M4 maintenance

[Silly Rabbit]

I forced mine
Cold blue, vinegar, lemon juice
It was tough to get it to take

 

[Billy516]

I fall in the user camp with my M4 Millie.

 

[M. Johnwell]

I've been edc-ing a mantra since the end of this winter. I wipe it off after every use and have only had one occasion where it rusted, but I was kayaking and it got soaked and stayed in my wet pocket for around four hours. Even with that, it only got a few spots that wiped off pretty easily. With minimal maintenance, mine is still mostly shiny. Is it stainless? No. But it does have some chromium so it doesn't rust as easily as simple carbon steels.

 

[bdmicarta]

Can anyone actually give me a good explanation as to what exactly a 'patina' is? Im not even sure what it is I just dont like the looks.

In the context of steel knife blades- patina is a form of iron oxide on the surface of the blade. I'm not a chemistry major but I seem to know that there are various forms of iron oxide, one of which is normal orange rust. Patina is apparently a different form of iron oxide, a different color. The idea is that if there is a layer of one form of iron oxide on the surface of the blade then that would inhibit a different form of iron oxide from forming. Depending on how a patina is formed it might be "attractive" or it might not be. I have a few old knives with patina that formed over a long time. They are somewhat random. I have a Spyderco Manix 2 in M4 that I bought used and it came with a patina that is also somewhat random. Neither one is what you would call attractive. I consider the Manix 2 to be a cutting tool, a good cutting tool, and it isn't any less attractive than other tools in my garage such as my old wood chisels.

 

[91bravo]

Purple onion/garlic hue

 

[Jack3dBrett]

In the context of steel knife blades- patina is a form of iron oxide on the surface of the blade. I'm not a chemistry major but I seem to know that there are various forms of iron oxide, one of which is normal orange rust. Patina is apparently a different form of iron oxide, a different color. The idea is that if there is a layer of one form of iron oxide on the surface of the blade then that would inhibit a different form of iron oxide from forming. Depending on how a patina is formed it might be "attractive" or it might not be. I have a few old knives with patina that formed over a long time. They are somewhat random. I have a Spyderco Manix 2 in M4 that I bought used and it came with a patina that is also somewhat random. Neither one is what you would call attractive. I consider the Manix 2 to be a cutting tool, a good cutting tool, and it isn't any less attractive than other tools in my garage such as my old wood chisels.

Thanks for the explanation

 

[GatorFlash1]

Rust residue.

 

[Skeptic13]

I use Ballistol on all of my knives and guns to prevent rust. Even though I live in a dryer climate I have never had rust issues and I use my knives in a lot of outdoor situations.