Cord Wrapping and Sweat

[Scott Free]

I'm wondering how all those who use cord-wrapped handles deal with sweat. Surely this style of handle on a knife leads to a rust problem-- and an invisible rust problem at that. Do you have to unwrap and rewrap on a regular bases to ensure that your knife isn't secretly rusting away?

Scott

 

[The Tourist]

The Strider guys discussed this last year.

The paracord can be re-wrapped, and they even provide instructions. Surface rust under the handle is easy to remedy.

But let's face it, on a knife that is built in this manner, light rust is not much of a problem. Usually these knives are built and marketed for extreme use. The knives get chipped, they get used as prybars, they get dragged through swamps and must endure days, if not weeks, before they get maintenance.

If this is not your life style, perhaps you need another knife, like a good reliable hunter or camp knife. Any premium dealer sells that style. I'm big on the Buck Alpha Hunter, at least, for this year!

 

[spartan_ajax]

One of the Strider guys has had a fixed blade out in ocean air for a long time no rust under the wrap. Its coated with a special sauce so to speake that is very rust prohibitive.
I have a very old very used model BT that has had three re-wraps and resharpens done by Mick Strider and never once did I see any rust on the handle there was quite a bit on the exposed blade though.

If its a Strider I would not worry about it. Hell I bet I could shoot my AR with my .308 and they would give me a new one!

Thats how good the warranty is, ( I am not suggesting abusing the warranty in any way though)

Rest assured the Strider knife you buy or have currently will be there for you when you need it.

 

[Hunter]

Originally posted by spartan_ajax
... coated with a special sauce

I love it

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Rust under the cord isn't a signficant problem, the tang can be coated, and since it isn't subject to abrasion to remove the rust inhibitor, corrosion isn't much of a concern.

However cord wraps are very difficult to clean. They are near impossible to scrub free of debris and while they can be boiled this isn't practical for "field" use.

There are many tasks where the handle being non-functional almost immediately when such contaminated such as cleaning trout or other animals, working around sappy vegetation in the fall [it can be rotted]), etc..

-Cliff