S35VN Corrosion Resistance (a real world question)

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Peakbagger46

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I bought a White River Backpacker used (should be here tomorrow) to use as a backup for my Esee 3HM on mountain hunts. I intend to do a paracord wrap on the Backpacker to help the grip while quartering elk/deer.

Will I be safe to wash blood off the knife using soap and water and allow it to air dry (knowing that the paracord will hold in moisture for a period of time), or will the S35VN likely rust in that situation?

I've had no issues with the 1095 steel in my Esee, but it's coated and I cover the edge in animal tallow when I'm done quartering. Trying to figure out how the para cord might be in a different steel.
 
Peakbagger46 said:
I bought a White River Backpacker used (should be here tomorrow) to use as a backup for my Esee 3HM on mountain hunts. I intend to do a paracord wrap on the Backpacker to help the grip while quartering elk/deer.

Will I be safe to wash blood off the knife using soap and water and allow it to air dry (knowing that the paracord will hold in moisture for a period of time), or will the S35VN likely rust in that situation?

I've had no issues with the 1095 steel in my Esee, but it's coated and I cover the edge in animal tallow when I'm done quartering. Trying to figure out how the para cord might be in a different steel.
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You may want to consider sealing the paracord with some epoxy or similar for hygiene purposes, but I don't think you'll have issues with rust. Maybe some staining. I would dab it dry a bit though to speed up the drying process.
 
What is the advantage of using a paracord wrap over buying or making some scales for it? Preference or is there a practical reason?
 
MarkN86 said:
What is the advantage of using a paracord wrap over buying or making some scales for it? Preference or is there a practical reason?
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Mainly the small amount of weight savings. It is not unusual for me to climb 1,800’ vertical and cover ten or more mountain miles a day.

It won’t be bathed in blood by any stretch of the imagination. Quartering big game is a fairly clean job, especially since I use a gutless method.
 
I've been carrying a White River Sendero Classic, S35VN, every day for the last six months, in a leather sheath. It gets no special treatment. I take tape residue off with isopropyl alcohol. It's carved hams, a couple of turkeys, sliced steak for fajitas, etc. No problems with rust, and mine is a hand-rubbed satin finish. Smooth finishes like the Backpacker has are noticeably more resistant to rust than are the satin or bead-blasted blades. The minuscule scratches of the rubbed finish, and the microscopic surface pores of the blasted finish can both hold moisture long enough for the rusting process to begin. My carbon steel blades get washed and dried, then oiled after use. Stainless blades I wash, then rinse in very hot water, and let the heated blade evaporate the surface moisture before it gets a chance to interact with the steel molecules.

Not that it matters, but I am not a fan of raw paracord on a using knife. I find it impossible to keep in place, especially when wet, and most especially when wet on a curved handle. I have no problem with epoxied paracord. If you choose epoxy, wrap the tang in electrical tape first. If you ever decide to change, or remove, the wrap, you don't have to grind or sand the epoxy off of the bare steel.
 
Peakbagger46 said:
Mainly the small amount of weight savings. It is not unusual for me to climb 1,800’ vertical and cover ten or more mountain miles a day.

It won’t be bathed in blood by any stretch of the imagination. Quartering big game is a fairly clean job, especially since I use a gutless method.
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That's hard enough without being at 6,000-8,000 feet where the air gets thin. I can understand weight savings being a big deal.
 
MarkN86 said:
That's hard enough without being at 6,000-8,000 feet where the air gets thin. I can understand weight savings being a big deal.
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Try 8,300- 10,300’. Sure is beautiful though. Thanks for all the replies, sounds like I shouldn’t have too much of an issue with rust.
 
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You should be fine man. I have quartered out and forgotten about s35vn knives and they were fine as long as they weren't bead blasted. Even if they rust a little it's easy to remove with mothers mag polish. Like stupid easy. Have you seen the little benchmade with tiny scales on it???? I'm considering picking one up for deer season. I also think soaking the paranoid in resin would be a great alternative but at that point I think some g10 scales would be equally as light?
 
anthonycastorena2014 said:
You should be fine man. I have quartered out and forgotten about s35vn knives and they were fine as long as they weren't bead blasted. Even if they rust a little it's easy to remove with mothers mag polish. Like stupid easy. Have you seen the little benchmade with tiny scales on it???? I'm considering picking one up for deer season. I also think soaking the paranoid in resin would be a great alternative but at that point I think some g10 scales would be equally as light?
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I’ve been looking for a deal on that orange Benchmade Altitude for a while now. Got this White River for $75 and plan to add blaze orange cord to it so it is more visible when I put it down. I’m always temporarily misplacing knives when quartering. Some bright scales should help.
 
Makes sense. I use a stretch or a Cold Steel Ultimate hunter for the most part. They just work. I have an orange handle on both. Let me know if you end up with too much meat. I'd be glad to buy some off of you. I'm due to go elk hunting this year but the freezer is empty. Nothing like harvested meat brother. Its like Popeyes spinach can IMO. Just makes you feel better.

I am also strongly considering Quiet Knives little LC200n fixed blade. It seems like it would be crazy effective as well.
 
Last falls mule deer (harvested about 1,400’ above the truck) was so old I had to make homemade sausage out of the whole thing minus tenderloins and back straps. Never any meat waisted here with five mouths to feed.

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Peakbagger46 said:
Mainly the small amount of weight savings. It is not unusual for me to climb 1,800’ vertical and cover ten or more mountain miles a day.

It won’t be bathed in blood by any stretch of the imagination. Quartering big game is a fairly clean job, especially since I use a gutless method.
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I've known a few ultra-light backpackers who go to extraordinary lengths to spare a few grams. That said, how much do you actually spare by using paracord wrap instead of scales on a knife this size? Take that number and weigh it against the concerns in question here. While a paracord wrap can also be extra cord, what's the difference in ergonomics for your specific hand?
 
Chronovore said:
I've known a few ultra-light backpackers who go to extraordinary lengths to spare a few grams. That said, how much do you actually spare by using paracord wrap instead of scales on a knife this size? Take that number and weigh it against the concerns in question here. While a paracord wrap can also be extra cord, what's the difference in ergonomics for your specific hand?
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Your right, not much weight. Guess I’m kind of the camp that by shaving a bit here and there it adds up. Perhaps it’s the same thought process that leads us knife nuts to believe we want say S90V for our pocket blade rather than something easier to maintain.

Last harvest on the mountain I dulled my Esee and switched to my ZT 0562. Turned out those bearings rust quickly when exposed to blood. A bit of cleaning and they were good as new though.
 
I think good weight distribution is just as important as weight savings.

Nice trophy on the Mule. My in laws are from Montana and they talk about how skittish our white tails are here in Missouri. I would love to have the opportunity to compare one day.
 
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