D-2 RRAT for water operations

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WJC01

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Mar 3, 2006
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I have an Ontario RAT 3 in D-2. I'm considering carrying it on my PFD while kayaking.(not whitewater). I like the size and sheath set-up.
Do you think it would be ok for water operations. If submerged while swimming would I have to remove the scales after for maintenance?
What about salt water? I know it's not stainless.
Anyone have any experience using a D2 or 1095 rat cutlery as a "dive knife"?
I posted this in the general forum and received no replies .
 
I did post a question on making a diving knife quite a while ago. IMO I woudn't plan on anything other than stainless for a dive knife. D2 would probably require boucou oiling, and 1095 would rust up pretty quick. A heck of a lot of maintenance. But if you aren't planning on getting it wet (are you going whitewater kayaking?) I wouldn't worry about it much. If it gets wet a decent oiling should do it, it wouldn't hurt to disassemble it too.

The best recommendations I got for a dive knife steel:
440C -Relatively cheap, good corrosion resistance, and will hold a good edge.
154CM -Almost as good corrosion resistance as 440c, but holds an edge a little better.
Nitrogen "steel" -Although technically not a steel since it is made with nitrogen rather than carbon its incredibly corrosion resistant and will hold an edge fairly well (on par with 420 stainless steel).
Titanium -Virtually corrosion proof, but holds an edge like crap.
 
I don't go near 1095 'cos rain turns that ginger let alone what you have in mind. Whilst I wouldn't pick D2 as a dive knife as such I'd have no qualms about using it in a kayak, boat, or for a day sailing. It's not that I disagree with jaymeister99 just that I don't consider the stainless he mentions as impervious in a 420 / draining board material kind of way. I'd be stripping down 440C and ATS-34 [ 154 CM] for a darn good clean after a wet day out anyway, and especially round salt water. On that, swerving the D2 wouldn't be saving me a chore.
 
baldtaco-II said:
I don't go near 1095 'cos rain turns that ginger let alone what you have in mind. Whilst I wouldn't pick D2 as a dive knife as such I'd have no qualms about using it in a kayak, boat, or for a day sailing. It's not that I disagree with jaymeister99 just that I don't consider the stainless he mentions as impervious in a 420 / draining board material kind of way. I'd be stripping down 440C and ATS-34 [ 154 CM] for a darn good clean after a wet day out anyway, and especially round salt water. On that, swerving the D2 wouldn't be saving me a chore.
Click to expand...

I should clarify that. I should have mentioned that the stainless I mentioned will definitely need maintenance. IMO at least a wipedown with some oil after any water adventures. The guy who asked me about making a diving knife had complained that his diving knife which was "440" (I assume 440A) was getting small black spots on it after a couple years of use. 440C will corrode even faster without any work to it.

But unless you plan on swimming with it or diving, I would think a D2 with a good oil wipedown will work fine.
 
The Rat 3 has a factory green painted/coated surface so I'll probably just use it as a kayaking knife. I stay away from the real whitewater- rivers,lakes, and salt marshes are fine by me.
 
While a tool steel (D2) wouldent be my first choice for use IN water, common sense use AROUND water should be no dig deal. If it takes a douching, wipe it off as soon as practical, oil it at the end of the day.

A old trick of yesterday was to coat the blade in wax, another thought...............

If your going to spend alot of time in the water, fork out the dough and get a dive knife, but I guess you dont need to hear that otherwise you wouldent have asked.

Benchmade makes some intresting stainless

http://www.knifecenter.com/item/BM110H2OYEL/benchmade-yellow-110h2o-fixed-h2o-dive-knife-3
 
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