M4 real world corrosion resistence

J

JBoone

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Got me some M4 and curious as to others experience. I have a lot of A2 and have never had a problem but it appears to have a bit more chromium. Never had an issue with A2 even when stored in sheaths for years (I keep an eye on them from time to time however)

I think I will start keeping my M4 wiped down with a silicone gun cloth or similar.

Just curious as to others experiences.
 
Just keep it dry and you"ll be fine. If you are wiping down with silicon just make sure you don't cut anything you want to eat probably.

Got rained on hiking the AT one day, got back to the trip and changed clothes. Forgot my Gayle Bradley was in my pocket for a day, went back and it was starting to rusted up. Cleaned up with Scotchbrite and then gave a vinegar patina. It was fine and cut like the devil still.
 
I’ll try to get some pics up of my Gayle Bradley 1 and 2. I find they rust daily and need daily maintenance from my use. I think my sweat and environment tend to encourage corrosion. That said, I love the steel and it’s cutting properties. The natural patina is beautiful and the performance is well worth the extra maintenance.
 
I have a Manix 2 M4 that I use for a work knife around the yard and house. It has some patina which doesn't seem to change from day to day but if I'm in the yard and sweat a lot the blade will develop rust very quickly.
I have 2 versions of the PM2 with M4 that I use for EDC. I keep them reasonably clean but sometimes cut fruit with them and I don't worry too much about keeping oil on the blade. Both have detectable beginnings of patina but no rust or more significant stains.
I have a Gayle Bradley 1 that I've had in my garage as a work knife for about 4 years. It still looks almost factory new.
 
M4 will patina it'll get nice and blue. Keep it dry or better yet, oil it and it will keep any patina at bay. I've used it while it was wet out and got a small rain drop size of patina on it. I must not of wiped it completely dry or something.
 
I actually had different experiences with two different knives in m4.
No issues at all with my mantra 2 when I carried it for a month, but then again it was dry and summer, but it didn't seem to be affect by sweat from pocket carry.
The Gayle Bradley 1 which I tried carrying for a month last winter picked up rust spots like nobody's business. Honestly don't know why. Same front pocket carry, the only thing different was the olight flashlight I carried instead of the copper maratac and of course the time of the year.
 
I have EDC'd the GB since it first came out and have not experienced any corrosion. If I'm beating the heck out of it, cutting anything wet or organic I usually wipe it down with by BreakFree CLP rag that I keep in my garage and my shop. Knock on wood! So far so good. I wear a small belt sheath that I carry it in. In don't like carrying a knife in a pocket bouncing around with keys and cell phones.
 
My GB2 has been carried quite a bit and has some patina but much less than 1095 would under the same use. The only "rust" I have experienced is a little around the pivot where I didn't get it dry after cutting fruit and washing it off. You can't see it without taking the knife apart and it doesn't affect performance.
 
On the protection part of the question, I like Fluid Film on knives (made from lanolin, so none toxic for food use). You can find it at some the big box home improvement stores. I really like old cloth t-shirts to wipe down the blades, as well.
 
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I have some small spots of rust on my millie. Meh, I’ll clean it sometime. It’s just cosmetic. Knife still works.
 
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