Bluing Cold Steel Trail Hawk?

V

viper2788

Joined
Jul 19, 2012
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I came across this http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66295 thread online to learn about bluing my cold steel trail hawk. All seemed well until I looked over on page 2, post #14, where the OP mentions it had rusted a few days after the bluing process while in its sheath. If you read on they do mention which oils should be used and such... however I thought bluing was to eliminate rusting, regardless of oil coating. I mean I could manage to keep a bare stripped hawk head rust free by oiling it...

My question is whats the point of the bluing process then? Did he OP do something wrong? Someone please enlighten me! :confused:
 
I just let mine rust. Then when I see rust, I rub it off with a rag. Over time, the steel surface will patinate nicely. A good patina is more durable than any paint or bluing.
 
Blueing doesn't completely stop rust, nor does vinegar / mustard / whatever you use for a patina... It helps prevent corrosion but still need to take care of it with oil and a lil tlc... If you want complete rust resistance you need to do some type of gun coating they have out there for that purpose, and truthfully I don't know if those are 100% effective.

Edit...
never keep carbon steel in a sheath (gun, axe, knife, or whatever tool) even oiled it will rust after time. I believe the leather either draws moisture or prevents the steel from breathing. A few years after my dad passed away I found several guns and knives in their closet and all those in holstesr n sheaths had various degrees of rust. I know my father took care of his weapons and was told by a gun smith I took a couple too that it was from keeping them in the leather for so long.
 
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All Blueing solution needs to be nutralized by a hot water bath. Then oiled or greased with RIG.
 
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