Salt question

Tony8179

Tony8179

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Feb 20, 2008
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I did some research on this before coming here with the question so as not to waste anyone's time. I'm sure it's been discussed before.

Are the pins and back lock on the Salt series also made of H1 or are they treated somehow? I couldn't find anything about the pins and backlock on the Spyderco website, but this was stated on a site selling them:

All inside/outside steel components (lock bar, pins and clip) have been treated making them impervious to rust and pitting.

I don't know if that's true or what. Can anyone drop some knowledge on me?

Thanks guys.
 
Shoot, Tony, I've tried to learn everything I can about H1, but I'm afraid I just don't know for sure. I believe I've heard that on newer knives, everything is H1, on the theory that 'why have the blade rust-proof if the rest is not'. I have a Salt 1 that I understand to be older, it has a clip with some kind of coating, somewhat rubberized feeling. I doubt you need to worry, but I'm sure someone more knowledgeable (and definitive) will be along shortly to clear this up.
 
Here are some excerpts from an old (pre-Ti clip) post about the then new Salts. From what I have read about them, I believe that the newer models, if anything, are even more rust resistant. :thumbup:

Hope this helps.

Sal Glesser said:
...The blade and the lock are made from H-1. The steel is produced for us in two different rockwells to meet the blade/lock required difference.

The pins, barrel bolt, and clip are built to resist corrosion. We too are always testing. We have one in a salt tank right now. We think we can improve on the clip material...

...FRN (Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon - "Zytel" is a brand name) does not corrode. We don't use bushings in the FRN handles, the FRN has sufficient lubricity to work without one. So any resistance between the blade and the FRN would more than likely be a corrosion build up on the tang of the blade...

...We have experienced no corrosion in H-1 to date. We believe that the "Salts" will set the standard for water workers, sailors, divers and fisherman world-wide.

sal
Click to expand...
 
What are the pins made out of? I saw a post in the past that mentioned they were "treated to be resistant to corrosion," which leads me to believe that they aren't H1, which is further confirmed by the Sal quote above.

I wonder what they "treat" the steel with? :confused:
 
Probably Nitrogen like they do with H1, as well as Kershaw's new 14C28N. :)
 
I don't know what the treatment is, but it sure seems to work. The only rust I've ever heard of on any Salt was the material deposited in the etch on the H-1 logo, which wiped right off. The knives have been subjected to conditions far worse than anything occuring in nature without damage from corrosion.
 
Sal also mentioned in a conversation with me a while back that H-1 is not the only totally rustproof steel, that there are less expensive steels which share that property, they're just not suitable for blade steel. So I think perhaps the rest of the steel components use one of them. Whatever they're doing/using seems to work extremely well. Folk have tried their damnedest to intentionally induce rust on the Salts and, aside from the situation Yablanowitz mentioned, have failed. That issue was most likely caused by minute particles of another steel deposited in the etching by the buffing wheel.

Paul
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I can't get into specifics, but we do guarantee the Salt Series to be completely rust proof, including all internal components.

Hope this helps.

Kristi
 
I knew Kristi or Sal would come along with an answer. Just wanted to make sure that my backlock wasn't going to rust on my Tasman this summer. Thanks Kristi and thanks to everyone who responded.
 
Tony8179 said:
I knew Kristi or Sal would come along with an answer. Just wanted to make sure that my backlock wasn't going to rust on my Tasman this summer. Thanks Kristi and thanks to everyone who responded.
Click to expand...

I don't have the link handy, but someone did try (with an early model salt) to get it to rust.

Someone jump in and link to it. It was an interesting thread with a rust free finish. (Except for a little washer around the pivot which has been changed).
 
I remember the thread. Someone had their Salt completely submerged in a glass of saltwater for like a week or so. I can't remember the exact time frame, but I do remember there only being rust in the H1 logo which wiped away. I just wanted to know if the pins and backlock are made of H1 as well. From Kristi's answer I believe they are not made from H1 but are treated in some way to make them impervious to rust but also hard enought to take on the job of keeping the knife handle together and the lock safe and sound.
 
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