- Joined
- May 5, 1999
- Messages
- 3,065
I have a Randall Model 1 with an O-1 tool steel blade which, until today, was in mint, NIB condition. The blade has always been wiped regularly evey few days with a Tuf-Cloth, even though it's never been used to cut anything but air. It has only been in the sheath once, just to see how well it fit (quite nicely, thanks), and would certainly NEVER have been stored in the sheath - I'm no dummy, right?
Wrong
. I've been keeping the knife "exhibited on my desk" as the Randall catalog suggests, but have had it laying on top of an aftermarket "Randall Made Knives" padded zippered case to protect the knife from the hard surface of the desk. Since we are in the middle of a months-long drought, I have had no reason to doubt the wisdom of this practice till now. Yesterday we got an inch of rain - literally the first measurable precip in months - and atmospheric humidity was 100%. Today I picked up the knife and - you guessed it - black oxidation on the side of the blade where it had been in contact with the cloth case. Quick application of Flitz removed the oxidation, but there is faint but noticeable etching of the formerly pristine finish, which definitely takes the blade out of the "mint" category. In a way it's a relief - sort of like the first scratch on a new car. It's also a lesson, which I share for free - don't leave O-1 in contact with a hygroscopic surface unless you live in the Sahara.
Wrong
