New carbon steel kitchen knives in fire

[vintshave]

Hi,

I have a bunch of basically new German high carbon steel kitchen knives that were in a warehouse that had a fire. The knives have wood handles. The knives were not touched by the blaze, but the handles smell heavily of smoke and the base of the blades near the wood is rusted. Buffed out some of the rust but some pitting remains. How do I get rid of the smoky smell and keep the blades from rusting again?

Thanks so much!

John

 

[screened porch]

For the smell, maybe baking soda. For the rust, keep them dry and wipe them with cooking oil, or probably better, laxative mineral oil. (Baby greasing oil has perfumes and who knows what added, cooking oil will go rancid.)
Pics would be nice.

 

[KnifeRep]

Hi,

I have a bunch of basically new German high carbon steel kitchen knives that were in a warehouse that had a fire. The knives have wood handles. The knives were not touched by the blaze, but the handles smell heavily of smoke and the base of the blades near the wood is rusted. Buffed out some of the rust but some pitting remains. How do I get rid of the smoky smell and keep the blades from rusting again?

Thanks so much!

John

I use a food grade Japanese camellia oil on my carbon steel Japanese cutlery when they’re not in use, any knife shop that sells Japanese knives should have it but here is where I got mine, http://bernal-cutlery.shoplightspeed.com/camellia-oil-100ml.html

I’m only familiar with a couple German manufactures that were/are making carbon steel kitchen cutlery, the old Wingen company and currently Windmuehlenmesser, who’s the maker of your knives?

 

[vintshave]

Gustav Emil Ern Solingen.

The smoke smell really is "stuck" in the wood. Soaked a few in some vinegar but that made the rust worse without improving the smell of the wood handles.

Would giving the blades a patina help protect them? I've read that soaking them in strong coffee helps.

 

[Spideyjg]

Ozone generators are used to destroy smoke smell.

 

[vintshave]

Ozone generators are used to destroy smoke smell.

My understanding is that ozone is corrosive and would likely make the rust worse. Is that correct?

 

[Spideyjg]

It is all bad from what you describe. Did you scrub clean to the n'th degree and dry the handles? Ozone would be for the smoke smell only and probably a last resort but it works.