How is K390 steel on corrosion resistance?

S

Starmarion

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May 5, 2023
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I was looking at maybe purchasing a Spyderco Endura, Delica or maybe even an Endela in K390, but I need to know how it holds up in terms of corrosion resistance. Does anyone have any experience with this steel? Anyone who has used a knife with this steel extensively in a moist/humid climate region would have knowldege and information that would be especially helpful. Finally, can anyone give me a comparison in terms of corrosion resistance of the K390 steel as opposed to VG-10? Thanks, -S
 
I love the steel but it corrodes and pits pretty quickly in my experience. It's definitely worth it for it's cutting ability but take care of it. I keep it sealed off with wax but if I think I have scratched or wore the wax off it gets a silicone liquid bath after a cleaning. Or a wipe down with a tuff cloth if I have one handy.

It takes an edge that cuts skin and meat like not much i"ve seen so it would be great for thick and dirty hide animals like moose and bear but do keep the thing dry and treated in those conditions.

VG 10 is very corrosion resistant in comparison.
 
The Mastiff said:
I love the steel but it corrodes and pits pretty quickly in my experience. It's definitely worth it for it's cutting ability but take care of it. I keep it sealed off with wax but if I think I have scratched or wore the wax off it gets a silicone liquid bath after a cleaning. Or a wipe down with a tuff cloth if I have one handy.

It takes an edge that cuts skin and meat like not much i"ve seen so it would be great for thick and dirty hide animals like moose and bear but do keep the thing dry and treated in those conditions.
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Thank you so much - really appreciate your insight!
 
It's not all that bad. If you're familiar with carbon steels then I think you'll have no problem keeping up with K390. In my experience it will patina quickly and develop a little bright surface rust if you don't wipe it off reasonably soon after use on wet/acidic things. I think it holds up better than 1095, Case's CV, and other such steels, but I probably wouldn't choose it for constant use on the coast.

20231028_112115.jpg

I've used all of these for years (save for the Endura which I got earlier this month). I cut anything from onions and limes to cardboard and venison and wash them off after use. I'll wipe them down with mineral oil every so often but they seem to keep up pretty well with minimal effort. I've never had an issue with pitting and I honestly do not worry about it.

It's a great steel and Spyderco uses it well. Give it a try.
 
oldmanwilly said:
It's not all that bad. If you're familiar with carbon steels then I think you'll have no problem keeping up with K390. In my experience it will patina quickly and develop a little bright surface rust if you don't wipe it off reasonably soon after use on wet/acidic things. I think it holds up better than 1095, Case's CV, and other such steels, but I probably wouldn't choose it for constant use on the coast.

View attachment 2371886

I've used all of these for years (save for the Endura which I got earlier this month). I cut anything from onions and limes to cardboard and venison and wash them off after use. I'll wipe them down with mineral oil every so often but they seem to keep up pretty well with minimal effort. I've never had an issue with pitting and I honestly do not worry about it.

It's a great steel and Spyderco uses it well. Give it a try.
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Yeah, I completely agree with that. Frankly, I'd love to have those knives with that steel, as that would be my preference, but being outdoors on the coast, sweat, etc., it would probably be too much maintenance for me on a daily basis - especially since I'm out for very long hours at a time. When I get back home, I usually don't wipe my knives down right away, and I think that would be a problem. If I was in a dryer climate zone like Colorado, it would be a no-brainer. However, even VG-10 will rust quickly here if I am not reasonably consistent with knife maintenance. When I had more time, I often thought of knife and gun maintenance as a relaxing hobby, but I just don't have enough time to do that in my older years. Thanks again for your input. Really nice knives you got there! I may have to get one anyway and just keep it indoors!
 
oldmanwilly said:
It's not all that bad. If you're familiar with carbon steels then I think you'll have no problem keeping up with K390. In my experience it will patina quickly and develop a little bright surface rust if you don't wipe it off reasonably soon after use on wet/acidic things. I think it holds up better than 1095, Case's CV, and other such steels, but I probably wouldn't choose it for constant use on the coast.

View attachment 2371886

I've used all of these for years (save for the Endura which I got earlier this month). I cut anything from onions and limes to cardboard and venison and wash them off after use. I'll wipe them down with mineral oil every so often but they seem to keep up pretty well with minimal effort. I've never had an issue with pitting and I honestly do not worry about it.

It's a great steel and Spyderco uses it well. Give it a try.
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P.S. My understanding is that Spyderco is discontinuing some of this line in K390 steel, and even some of the combo edge knives in VG10.
 
oldmanwilly said:
It's not all that bad. If you're familiar with carbon steels then I think you'll have no problem keeping up with K390. In my experience it will patina quickly and develop a little bright surface rust if you don't wipe it off reasonably soon after use on wet/acidic things. I think it holds up better than 1095, Case's CV, and other such steels, but I probably wouldn't choose it for constant use on the coast.

View attachment 2371886

I've used all of these for years (save for the Endura which I got earlier this month). I cut anything from onions and limes to cardboard and venison and wash them off after use. I'll wipe them down with mineral oil every so often but they seem to keep up pretty well with minimal effort. I've never had an issue with pitting and I honestly do not worry about it.

It's a great steel and Spyderco uses it well. Give it a try.
Click to expand...


I've had the same experience as you. My little Wharnie Delica(?) has held-up very well. When I bought the thing, I never researched the steel. I just liked the blue scales. I didn't know that K390 wasn't stainless.

After a thread or two about K390, I was bit worried about it. However, up to his point, it's been pretty solid. Admittedly, I do put a little Wicked Wax on it from time to time.



*I don't own many uncoated 1095 blades, so I haven't had to deal with any kinda' pitting issues. But O1...fuggedaboutit. You can wash an uncoated/unetched O1 blade, pour yourself a Whiskey, and (*quite literally) watch it rust. For me, K390 isn't even close. Your mileage may vary...
 
Alone Alone Agreed. I forgot to add that O1 rusts fast as well. None of my carbon steels really pit badly anyway, and none of them have disintegrated from being put up wet. Honestly, the worst corrosion I see is verdigris on brass bolsters.

Starmarion said:
Yeah, I completely agree with that. Frankly, I'd love to have those knives with that steel, as that would be my preference, but being outdoors on the coast, sweat, etc., it would probably be too much maintenance for me on a daily basis - especially since I'm out for very long hours at a time. When I get back home, I usually don't wipe my knives down right away, and I think that would be a problem. If I was in a dryer climate zone like Colorado, it would be a no-brainer. However, even VG-10 will rust quickly here if I am not reasonably consistent with knife maintenance. When I had more time, I often thought of knife and gun maintenance as a relaxing hobby, but I just don't have enough time to do that in my older years. Thanks again for your input. Really nice knives you got there! I may have to get one anyway and just keep it indoors!
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That's a perfectly reasonable conclusion, you know yourself and your needs best. If you're looking for stainless I've thoroughly enjoyed my Endura in 20CV, and I think you can still find Endelas in Cruwear. I'd snap up a Cruwear Endura or Stretch in an instant.
 
I cut a cooked Potatoe with my Delica K390 serrated edge and it left a permanent mark across the blade where it cut thru. Tool steels seem to only cause me headaches. the upkeep is constant.
 
I had Endura and sold it. Got Delica and sold it too.

Main reason - it'd rust no matter what I did. Oil it, it makes pocket oily too. Oil rubs off on some places or during use, and I get spots there. Similar story with wax.

Got myself a S90V folder now (Manly City) and I'm happy with it.
 
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