Edge Degradation from oxidation on non-stainless

[JBoone]

Just wondering what everybody's experience is here.

I have not tried to do any testing by any means, but it feels like I can tell a difference between the sharpness of stainless and non-stainless after sitting several months. I usually have to strop the non-stainless to bring it back to "sharp" if I have not used in a while.

Seems to make sense. Even if I oil my non-stainless blades lightly, the edge is often exposed after cutting and therefore more prone to oxidation. Though not readily apparent (visually) to me, it seems to effects the sharpness.

Just was curious as to others experience.

 

[El Jay]

I live in Los Angeles, close to the mountains. I have not experienced this with my carbon blades. Probably due to a lack of humidity.

 

[other memory]

My oldest carbon steel (O1) is 14 years old. It's fine. I have a few others that are about a decade old: 5160, O1, and A2. They're fine. I do use and sharpen my CS knives and inspect them from time to time. I haven't had any issues.

CS is subject to oxidation and corrosion, so it's wise to inspect CS every once in a while, at a minimum. It's a non issue if you use your knives and maintain them.

 

[elevator man]

Ive carried k390/15v exclusively for 10 months now and have never had this be a problem. Even on days I sweated so bad the k390 in my pocket got some surface rust spotting. I noticed no degrading of my edge

 

[shinyedges]

Under magnification you can see oxidation on the edge and it can and will effect sharpness, for 99.99% of cases it's not user detectable and a non issue.

 

[BJE]

What shiny edges said, it happens if not used for a while and exposed to moist air, but I have had carbon steel knives stored for years in a basement that is rather damp, and even though they had visible surface rust on the blades, the edges were still sharp enough to shave arm hair and certainly still usable for edc.

 

[SwissHeritageCo]

I've experienced it on long dormant knives I sheathed and stored when they were hair shaving sharp.

It's very subtle but it does happen.

 

[JBoone]

Thanks for the feedback. I am thinking that I did not put these away as sharp as I thought I did. I could see if a knife was visibly rusted, etc. but not the case with the ones that I am talking about.
Didn't consciously "Put them away" per say, just have too many EDCs and it can be some time before some of these are carried.

 

[scorpnsnake]

Grew up right on a salty laguna in Texas. Corrosion can be extreme beyond belief.

 

[Alone]

South Texas is pretty damned humid, and I use a shi!tload of 1095.

With that, I've noticed ZERO edge degradation on my knives.


Your mileage may vary.