I'll be heading out on a dive vacation in a few weeks and was wondering how bad an idea it would be to strap an M2 nimravus to my leg instead of buying a dedicated dive knife. This will actually be my first trip after getting certified so i was trying to avoid having to spend money on a knife that I wont use for anything other than diving. Since i already have a nimravus in a sheath that would work pretty well for diving. It is coated but i am concerned that salt water will get under the handle slabs and cause corrosion that i wont be able to see. Will a thorough rinse after a dive and a wipe down with marine tough cloth prevent excessive rust? Suggestions?
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M2 nimravus in salt water
- Thread starter sputnick
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2005
- Messages
- 164
I guess it's not a terrible idea, but i don't think its a good one either. MY friend's 710 in M2 rusted pretty easily through EDC use. Might i suggest the Benchmade 100SH20 with the H1 steel. It doesn't posses the cutting properties or edge retention capabilities as the M2, but it's meant to be in the water. American Heritage Sports has a special on a black one for $60 shipped right now.
www.americanheritagesports.com
www.americanheritagesports.com
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2003
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- 726
I would say don't do it. I've had stainless steel rust just from sweat, and I can imagine what salt water would do to something like M2. 
Alright, sounds like i"m just gonna have to spend some money and buy a special use knife. Any other dive knife recomendations.
Just for the hell of it I am going to drop the first inch or two of the nimravus into salwater right now and see what happens. I'll post pictures as soon as i see some results. I will treat one section of the blade with marine tough as a comparison.
Just for the hell of it I am going to drop the first inch or two of the nimravus into salwater right now and see what happens. I'll post pictures as soon as i see some results. I will treat one section of the blade with marine tough as a comparison.
Benchmade is no longer using M2, so before ruining this blade just to avoid buying a knife that will work, consider selling it to someone looking for M2 and buying one that won't be bothered by the ocean. $.02
The Benchmade 100SH20 with H1 steel is one option, a Spyderco Salt in H1 is also an option. Your call.
The Benchmade 100SH20 with H1 steel is one option, a Spyderco Salt in H1 is also an option. Your call.
Ras: I am aware of benchmades change in blade steel options. I have no intention of selling this blade as i purchased it because of the M2 steel and predominantly use it as a utility knife in the woods. I do agree that i should just spend the money on a knife that i will use 1 week out of the year or simply not have a knife while diving. Using M2 in salt water is obviously a bad idea. I was really looking to find information as to the severity of corrosion under these circumstances.
I've never seriously looked into purchasing a spyderco knife despite their quality contruction simply because I am unable to use my thumb to open the knife quickly (my thumb doesnt bend at the first joint) however in an underwater environment it may prove an asset to have a folder. I could tie it inside of a BC pocket increasing the ease of access as well as providing increased retention and decreased chance of stabbing myself in the leg upon sheathing in awkward underwater environments. It would be interesting to hear of someone with experience using one of these knives under similiar circumstances. Does it need to be dissasembled for cleaning of bushings very often, etc.
I've never seriously looked into purchasing a spyderco knife despite their quality contruction simply because I am unable to use my thumb to open the knife quickly (my thumb doesnt bend at the first joint) however in an underwater environment it may prove an asset to have a folder. I could tie it inside of a BC pocket increasing the ease of access as well as providing increased retention and decreased chance of stabbing myself in the leg upon sheathing in awkward underwater environments. It would be interesting to hear of someone with experience using one of these knives under similiar circumstances. Does it need to be dissasembled for cleaning of bushings very often, etc.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2005
- Messages
- 547
The spyderco seldom needs to be disabmled and cleaned (I also believe that voids the warranty). Unless it is put in vinegar it will not rust even at the pivot (I am drawing these conclusions from a review done on BF, I can't find it because my search function is not working at hte moment and from my experiences with it in salt water).
All the new benchmade H20s since earlier this year are made of X15. I had mine for 2 weeks in the carribean and only got a couple of dimples of surface rust that was quickly flitz'ed off upon my return. I didnt know if mine was X15 or H1 but since it rusted at all I'm going to guess its not H1.
I bought both the H20 and a Salt at the same time but only the benchmade was delivered before the trip so I couldnt compare the two. There has been extensive testing of the Salt line by forumites at this website in every imaginable harsh environment without the slightest hint of rust. Its a great steel that only seems to get better with use since it work hardens. The more you use it the more rigid it gets.
I bought both the H20 and a Salt at the same time but only the benchmade was delivered before the trip so I couldnt compare the two. There has been extensive testing of the Salt line by forumites at this website in every imaginable harsh environment without the slightest hint of rust. Its a great steel that only seems to get better with use since it work hardens. The more you use it the more rigid it gets.
Just for giggles i put 1/2 tsp of kosher salt in 100mls of filtered tap water. The water came up about 3/4 inch from the tip on a freshly honed and untreated blade. I checked the knife every half an hour. It took 8 hours for a ~1/2 mm dark spot to form on the edge. I removed the knife rinsed it in fresh water and wiped with marine tough. It came right out. The 154cm socom elite I have is much more sensitive and simply handling the clean blade will cause small rust spots to form in a few hours. I figured it would rust up a bit faster than it did.