Coldone I'd agree Dan doesn't release untested knives.. A necker needs to be stainless-ish so sr77 is pretty much out. Let's hope that as ATS34 isn't in the dumpster presently, some D2 is!
D2 is a little easier to sharpen than ATS-34. Back before I got the belt grinder, I used to sharpen knives for my friends on a German fine grit stone. I swear, it took me all day to sharpen a Buck Odyssey in ATS-34. I saw that officer recently and told him to drop by and have a beer while I demonstrated my new technology on his Buck. D2 isn't stainless, but with a little Tuff Cloth care, it would make a great neck knife. ATS-34 would work, too, but its a b****
to sharpen.