I love cold steel and all, but...

S

Southern14

Joined
Jun 15, 2013
Messages
63
I wish they used better steel. The AUS8A Is very nice for edge holding capabilities, but not so for being rust resistant. Yes yes, you'll try the old "it doesn't mean it's rust proof!". Yes yes I'm aware. But it should not get rusted within the first 3 days of ownership when I take proper care of it. This has happened on every knife I have owned that uses AUS8A. It just isn't a good stainless steel. I love in Florida, but my VG-10 spyderco Delica4 & endura4 have been just fine. Only AUS8A gives me trouble.
 
Southern14 said:
There's no rust on the knives now. I have the gear to clean it off, but still.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I meant that it looks like Cold Steel is going to significantly upgrade the steel on their knives next year and CTS-XHP is one of the steels they're using. It's very corrosion resistant, so it should eliminate that problem.
 
I was gonna say we gotta see some pics. Starting a thread like this people are gonna want to see the problem. NO PICS NO PROOF! Have a hard time believing this rust problem unless you left it submerged in saltwater for those 3 days. And what knife was it exactly BTW?
 
Ulf Krogstad said:
I was gonna say we gotta see some pics. Starting a thread like this people are gonna want to see the problem. NO PICS NO PROOF! Have a hard time believing this rust problem unless you left it submerged in saltwater for those 3 days. And what knife was it exactly BTW?
Click to expand...

I have no problems believing it, I've had rust issues with every bead blasted knife I've ever owned and, until recently, Cold Steel was very fond of that particular finish. I've found sanding it down and polishing the blade will go a long way towards preventing corrosion, but it's a bit time intensive.
 
Could be other things at play, like body pH. But, VG10 has more Chromium and Vanadium than AUS8. Minor surface rust can be annoying, but as someone already stated the CTS-XHP and CTS-BD1 steels should fix that problem.
 
I have a few cold steel knives, and I recently moved from GA. Rust has never been a problem with my knives from Cold steel. Maybe it's because I oil them like I'm supposed to?
 
Remember that everyone has a different body chemistry regarding how corrosive their sweat is.

So some folks will have more problems with rust than others.

Like said above, maintenance goes a long way towards preventing the rust issues too.

Keep those knives clean and sharp and you will be good to go!
 
AmericanSoldier1989 said:
I have a few cold steel knives, and I recently moved from GA. Rust has never been a problem with my knives from Cold steel. Maybe it's because I oil them like I'm supposed to?
Click to expand...

I don't know that is necessarily "supposed to" oil stainless steels. That's one of the nice things about stainless over carbon. I am outside sweating all summer long and none of my stainless blades have developed rust and I never oil them. As mentioned by others, the OP likely has a body chemistry that makes his blades prone to rust.
 
Southern14 said:
I wish they used better steel. The AUS8A Is very nice for edge holding capabilities, but not so for being rust resistant. Yes yes, you'll try the old "it doesn't mean it's rust proof!". Yes yes I'm aware. But it should not get rusted within the first 3 days of ownership when I take proper care of it. This has happened on every knife I have owned that uses AUS8A. It just isn't a good stainless steel. I love in Florida, but my VG-10 spyderco Delica4 & endura4 have been just fine. Only AUS8A gives me trouble.
Click to expand...

I haven't had good experiences with AUS steels regarding edge holding. They're very soft steels.
 
I have a CS Safe Maker II in AUS. The dull edges don't bother me so much because it's a puncturing weapon. I've tried AUS in other CS knives and even with SOG and I've never been able to get that stuff to take or hold an edge worth anything. It's reasonably tough, but nigh worthless for being sharp.
 
I am glad I live in Los Angeles for the weather. Nothing that I have really rusts, but I do have a Wolf Creek Forge hawk in 1018 with a L6 bit. I never see rust, but sometimes when I wipe it down some slight reddish color comes off. My sweat must be good to go as I carry a few carbon steel folders in Super Blue and D2 etc and never have an issue.
 
I am sure rust is the reason Cold Steel puts that crappy black coating on many of their knives. They are upgrading to a couple of new steels and one of them is CTS-XHP. This is D2 made stainless and is my favorite knife steel. I live on the Equator, jungle, sea, and river area, and I have never had an issue with CTS-XHP. Be patient.
 
Wanimator said:
What is wrong with you? If CS bothers you, get another brand's products.
Click to expand...

And if people commenting on knives bothers you, why join a knife discussion forum :confused:

Personally, I'd be very happy to see a number of CS designs in better steel. I'm also waiting on the Warcraft XL to arrive.
 
I have to call user error on being unable to sharpen AUS8.

I don't claim to be a master sharpener, but it was easy to put a razor sharp edge on the few AUS8 knives I've sharpened, including my RAT1 and my 4 inch Talwar.

People have criticized the edge holding of AUS8, but the edge taking?
 
Freman Bloodglaive said:
I have to call user error on being unable to sharpen AUS8.

I don't claim to be a master sharpener, but it was easy to put a razor sharp edge on the few AUS8 knives I've sharpened, including my RAT1 and my 4 inch Talwar.

People have criticized the edge holding of AUS8, but the edge taking?
Click to expand...

Agreed, I have a CS Ti-lite and Rat 1, my girlfriend a Rat 2. All take exceptional edges.

That said, my one bead blasted blade, an ontario xm-1 (n690co) has developed surface rust a few times in its life.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top