Maintaining high-carbon steels

[MissesMeow]

I’m a stainless guy. Always have been, always will be. And yet … I’ve lately found myself entranced by some high-carbon-steel fixed blades, specifically the Winkler Belt Knife and some Lon Humphrey offerings.

Two things about me: I hate the idea of rust on my expensive knives almost as much as I hate work or effort of any kind. My ideal life is to sit back, do nothing, and watch my knives not rust. So I’m scared to pull the trigger on one of these bad boys.

So, I guess my question is: What kind of effort is required to maintain rust-free high-carbon steel? When it’s not in use and sitting in a drawer, do I have to oil it every day? Once a week? Less often? And is there anything else I should do besides oiling? Pray to ancient gods? Blood sacrifices to forge demons?

Thanks for any info.

P.S.

I’m well aware that not only has this question probably been asked and answered innumerable times in these hallowed forums, but I could probably find the answer with 30 seconds of Googling. But where’s the fun in that? Where’s the human connection? Where’s the possibility of a grizzled mountain man calling me a pu$$y for preferring stainless steel? No. I want to handle this the old-fashioned way: by asking thousands of strangers with only a few taps on my handheld space phone that connects to an invisible, global communications network.

 

[ShaiHulud]

To OP if you want to take a dip in the carbon pool, I suggest Condor, reasonably priced performers, use it, don't worry about it, work up from there. 3v is too easy to take care of, your concerns are high carbon based, so check out 1075 and 1095

 

[Andy the Aussie]

I have some new unused high carbon blades that have never been used and are around a decade old. One wipe with mineral oil back when I got them is all they have had. They remain looking new.

This next part is not directed at the OP but a comment on general.

When the heeeeell did the hobby that is knives and steel overtake the centuries of knowledge that go before. Sure stainless and super steels have their place and I own my share but there seems to be this “new” belief that a blades that are “not stainless” etc are going to rust away to nothing. JParanee probably makes my point best in this thread. I keep seeing a stripped ground and abused Scrapyard S5 laying on the floor under my bench in the workshop, a spot that is notoriously damp yet it is not an orange hunk of scales !

 

[AntDog]

Thank you for calling me a pussy. Extra credit if you’re heavily bearded and wearing denim overalls with nothing on underneath while doing it.

Hey, you asked for it. Got the beard covered but not the overalls. Don’t fear the carbon - embrace the pateener.

 

[JWright214]

I carry a carbon steel knives daily, in my pocket, in the south, and on the coast. Wipe when wet, use dish detergent to wash, alcohol swabs are also good for cleaning, don’t store wet in leather, use clp/wd40/gun oil/mineral oil/Vaseline/Tuff Glide/wax/chapstick/etc to keep rust at bay. Personally, I say use it and don’t sweat it, patina is like scars and tattoos, it tells a story and adds character.

 

[kobold]

Bacon grease is the traditional way.

 

[calm]

The ones used regularly in food prep (for cutting food, like lemons, tomatoes, apples etc.), just wash and dry when finished. Oil any joints, as with SS knives.


The ones in storage or, not used for any food prep (e.g. Moras), I put a coat of Tuf glide marine grade oil and polish it when dry, if I want a shiny look.

If you only cut dry items they need no real maintenance.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

Keep clean and dry. When the knife is not in use, I put a thin layer of oil on it.

 

[NapalmCheese]

Two things about me: I hate the idea of rust on my expensive knives almost as much as I hate work or effort of any kind. My ideal life is to sit back, do nothing, and watch my knives not rust. So I’m scared to pull the trigger on one of these bad boys.

So, I guess my question is: What kind of effort is required to maintain rust-free high-carbon steel?

Buy what you like, take care of your things, find a better hobby than sitting on your ass.

Ren wax does a good job of keeping blades you have no intention of using rust free. Nature, a dry wipe, and mineral oil or ballistol works for the balance of user blades should you decide to stop looking at your knives and start doing something else with them.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

As others have said, make friends with a patina. It's just the way uncoated carbon steel behaves when exposed to any kind of oxidizing element. The more you use it, the more it will develop. It may look mottled or uneven, but it's the steel developing calluses where it needs it.

I usually wash a knife after heavy use, dry it, oil it with some random gun oil, and store it most of the time in its sheath if I know it won't give me any issues.

When I clean my khukuris deeply for long storage, I treat them like I'm going to blue them. Hot, hot water and dish soap. Rinse the blade until it's warm enough that the water actually beads on the steel and evaporates so that you it will dry properly, dry it super well with a towel, use some rubbing alcohol and cotton balls to clean the nooks and displace any water, hit it with a spray of your choice of oil, sheath it.

Keep in mind I've felt the need to do this like 6 times in 20+ years. Most of the time, knock the tree sap off, spray some Rem Oil, sheath it and not worry about it. If surface rust develops, remember in the grand scheme of things that it's not a big deal and don't sweat the small things.

 

[jfk1110]

I think he was playing on your screen name there meow.....Remember, never take it personal, you don't even know 99.9% of the knuckleheads on the web or here.......Wet coffee grinds make a nice dark patina.
Blood from raw meat tends to leave a rainbow effect too... Pretty cool...

Have a look at some of the beautiful patinas below!!!

Photos - Patina thread

lets see some of those users with some patina!

www.bladeforums.com

 

[pholder]

If your ideal life is to sit back, do nothing and watch your stainless not rust, you can do the same with carbon steel. Or, get involved with life, use carbon steel, build a bond with its characteristics and watch it morph into something that is ever evolving

 

[eveled]

Either embrace the patina, or buy stainless.

Don’t expect your carbon steel knives to stay shiny. Stop any red rust with oil.

 

[MissesMeow]

As long as you don't neglect it, it'll be just fine. Cursory wipe dry and carry on. Maybe I'm just a sucker for a nice patina, but I enjoy the bit of character it gives each knife.

Oooooo, what model of Carothers is that? I like the extended/exposed pommel. It just so happens that I got my very first CPK yesterday, a Utility Fighter. I’m in love.

 

[MissesMeow]

Bacon grease is the traditional way.

My Southern in-laws would approve.

 

[whereismyknife]

After use, I clean it, lubricate it with mineral oil and put it away. I've never seen them rust.

 

[Modernflame]

EDCi prevents rust. Flitz metal polish will delete corrosion like real life photoshop.

You can always get a stainless fixed blade if it's really a concern.

 

[other memory]

Use it, then wipe it off after use. This one has survived harsh environments (blood, sweat, treated lumber, dew, rain, humidity) and lived to tell tales about it’s excellent condition because I did the former. Observe the beautiful staining and deep patina. Use… The under rated maintenance of carbon steels.

Sincerely,
Mr. Cut $hit

.

 

[Crag the Brewer]

What I like to do with virgin carbon blades.......

Wash them with scaulding hot water, rinse them with the water as hot as you can get from the faucet. Then, immediately cut some nice grilled meat. Steak, cbicken, or pork..... It will give your blades a light blue and purple hue. With pretty swirls.

Then when you are done eating...hand wash with soap, and hot water. Rinse. Dry. Oil with mineral oil.... Scales too

It will definitely look better than stainless.
Stainless is boring.I



Also, some high alloy steels which are Not Stainless steel.... Like 3V, and Cruwear barely leave a patina. Compared to others. If you really need to keep your blades looking "clean".

 

[trevitrace]

Oooooo, what model of Carothers is that? I like the extended/exposed pommel. It just so happens that I got my very first CPK yesterday, a Utility Fighter. I’m in love.

He makes a fine knife, I'm a fan for sure. That particular knife is his original field knife. They pop up occasionally on the exchange but you've gotta be pretty quick.

 

[A.L.]

Every time I think ”oh that’s nice patina” I use my knife and wipe it down it almost disappears.