My Carbon Steel Rant

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Pomsbz said:
I'm totally with you on the whole steel thing. However much I love traditionals for their utility and looks, I refuse to buy any more carbon steel. I don't have the patience to baby this daily use tool when there is no requirement in this day and age. Even my Queen in D2 needs careful care after food use and I live in a very dry/hot city. I'm looking forward to the new Lionsteel Euro Barlow and currently enjoying my SAK Alox Pruner after two months (so far) of non stop carry.
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NJBillK said:
What about the lionsteel barlow in M390? That should be stainless enough, as long as the construction type doesn't bother you.

I am in for a Rams horn.
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If you're willing to look outside of American made then you should take a hard look at the Lionsteel when it comes out this month. It looks pretty great on paper. Ti bolsters and liners with an m390 blade. I have a carbon fiber preordered. If it's made well then it should be bomb proof.
 
UseitorLoseit said:
If you're willing to look outside of American made then you should take a hard look at the Lionsteel when it comes out this month. It looks pretty great on paper. Ti bolsters and liners with an m390 blade. I have a carbon fiber preordered. If it's made well then it should be bomb proof.
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I've had a ram's horn on preorder since the first hour they went up. :D:D:D
 
rishma said:
I like taking care of my carbon steel, I don't get too upset when I find pitting/rust provided it still cuts stuff, but I do like pulling out an ignored stainless SAK that's as good as new.

Carbon is not great for those who are very particular about such things. We all have different priorities.
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I have to agree, to each their own. My carbon traditionals outnumber my stainless by about 10 to 1. I have gathered more than a few imperfections over the years and guess I just expect the same of my knives ;)

Seriously though, I have never really had any issues with carbon steel being problematic. If I know I am going to be exposed to water or extremely damp conditions for an extended period of time I will give the nod to stainless. Rest of the time, carbon steel all the way.

I normally cycle my carries every week with 3 weeks or more between carries. Favorites can be carried for a few weeks at a time. At the end of the week they all get their wells cleaned and treated with Tuf-Glide, blades sharpened, covers rubbed down with Miracle Cloth and pivots lubed. Non-food knives will get their blades wiped down with mineral oil. The process is one I enjoy, find relaxing and it gives me time to appreciate the beauty of a well crafted pocket knife. Stainless or carbon, traditional or modern, they all need a little TLC every now and then. Carbon steel being just shows a little more appreciation:D
 
kamagong said:
That's too bad about your knives. I like 1095, but I don't have your issues with rust. Maybe it's the dry Mediterranean climate I live in, or my non-corrosive sweat, but by and large rust is not something I worry about.

I have other knives for specialized contexts, but for EDC purposes 1095 suits me just fine. Is it the best? No, but it's good stuff. Admittedly it's the baseline and I won't go below it. But my primary carry is a Northfield. I have knives in BG42 (the absolute best steel in a slipjoint I've experienced) and CPM154, but the knife that goes in my pocket 6 out of 7 days sports a blade of plain carbon steel.

Perhaps it's because I like natural covers. Give me wood, bone, stag, or pearl; you can keep the acrylic, delrin, and micarta. I think a 1095 blade looks good paired on a buttery stag knife. It's the same instinct that draws me to fountain pens instead of ballpoints, mechanical watches instead of a Casio, blued 1911s instead of polymer pistols, walnut stocked bolt actions instead of their kevlar clad counterparts. These things show the passage of time, but given a modicum of care, they age gracefully. I like that.
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Kamagong, you have spared me typing a lot of words :) I subscribe it all
 
I don't mind the little extra time to check my knives. If properly oiled for storage I just wipe it off before I drop it in my pocket.
 
I like high carbon steels and really I kind of like the maintenance that goes with it. A drop of machine oil on the pivot a light swipe of mineral oil on the blade and sharpen or strop as needed and I've never really had much trouble with rust. I also enjoy bringing very rusty knives back to life. Here is an old Barlow and a Texas Jack I recently bought for $2.00 that were really rusty. First thing I did was give them a nice overnight mineral oil bath. Here they are in the bath I'll post pictures when I finish them. This is just my opinion but I'm also old and retired and have the time on my hands to do this. I do understand the OP's frustration and I don't live in a high humidity area.


IN THE BATH
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I solved the problem for myself. I only carry Carbon and D-2 knives in the winter, and I don't cut food. The humidity here (Michigan) is low in the winter.
 
I go back and forth on this a lot, but I usually end up back with carbon steel for everything but extremely corrosive conditions like surf fishing.

The thing is- carbon steel gets character, where stainless gets scratched. Just my opinion, though.

I like ren wax for protection here in the swamp that is South Jersey.
 
Buzzbait said:
But I only have one car.

I have like 70 carbon steel knives.
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Wipe down the ones you don't carry and store them with desiccant packs (you can get then at dollar stores).

The ones in rotation, wipe down once a day with an oiled rag you keep in a zip lock. It really is minimal maintenance taking only a few seconds a day.

If that's truly too much of a hassle, you might consider off loading the vast majority of your 70 carbon steel knives and your other knives as well too (as they too require a modicum of maintenance) and consider collecting something else.
 
Become one with the Borg. Or just buy some stainless knives and ignore the cognitive dissonance.
 
I can certainly relate to the original poster's issues.
I have a Moore Maker mini trapper made in 1995.
I have carried and used that knife for years and love it but I hardly ever use it for etc in the summer months because of the issues many others have posted about.
Some folks can carry carbon knives everyday with few issues but I am not one of them.
In the summer my etc is usually a Bechmade mini grip.
I believe I could get by with D2 as I have a Queen fixed blade in D2 that I have used for some food prep and cleaned several trout and have had no corrosion issues.
 
Pomsbz said:
Become one with the Borg. Or just buy some stainless knives and ignore the cognitive dissonance.
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There is nothing untraditional about stainless blades.
They've been used in knives since the 1920's.
They've been properly heat treated to out perform carbon since the 50's.
 
leghog said:
and consider collecting something else.
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I'm sorry if I offended you, by having an opinion that is different from your own. But that remark was totally uncalled for, especially seeing as you are a relative newcomer here, in comparison to myself. You would be better served by showing far more patience here, along with a modicum of empathy for others in general.
 
Buzz, I empathize with you. I don't have this issue up here but would sure be upset if it happened to me. Seems as though some customs may be in the cards, as well as a few SAKs for camping duties.

I would not give up on Case and Buck... I just now picked up a lovely green bone Case in 154CM on the exchange.
 
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