Most corrotion resistant steel?

R

radrtech1

Joined
Dec 25, 2005
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Merry Christmas all! I am wondering what the most corrotion resistant steel would be that can be hardened to rc55 or higher is? I am thinking about making a dive knife for someone that would be exposed to salt water on a regular basis but still needs to be able to hold an edge. Also what other options do I have? I know there are alot of dive knifes made from titanium but I don't think you can realy heat treat it to any kind of real hardness. I am not opposed to using something besides steel if there is a better alternative. Any guidance would be appreciated.
 
Like said above, H1 is insanely resistant to rust. But like also said above, it isn't very common. You can find it on the Spyderco Salt series. I don't know how easy it would be to get your own stock to make a blade from.

For more common steels, the 420 and 440 series steels are very resistant to stains. 420HC and 440C also have good cutting performance.
 
as for the other options - stellite (e.g. camillus talon made from talonite) or ceramic (some kitchen knives) are almost inherite to enviromental conditions and hold edge very well

but be aware as stellite has only soft matrix (about 40 Rc) with very hard carbides so it can hold edge for a long time but it is absolutely useless for prying and similiar use

I don't suggest titanium - it can be hardened only for about 30 Rc hardness and (if pure titanitum, not cera-titanium and similiar experiments) doesn't contain hard carbides, advantage is high wear resistance

your friend should specify what he would use the knife for - there will be huge difference in suitable material if he wants to use for opening of shells or for cutting the ropes underwater
 
huugh said:
but be aware as stellite has only soft matrix (about 40 Rc) with very hard carbides so it can hold edge for a long time but it is absolutely useless for prying and similiar use

I don't suggest titanium - it can be hardened only for about 30 Rc hardness and (if pure titanitum, not cera-titanium and similiar experiments) doesn't contain hard carbides, advantage is high wear resistance
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Actually Stellite 6K has a hardness of about 46 which isn't so bad. 6B is somewhere around 40 or so.

Also titanium depends on it's mix. The common Ti which is 6Al4V is low Rc, in the low 30's. However "Beta-Ti" as used by mission can also have a hardness in the mid 40's. Beta-Ti is very tough stuff and will only begin to corrode in a corrosive environment at 600 degrees :eek:
 
thebladeguy said:
That would be H1 and X15tn.

TBG
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I will totally concur with "thebladeguy". I have had excellent results using both H-1 and X15-TN. Boker has some really nice knives in X15-TN and Spyderco has some super blade designs in H-1. It is a toss up as to which one is the best. For a higher Carbon Stainless I have had fairly decent luck with VG-10. But it's not in the same league as the first 2. :cool:
 
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