How do you keep a carbon steel knife oiled in a survival situation?

I carry a little bottle of Rem-Oil. Probably not the best choice, but it works decent enough.
 
Hit it with your tube of chapstick. It doesn't wipe off as easy as oil I find.
 
If I was in a survival situation, I really wouldn't worry about my knife rusting. From my experience, knives don't rust as long as they're being used. They rust when stored in bad condition. Really, if you had to survive, I would worry about getting home alive. Your knife will be fine and still be usable. And like I said, it probably won't rust as long as you're using it. Patina, it will get but not rust. Don't worry about it!

I have a very old HI khukuri and Marbles Trailmaker that I use all the time for camp and yard work. I usually oil it before it goes in storage but sometimes I forget and it still lives on.. Sure it's black and pitted but I can take that out and use it as is. The edge is still perfectly usable. Besides, carbon steel knives that get used can never stay shiny and new. That's just character:D
 
Ray beat me to it. I've found that carrying and using carbon steel, I've never had a problem with rust. Knives stored are the ones that tend to rust. Keep it dry is the best advice. If the sheath is wet, don't put it in there.

Scott
 
raylaconico said:
If I was in a survival situation, I really wouldn't worry about my knife rusting. From my experience, knives don't rust as long as they're being used. They rust when stored in bad condition. Really, if you had to survive, I would worry about getting home alive. Your knife will be fine and still be usable. And like I said, it probably won't rust as long as you're using it. Patina, it will get but not rust. Don't worry about it!

I have a very old HI khukuri and Marbles Trailmaker that I use all the time for camp and yard work. I usually oil it before it goes in storage but sometimes I forget and it still lives on.. Sure it's black and pitted but I can take that out and use it as is. The edge is still perfectly usable. Besides, carbon steel knives that get used can never stay shiny and new. That's just character:D
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Thats right, I am going to take a pic of my lil Farmer dayhiker in 1095. Thats probably my most used blade, it looks like its been through hell and back but its still razor sharp and cuts like a champ!
 
Seriously, I don't want to be the buzz killer here but, who cares about a little rust, tarnish, patina? It won't bother a thing. You will be surprised at the knives I have taken to Peru that are 01 and 1095 without anything but humidity, mud, water, tree resin, guts, blood, and moisture, without any problems.
-RB
 
in a real survival situation, rust will be the least of your problems, so i doubt you would even care about some small spots on your blade. things like fire, food,shelter being more important, so just trying to remember to keep it dry would be more than enough.
 
I usually have some cotton balls with Vaseline for emergency tinder. They work well for rust prevention as well. If you are using the knife daily, I don't think you would have any problem with it anyway.
 
And once the blade is coated with ear wax, you can stir your water with the blade and the water will taste just like a warm Heineken.
 
As others have mentioned, if you are in asurvival situation, you will likely be using your knife all the time and this in itself will keep rust at bay. Besides a little rusta nd staining never did any harm to a user knife.
 
perksy said:
As others have mentioned, if you are in asurvival situation, you will likely be using your knife all the time and this in itself will keep rust at bay. Besides a little rusta nd staining never did any harm to a user knife.
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Ya, what he said.
-RB
 
My dad has been keeping a carbon mora as his boat knife on his fish boat for about a decade. It gets dipped in salt water all the time and is used to fillet fish on the boat or on the docks, and is constantly exposed to salt as a result.

After ten years, it's fine. What is going to happen in a survival situation that will seriously degrade the performance of your knife? If it gets a little dull from corrosion, touch it up with a stone.

Interesting fact: most modern knives can in fact be removed from their hermetically sealed display safes without immediately suffering catastrophic failure!
 
:Interesting fact: most modern knives can in fact be removed from their hermetically sealed display safes without immediately suffering catastrophic failure!


I'm stealing this line. New sig for me :D
 
Surface rust or tarnish is not a problem. Your knife is not going to turn into a pile of iron oxide overnight. Tarnish can be removed by making a paste of fine silt or sand. If you use the knife for skinning or cutting plants wash it off with available water, wipe it with damp ground or wipe it off. There is more of problem from blood or plant juices, these can corrode a knife very quick. Jacktrades has said it right, rust is the least of your problems in a survival situation. I use all my knives and tarnish or patina is a sign of use, that is what a knife is for.
 
In a true survival situation, I doubt you will spend a lot of time worrying about a little rust on your blade. That said, there are often dumps in the woods around that have old oil cans in them and there is a bit of oil in most empty cans that could be used. I would also tend to carry a small bottle of Rem Oil as well as a rag or two in my pack. Rags come in handy for many tasks in an emergency. Choose one that is large enough to make a sling for a broken arm or to wrap a wound.
 
I think if the blade remains shining clean, the situation should be nothing serious
or too much serious that there was no chance for the knife to be used.
 
perksy said:
Besides a little rusta nd staining never did any harm to a user knife.
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Actually I think it makes it pretty.

farmer003.jpg


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farmer015.jpg
 
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