Kraton and mineral oil

StrangeDaze

StrangeDaze

Gold Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2016
Messages
2,062
Hey everyone.
I have a cold steel outdoorsman that the handle is starting to feel a little sticky.
The only thing besides water that could have gotten on it is mineral oil that i used to clean the blade. Can mineral oil deteriorate kraton? Or is there something else happening here? The knife was bought around 2016 so it isn’t terribly old.
 
I have a kobun that gets used in the water, so Ive always put mineral oil on the blade and into the space between the kraton and the tang without issue. Did you buy it new?
 
jux t said:
I have a kobun that gets used in the water, so Ive always put mineral oil on the blade and into the space between the kraton and the tang without issue. Did you buy it new?
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Yes.
Thanks for your reply. It must be something else going on.
 
My Trailmaster SanMai handle turned sticky and too soft after a few years.

Have you ever used bug spray then used the knife?
 
Bigfattyt said:
My Trailmaster SanMai handle turned sticky and too soft after a few years.

Have you ever used bug spray then used the knife?
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I never use bug spray!
Do you think thats why your trail masters handle got sticky and soft?
 
I live in a dry climate and bought an old Master Hunter and the handle felt a little dry. I applied balistol 3 times and now it feels brand new. AFAIK I didn't do any damage to it, I just grabbed it and it feels brand new, grippy and solid and certainly not melty or soft. Could salt water damage the handle material?
 
IaccidentlyCutmyThumb said:
I live in a dry climate and bought an old Master Hunter and the handle felt a little dry. I applied balistol 3 times and now it feels brand new. AFAIK I didn't do any damage to it, I just grabbed it and it feels brand new, grippy and solid and certainly not melty or soft. Could salt water damage the handle material?
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I believe saltwater could damage it. Here's why I have a SOG Pentagon that I used to carry when I used to go to the river to crab. The handle is like mush right now. I just don't think that that handle material has longevity. Just an opinion
 
Vlade said:
I believe saltwater could damage it. Here's why I have a SOG Pentagon that I used to carry when I used to go to the river to crab. The handle is like mush right now. I just don't think that that handle material has longevity. Just an opinion
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Yeah that might explain the OP's issue. I've only ever had mine in fresh water and obviously no issues there.
 
I dont think i ever brought it into salt water.
Seems lame that it is so sensitive.
I would think it would have been a good handle for a dive knife but apparently not!
 
StrangeDaze said:
I dont think i ever brought it into salt water.
Seems lame that it is so sensitive.
I would think it would have been a good handle for a dive knife but apparently not!
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Well we don't know that for sure. It could just be too much sun or some other chemical that found it along the way. I agree they should go for a harder material more like Fallkniven. I've sort of thought it for years, but Cold Steel needs to start doing some new stuff or they'll end up like Kabar with a dead catalogue.
 
jux t said:
FWIW, they use a different composition of kraton than they used to and they call it kray-ex. It’s a bit harder and more resistant to chemicals.
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Good, but I'm thinking even harder. It would be great to see an SRK with a flat grind, no ricasso, and a firmer, more durable handle. Keep the cost the same as the SK5 model. Maybe run it 56-58 to keep it nice and tough. Boom, that would be the top selling fixed blade outside of Moras and pieces of crap at gas stations. I wish they would, but I have the feeling they won't.
 
IaccidentlyCutmyThumb said:
I live in a dry climate and bought an old Master Hunter and the handle felt a little dry. I applied balistol 3 times and now it feels brand new. AFAIK I didn't do any damage to it, I just grabbed it and it feels brand new, grippy and solid and certainly not melty or soft. Could salt water damage the handle material?
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Ballistol doesn't do any damage in my opinion. WD40 does, I expirienced this on a kraton handle. I permanently changes the color, as if the oil get's inside the material. I'm sure long term it is no good.

I think if the kraton on my marauder breaks down one day I will give it a brass guard and a micarta handle😎
 
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