Competition Finish on a user blade

StoneAndSteel

StoneAndSteel

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Feb 24, 2019
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Anyone have experience with the CF in a user knife? I am debating on the configuration on a TGULB but am debating on the finish due to concerns with corrosion. I have a BIG DC user that I often have to clean a little corrosion off of, but wonder how much worse the CF finish will be. I love the look of the competition finish, but am concerned about corrosion in the field where I may not be able to keep it as dry as I should. I’m hoping for personal experiences in high humidity environments... if they’re out there...
 
I'm unsure about this myself as well. I've read many parts on how BIG DC may trap more moisture in it's micro-sided pores and be more susceptible to corrosion, but the way my comp finishes look, the are plenty of surface roughness to trap moisture as well. Matter of fact, one of my 2 CF HR2's came from the factory with some very mild corrosion around the handle slabs. Nothing a little steel wool can't take off, and im not complaining as it's no big deal to me, but that also shows (to me) that CF may not be that much more corrosion resistant than BIG DC.

However, I haven't had a chance to use my knives much lately, so no real long-term use informed comments - just my crude observational opinions from my few knives.

Either way, I like them both equally... More of a matter of aesthetics rather than functional differences, at least for now.
 
INFI is not a stainless steel technically...I've heard it claimed it's close to A2 in terms of alloy composition & %'s, etc.

Also, the "magic" of INFI is claimed to be in the quench, anneal, HT-- especially the HT.

I can't validate any of these claims with first hand evidence...I'm just parroting what I've read.

However, I can say, first hand, I've carried a satin B8LE <satin INFI> since delivery on my back thru humid Tenn. summers and even less humid other conditions drenched in my sweat thru the nylon sheath I pack it in. It has shown zero discoloration, zero surface <or any other> rust.

I sometimes hit it with some Mother's chrome polish but that's mainly to remove sap/wood marks from off-trail hikes of ground brush.

I don't use any of my Comp. Finish Busse near as hard as the B8, but you should be gtg. Don't hold back and regret...the finish is not only rugged, it looks like a work of abstract art in steel. :cool:
 
Satin INFI is very good at resisting rust. But not much experience with comp finishes. Had a sarsquatch once but didn’t use it much before I stupidily sold it.
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I think competition finished blades are the best users and by far the best option to buy. I have seen rust spots on DC knives, but I have never experienced it on any of my comp knives. Every once in awhile I use corrosion x or EDCi on my comp knives but you don't have to be crazy about it.

Look at it this way, any coated knife that gets use will eventually have the coating wear off. Under the coating is decarb that will definitely rust, and that decarb may or may not completely wear off when the coating does through use. No matter what you are going to have to do a little bit of oil maintenance to any knife you buy that gets used. A huge added benefit of getting a comp finished blade is that you don't have to worry about any nasty grinder gremlins or overly pitted blades that can sometimes be found under coatings, because the coatings can cover a lot up. Do yourself a favor and buy comp from the get go!
 
INFI is very user-friendly and low maintenance from my experience. I haven't carried or used a CF blade hard yet, but I have done so with satin, strippers and AZ Tim's "stripetition" and they have resisted rust extremely well. I live in a pretty humid environ, too (SW IL/St. Louis, Missouri).

I say go with the CF. No regrets.
 
Apocryphiliac said:
INFI is very user-friendly and low maintenance from my experience. I haven't carried or used a CF blade hard yet, but I have done so with satin, strippers and AZ Tim's "stripetition" and they have resisted rust extremely well. I live in a pretty humid environ, too (SW IL/St. Louis, Missouri).

I say go with the CF. No regrets.
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Absolutely. We EDC satin and comp finish Infi all year long. They lay in the trucks, tractors, and the machines and we never have any trouble. Even if they lay in the rain, we just use a little Flitz on a rag, and good to go.
 
It actually defies science, but I have to admit, I have had several stainless steel blades that rusted quicker than my INFI has shown (mostly S30V and S35VN). It's probably just something weird to do with the circumstances, not trying to claim that INFI is more stainless than S35VN (which is still an awesome steel and my favorite for folders) but INFI is crazy stuff.
 
lmcq784 said:
I've read many parts on how BIG DC may trap more moisture in it's micro-sided pores and be more susceptible to corrosion, but the way my comp finishes look, the are plenty of surface roughness to trap moisture as well.
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This is exactly what I had in mind. Though the spots on my DC PR have been minor, my use for the TGULB might have it exposed to more wet environments.

PeteyTwoPointOne said:
Don't hold back and regret...the finish is not only rugged, it looks like a work of abstract art in steel. :cool:
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It's a beautiful finish--that's why I REALLY want the CF, but think that the corrosion resistance in a coated version might be more "practical."

Apocryphiliac said:
I say go with the CF. No regrets.
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I'm pretty sure that's what's going to happen. I like to think of myself as a pragmatic person but the truth is I usually succumb to my base desires eventually lol

Thanks guys, I appreciate the input.
 
I wouldn't worry about rust on the current iteration of Competition Finish. The original Competition didn't have the decarb removed and would rust sitting in a drawer overnight, but the current iteration is pretty close to satin, which is to say that it's essentially the same as stainless as far as corrosion resistance is concerned.
 
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