K-Bar knife steel?

[Art In Colorado]

I purchased a K-Bar fighting knife at Sportman's Warehouse about 10 years ago and am trying to find out what kind of steel it has. The number on the blade is 1221. The reason I am asking is that I can't get the edge I normally get with my sharpening skill which is pretty good. So I am wondering if it might be D-2 steel. I paid if I remember around $60 or $70 for it. I always have had a problem sharpening D-2.

[zzyzzogeton]

The 1221/1222 was called the NextGen knife. It was a modern take on the WW2 1219c2/USN MK2.
The 1281/1282/1283 is called the D2 Extreme. Same knife, different steel.
- Kraton Handle
- Thicker/wider tang
- "teardrop" pommel
- partially serrated edge
- Aus6A stainless steel
Discontinued in 2011.

The 1221 came with a black leather sheath.
The 1222 was a marketing model number. The knives are marked 1221, but came with a black Molle compatible plastic sheath.

The D2 steel version of the knife is the Kabar 1281/1282/1283.
Same as the NextGen, but in D2 rather than Aus6A.
Again, the knives are all marked 1281.
1281 - black Molle compatible Cordura sheath
1282 - black Molle compatible plastic sheath sheath
1283 - black leather sheath

The 1281 is still available.