Maintaining a D2 blade?

Joined
May 11, 2022
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Got a rat1, I'm new to non stainless steel. I remember having a carbon knife back in the day, washed it with water once, became a piece of rust. Is it ok to wash D2 with water after meal prep do you just dry wipe the stuff off/do you periodically apply WD40 etc.
 
Although D2 isn't quite stainless by the strict definition, it's pretty close to being so, just a bit shy of the 11-12% free chromium content needed to be called 'stainless'. Some of it's chromium goes to forming very wear-resistant carbides, instead of to corrosion resistance. But it's still not easily prone to rusting like other carbon steels (1095, etc.).

Just treat it like you would a stainless blade. Keeping it relatively clean after use will accomplish about 99% of the task. Oil it if you want to - but you might eventually find you don't really need to do that. You might notice over time, it might begin to patina just a little bit, with some subtle graying of the finish. But there's no harm in that and no need to worry.
 
D2 rust issues has a lot to do with finish of the steel. Satin or polished will resist rust much better than beads blasted or mat finish.

I've pocket carried polished and satin D2 for a decade or more without rust issues. I did have D2 spott a bit with small flecks of discoloration when washing it with hot soapy water. The spots went away with a little strop action.

I just use it, was it in water if soiled/dirty and wipe it dry.

My D2 is in slipjoints so I also put a dab of oil in the joints occasionally to keep them moving freely.
 
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