How rust proof are the salt series really?

[nephron]

Do swiss army natives ever rust?

Just as an alternative.

 

[TradTrapper]

I’ve had an H1 Salt2 SE for years that I’ve used fishing in salt water, fresh water, to cut open bags of mulch and top soil, gardening, camping, and all manner of other things. I rarely do much more than wipe it off and occasionally rinse it off. Zero rust or corrosion.

 

[calyth]

This is a nice video test of Salt series, soaked in salt water for several days:


Go to minute 9 for the result.

Not just any salt water. I think they mentioned that the Salt Lake is at higher concentration of salt than sea water.

 

[GatorFlash1]

If you don't flush with fresh water does the lock clog up after time with the salt from the sea water? I always flush mine when finished using it.

 

[Mikel_24]

If you don't flush with fresh water does the lock clog up after time with the salt from the sea water? I always flush mine when finished using it.

I guess that eventually it could happen, but you will need a crap load of wet-dry cycles for the salt build up to grow so much (and so hard) so as to prevent the lockbar from engaging properly in the blade notch.

I don't think it will happen unless you are really trying to make it happen.

I rinse my gear anyway because even if salt does not affect it, sand and other crap end up scratching the internals and the action becomes gritty (and I don't like it). If you use it arround fish or food, the leftovers will root away and smell awful, so rinsing is recommended.

Mikel

 

[StuntDouble]

I managed to cause a couple pits on the blade of my LC200N Pacific Salt when I failed to clean off some lime juice for about a week. Not quite the same as salt water, but I guess it just goes to show everything has limits.

 

[353]

I managed to cause a couple pits on the blade of my LC200N Pacific Salt when I failed to clean off some lime juice for about a week. Not quite the same as salt water, but I guess it just goes to show everything has limits.

What happens if you try to clean that of with some WD-40?

 

[StuntDouble]

What happens if you try to clean that of with some WD-40?

Shoot. I forgot to add the after pics! Sorry about that!

It's certainly less dramatic cleaned up a bit. The "rust" came off easily enough, but when I looked closer I discovered the small pits. I don't really have any worry that they'll get any worse.

 

[Surfingringo]

If you don't flush with fresh water does the lock clog up after time with the salt from the sea water? I always flush mine when finished using it.

No, it does not. Even after thousands of salty sessions with no rinsing. It can clog up with fish scales and dried tuna blood though.

 

[353]

Shoot. I forgot to add the after pics! Sorry about that!

It's certainly less dramatic cleaned up a bit. The "rust" came off easily enough, but when I looked closer I discovered the small pits. I don't really have any worry that they'll get any worse.

Actual pitting, this is a surprice from LC200N IMO..

 

[StuntDouble]

Yeah, it surprised me too. I know some of these steels can show rust due to metal contamination during the manufacturing process, but I didn't expect it to pit. I guess it could be possible that the pits were caused by bits of non-corrosion resistant metal that were imbedded in the blade during grinding.

 

[on_the_edge]

Lime juice is acidic and there is an obvious difference between something that is very saline and something that is acidic. Don't confuse the two.

 

[Jonny Blades]

The way they did the g10 on the Caribbeans is genius. Easy to locate, easy to hold. If you want no fuss, get one with a Spydie (serrated) edge.

 

[cutterl1]

Back in 2018 I spent a day in the dead sea with my Pacific salt, I made a point not to rinse it for a week, guess what .. no trace of rust whatsoever.

 

[kells45]

I’ve taken my pacific salt in h1 swimming in a chlorinated pool and left it for a few hours before rinsing it off, no issues. The only thing I have found that will affect h1 is easy off oven cleaner. I was trying to get some butyl rubber sealant off the handle and sprayed the whole knife down with easy off. It got the sealant of the handle and lightened the yellow a bit. I noticed the blade wasn’t as shiny anymore. It had a dull look to it like the easy off etched the blade somehow. It didn’t get any pitting, rust or spots on it. I found it pretty interesting.

 

[Evany]

I've used the same Salt 1 SE as a back up dive knife for at least 10 years. No rust, but the Spyderco logo faded away at some point.