Making the decision to carry a hard to maintain knife.

bear71

bear71

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Jun 17, 2013
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So, I live in the Philippines which can tend to be a little humid, to say the least. I have collected custom/handmade fixed blades from a few makers over the years in O1 and A2 that I have just about managed to keep on top of regarding prevention of major rust and pitting (patina not an issue). Of course I clean and oil then obsessively but the humidity here is all pervasive.
Last year when working in the US I picked up a beautiful Northwoods Fremont Jack in elephant ivory (price was considerably higher than initial release but lower than some models in micarta are now advertised on secondary market). Love the knife want to carry it to age the ivory but am very aware that the 1095 will be quite susceptible to the elements and the recesses of a folder can harbor moisture. Any opinions on whether it's worth the risk or better to admire it then carry a fixed blade until I'm in the drier US or UK. Cheers.
 
If you don't think you can keep up with it, wait to carry it. If you have the skills to keep it safe, carry it. I have started using a couple 1095 blades as my primary kitchen knives. It is a little extra upkeep, but I like the knives, and I like the idea of having to take care of my knives. However, your knife is a bit more difficult to keep safe.
 
I live on the west coast of Florida and work outside. Any knife I carry at work winds up wet with sweat and there's no relief from the humidity until I get home. There's no way to keep the blade polished. I've learned to force patina on the O1 or 1095. It seems to help with the overall problem but I still have to oil them and re-work the patina every once in awhile.
 
I can't carry my case medium stockman carbon steel here in australia because my pocket is too corrosive an environment. I've not found a treatment that can keep the blade from turning red within a working day. Now, that said, when the same question has come up, other in similar situations have not had the same problem. So it all depends. Are you the kind of guy who will see every pit and regret it, or are you a guy who's knives have character? If you are the latter, give it a rip and see what happens. If it starts looking bad, then clean it up and stash it for later.
 
Appreciate the comments Jimislash Jimislash , wazu013 wazu013 , G gadgetgeek . I certainly don't mind patina and signs of use, but having seen what the humidity will do to an O1 blade if left/forgotten overnight I'm hesitant to carry a folding blade I haven't got used t maintaining. Think I'll wait until I get to more temperate climes to put patina and wear on all the components before unleashing on the tropics. Thanks!
 
Personally, I might just shelve the blades that need constant maintenance (temporarily) and get a Spyderco Salt in H1 or use a fixed blade made for divers (not sure what is out there) that are made for wet environments. If you spend time in the US and/or UK, break out your other blades. Get a water tight box and desiccant (sp?) packs.
 
I had the same problem when I lived on the gulf coast. I had a new knife go black after one hunting trip. Might as well get a stainless carry knife. IMO.
 
People carried carbon blades for hundreds of years in all conditions. Force a patina, keep it oiled, and go for it. If it’s really bad, carry it in a belt sheath or pocket slip to keep sweat away from it. Also, take the knife out every few hours to wipe any sweat off the blade and you should be good to go.
 
BK14 said:
People carried carbon blades for hundreds of years in all conditions. Force a patina, keep it oiled, and go for it. If it’s really bad, carry it in a belt sheath or pocket slip to keep sweat away from it. Also, take the knife out every few hours to wipe any sweat off the blade and you should be good to go.
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With a working knife, that would certainly be the way to go, but with pocket jewelry (even if it is used) you will be rapidly aging that knife, and that may or may not be what the owner wants.
 
Why not just have it Cerakoated, or any of the new near zero thickness professional coatings?

Patina will not prevent rust, as I know all too well... And a plain satin finish will be speckled in a plague of red dots in less than two hours under the rain, even low Carbon 5160...

Gaston
 
i live in a swampy jungle surrounded by 2 bodies of water. the atlantic and gulf atlantic and multiplle rivers cutting across it and springs and lakes and water filled sinkholes everywhere. its in the usa. 72f and humidity right now is 80%. just checked it. its almost winter here and still that wet. manilla is 82 f and 83% humidity.

so ill put it on par with the Philippines for humidity. the most humid state in the entire usa. although there is pockets in Mississippi and such that can or almost compete.

i own plenty of carbon steel a2 and 01 knives. i keep them in a humidity and temperature controlled environment...not for the cooler air but for the latent control. works fine, no rust or problems. when i use them i just clean 'em and dry 'em when i get home. car type wax keeps mine rust free until i use it enough to remove it. unless ya got no access to ac with a decent latent control ability, i wouldnt worry.

anyways if ya hate humidty and come to the usa stay out of most of the south east and coast side of texas.
 
Gaston444 said:
Why not just have it Cerakoated, or any of the new near zero thickness professional coatings?

Patina will not prevent rust, as I know all too well... And a plain satin finish will be speckled in a plague of red dots in less than two hours under the rain, even low Carbon 5160...

Gaston
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Are you seriously suggesting that the OP should cerakote a slipjoint?o_O
 
I have read stories of people in tropical regions using wax on their blades for better protection than oil.
 
70536406-79CD-4783-BE92-DC7F43626166.jpeg I would stick your knife in some cooked meat from a street vendor and then put it in your pocket. Post pics

Angeles city Philippine islands circa 95. A very nice lady I met
 
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I have carried the same case trapper in Chrome Vanadium carbon steel since I was around 14. It is my most used knife. At this point it has a deep grey patina on it and take practically no maintenance. I live in north east Arkansas where it gets so pretty darn humid. That top coat of patina works very well for voiding off any further corrosion but if its not your thing then you will definitely have to keep a close eye on your knives. I have found that even steels like vg-10 will start to get spots if you don't watch them however. But on knives I like to keep nice a thin coat of hopes gun oil has always seen to have done the job, even when I have one of my custom knives made from saw blades that rust easy.
 
gadgetgeek said:
With a working knife, that would certainly be the way to go, but with pocket jewelry (even if it is used) you will be rapidly aging that knife, and that may or may not be what the owner wants.
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This is a good point. Simply what I would do. However, it is really easy to re-polish a blade from any patina, but I don’t know if this would be worth the time.
 
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