Protecting the Steel on Strider Cord Wrapped Handles?

B

Brad Kenney

Joined
Dec 16, 1999
Messages
229
Just wondering what to do to protect a Strider (ATS34) from the elements, sweat, etc. Anybody have any advice on keeping the steel underneath the cord wrapped handle protected from rust?

Hopefully a suggestion that does not include taking the cord off.

Thanks,

Brad
 
For what it's worth, I have had a Strider Model WP (3.5" blade 7.5" oal .25" stock saber grind) for a about a year and have carried it IWB for about that whole time and I sweat ALOT. I addition, I have used it ALOT in wet and muddy conditions...it has NEVER shown a sign of rust. The Strider guys puts some kind of coating on the whole knife, even the handle, and it seems to work great. In fact, the only time I have seen rust on the knife was a month ago, and that's because I completely stripped the knife and put a satin finish and micarta handles on it and let it sit out for a couple days with some water on it. Even then it was just some surface rust, no big deal. As far as I'm concerned, Strider makes a great knife for it's intended use...which is hard ass work...oh yeah, and besides that the guys that make them are top notch. The knife I have I won on the old Knifeforums...I tied for second and I STILL got a knife...not to shabby. Anyway, I don't think you'll have any problem with rust, especially if you just do some basic maintenence.


Jared



------------------
Broken promises don't upset me. I just think, why did they believe me?

I hope that after I die, people will say of me: "That guy sure owed me a lot of money."
 
Most corrosion inhibitors that you could apply without taking the cord off would "grease" up the handle significantly. The exception would be if you had one with a very thin applicator and could poke it between the cord, the small Tuf-Glide bottle can do this.

Awhile ago on the Strider forum one of the Strider guys mentioned that one of their customers who I think dove often with the knfie sent it in to be refinished. They rewapped the cord in the process and did see some rusting on the tang, but it was very slight.

Don't use and protectant on the blade and see how that holds up. If it is rusting far to fast in whatever enviroment you are in, the tang is going to be having similar so you might need to periodically have the tang cleaned and rewrapped.

-Cliff
 
Thanks for the notes Jared and Cliff. I'm going to go with the don't worry about it plan and see how it goes. When I get a bottle of Tuf-Glide, I'll see how well it seems to work on a spot.

It's nice to know that if it ever gets to be a real mess, I can just send it in.

Brad
 
The Strider Guys just posted a reply on the Tactical Forums that wraps up my question, thought I'd copy it here:

"Not to worry Mr. Brad, we thought about that for you. Before we wrap the handles, we apply a coat of really awesome corrosion inhibitor. The handles rarely develop corrosion under the wrapping. Even under extreme conditions. I've had one out on my balcony for over a year, I live right on the pacific, and no corrosion is evident under the wrap. The blade looks like crap, but the handle is fine.

Carpe Diem

Mick, Duane and Cormac"
 
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