corrosion resistance question

3v 'can' be fairly rust resistant, but it does depend on the heat treatment & tempering. It is under the 'official' 12.5% chrome needed to be called stainless, it's only at 7.5%

5160 has very little chrome, and should be treated as basically full carbon steel, it will rust easily.
 
3v will be the more rust resistant of the two. I live in Florida and we have year round very high humidity. The only large fixed blade knife I have ever owned that has not rusted with little to no care (if you're diligent you can prevent most rust with proper maintenance) is my Busse TGLB in Infi, which has some nitrogen content that I'm assuming is the cause for its resistance. I have had that thing in sheath in my truck for years. I carry it on hikes, use it for bushcraft, and have even done a fair amount of wanton testing as well. I think I've oiled it once...four years ago.

If I had to choose another steel and infi wasnt an option, 3v would be that steel.
 
If you take care of your tools and wipe them down with a little oil or CLP after hard use, or when they get wet fronm sweat, etc., corrosion really isn't an issue in my experience.

I EDC a Spyderco Gayle Bradley#1 with M4 steel and just wipe it off with my BreakFree CLP rag after any heavy use. I have yet to experience any corrosion issues. Same things works for guns which are much more expensive than the knife.

 
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