Carbon steel vs. Salt Water

joeradza

joeradza

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Joined
Feb 6, 2014
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I know this has been hashed over especially by the members who are in the more humid climes. My uses didn't come into play so I decided to use a carbon steel Douk-Douk for most everything this past week. From fishing, to beach carry and even swimming I subjected it to unmentionable abuse.
It rusted almost immediately but still functioned. It was only when it got shipped back to NY without being opened for several days that it got cranky. It took 3 in 1 oil, mineral oil, flitz and good old fashioned sand paper to get it back to normal. It's not how I would treat my other knives but an all steel knife came through with flying colors. It's clean and the W&T has returned.
Yuck.20190418_115047-863x819.jpgYeah.20190418_121351-768x800.jpg
 
jstrange said:
I wonder what the backspring and pins look like inside the frame?
Click to expand...
It wasn't bad. I used a small wire brush and other than a little black gunk it was ok. Soaked it in the oils and the w&t is as good as new. The rust you see in the photo was most of it although the pivot was very slow at first.
 
Not surprising it survived.
Look at how many thousands of years sailors/mariners used carbon steel for their blades (and tools) aboard ship before "stain-less" steel was invented.
Heck, the US Navy was still issuing carbon steel knives to at least the close of WW II.
The Marines still are if they are issuing the "Kabar" fighting knife these days.

Nice knife you have there. It should last at least a couple more lifetimes with at least miminal care. :)
 
I kinda think the “as is” pic looks pretty cool. Lots of character there, nice to know. Most likely a drop of mineral oil every day would have kept and cranky issues at bay?
 
blademan 13 said:
I kinda think the “as is” pic looks pretty cool. Lots of character there, nice to know. Most likely a drop of mineral oil every day would have kept and cranky issues at bay?
Click to expand...
I doubt it. Swimming in salt water will corrode just about anything.
 
joeradza said:
Swimming in salt water will corrode just about anything.
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Including "people". :(

I never did much swimming when I lived and worked at an ocean front rental property in the Florida Keys.
For one thing, I swim like a rock.

It was fairly common to see large bull sharks and hammerhead sharks (both are known to think "people" are a tastey snack at times) within 15 feet of the shore line from our beach at high tide.
I don't know what they were hunting in water 2 to 3 feet deep ...

Undeniable fact:
When you are barefoot and more than ankle deep in the water, you are part of the foodchain - and in the lower part at that.
 
You're absolutely correct. I'm just north of the keys on Sanibel Island. Hammerheads are dangerous enough but the bulls are downright nasty.
 
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