Salt water environment?

L

lizzardbone

Joined
Jul 28, 2006
Messages
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Any one out there use their Kuk around a salt water environment for any extended period of time? How did it fare? I allready can guess the reaction with the carbon steel, but I am looking for some possible surface treatments for this type of service that people have tried.(Parkarizing,Xylan,NP3,) Just curious.
 
Low alloy steel is going to rust and tarnish when it's around the ocean -- there is no avoiding it.

My advice is to simply not worry about it. Keep a coat of oil on it when not in use; after use, rinse with fresh water, dry thoroughly, and use a green scrubby pad or steel wool to remove any red (active) rust.
 
Many persons have reported their favorite blue steel firearms rusting after only a single afternoon hunting in Alaska or like wet place. There's no escaping it. I'd plan on the exposure, not worry about it, but monitor the arm or khuk every evening and oil and clean it. I've had rust start on my mauser sporters after hunting wet and snowing conditions in Montana too.

munk
 
I would go with the parkerizing method. This is what I'm going to do when I get my first kukuri. Blueing will rust very easily; however, parkerizing is a type of etching on the blade and is more resistance to rust so long as you keep it oiled. The parkerizing will really absorb the oil so this should be a pretty good method to combat the rust. Remember military grade weapons are parked not blued--there is a reason for this. It isn't as pretty; however, kukris in my opinion are for working not for sitting on the mantel. That is unless you have one of those fine gold imbedded models with the silver sheath.
 
lizzardbone said:
Any one out there use their Kuk around a salt water environment for any extended period of time? How did it fare?
Click to expand...

Me. I chop fish with one; boat khuk is a GRS.

It will rust that day- scotchbrite pad & ballistol that night fixes it. Even stainless steel rusts here on the Gulf coast.

Corrosive ammo and corrosive blades keep you on your toes.


Mike
 
I may try a Park finish. The only problem I have is surface etching the allready mirror finish on my blade.
I too frequent the gulf coast area, yet my son will be spending much more time than me around salt water and in many different geographic locations. Gear maintenance will alwayse be paramount for him, but mabey a Park finish will reduce it a bit on this particular item.
Thank you for your views on this mater.
 
Having had to maintain firearms with a phosphate finish around the ocean in the past, I can say this: use lots of grease. It'll still rust but not as quickly.

If your khukuri is going to be a user, don't fret too much about the mirror finish. It will be gone soon enough. ;)
 
In a salt water environment the best thing you can do is constantly wash off the knife whenever it has come in contact with salt water,like after a dive and wipe it down each day even if it does not, because of the salt/salt spray in the air. A quick wipe of gun oil at the end of each day will help too. There is no such thing as a totally, stainless steel, but the really good ones do stand up with a bit of TLC.
 
I was out in the rain all weekend with my Bilton doing The Amazing Underwater Campfire and other tricks. Wipe it dry, and stop using the scabbard when it's soggy.
 
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