M4 corrosion

[bdmicarta]

I haven't seen corrosion on M4 before, at least before today.

I use my franken-Manix as a work knife and last weekend I used it in the yard to cut some electrical tape. I didn't cut anything wet and I didn't think the knife got wet otherwise but I did lay it down on the grass. I had it clipped in my pocket the rest of the day while I was working in the garage and it might have gotten damp from sweat. Probably not directly wet though. Today I pulled it out of the drawer to use for work in the garage and immediately saw red rust. I took photos and then cleaned it off with some ordinary metal polish. The rust cleaned off but the light patina remained. I may have to switch to my Cruwear version for hot summer days.

 

[knarfeng]

A bit of oil before you put it away will help prevent that sort of thing.

 

[jpm2]

Had it happen to a GB Air that was sweat soaked in my pocket all day without any use. There was also tiny pits. It cleaned right up without any affect on performance, but curious because it's never happened with any of my other bare HSS blades, M2, M3, M35, M42.

 

[Danke42]

You can just about see the fabric pattern of your pants.

 

[JR88FAN]

A bit of oil before you put it away will help prevent that sort of thing.

^^^This or some wax based protectant. You can also force a Patina....

M4 is not a "stainless" so under certain conditions you will get some surface rust.

 

[K.O.D.]

I do wonder about this with my Gayle Bradley. It's 90 degrees here, high humidity, and a storm is brewing. I will see if it trusts.

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[GatorMedic]

Yikes! Thanks for posting up your experience and pics. Don't think M4 would be good for me


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[bt93]

I understand M4 is a high grade tool steel, not considered stainless. The fact that you hadn't seen it rust before would attest to it's quality. I got rust on my Buck 110 once, happened while it was packed in a moving box for over a month. 420hc is supposed to be stainless. It showed me that in the right (wrong?) conditions any steel can rust.

 

[NJBillK]

I have an M4, 52100, D2 and multiple 1095 and 1084 knives.
While I would expect this reaction with some of the more plain alloys (1095/1084), I would not expect this to be anything more than just superficial.

Give it a quick hit with a scrub side of a sponge and then some oil. It should come right off.

 

[sharp_edge]

I understand M4 is a high grade tool steel, not considered stainless. The fact that you hadn't seen it rust before would attest to it's quality. I got rust on my Buck 110 once, happened while it was packed in a moving box for over a month. 420hc is supposed to be stainless. It showed me that in the right (wrong?) conditions any steel can rust.

yes - stainless = stain less or less stain, not stain free.

 

[NJBillK]

Ok, just reread the OP and noticed that the OP has addressed the corrosion issue.

I am curious as to how your Cruwear will react under your conditions?
I carry a manix 2 cruwear daily and I haven't noticed anything in regards to corrosion/patina, mind you I work in a fridge, so I am not in the elements as much as your average person.