belly, keeping the same 17-20 degrees per side.
• Finish on a ceramic rod or loaded strop with light pressure, then deburr the two edge angles where they meet at the point.
• Rose gold and blackwash finishes will wear bright at the edge with use - exposed steel behaves the same, just uncoated, so oil it.
• Never pry or twist the tip; 6.3 mm stock is strong, but the heat treatment that holds the edge also chips under lateral load.
• Store dry and oiled, out of the sheath for long-term storage, away from humid drawers and damp pouches.