Recommendation? Shall I polish the forge marks to prevent future rust?

[lreed]

I just got a Council Tool Velvicut Saddle Axe. It is made of 5160 tool steel. It has a lot of rough areas near the phantom bevels area, which seems to be just unpolished forge marks. Looks pretty cool but I am concerned that they will be the first to get rusty. I am thinking about sanding and polishing those areas. Any thoughts?

Picture borrowed from bushcraftusa forum:

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

If anything they're least likely to rust because of the oxide layer on them. As with any rust, if some forms just hit it with a little steel wool. You can always apply some paste wax or clear spray lacquer to it if you're really concerned, but it's largely not necessary.

 

[lreed]

If anything they're least likely to rust because of the oxide layer on them. As with any rust, if some forms just hit it with a little steel wool. You can always apply some paste wax or clear spray lacquer to it if you're really concerned, but it's largely not necessary.

Thanks. I understand the magnetite formed during forging under high heat is corrosion resistant, but got concerned when I saw the brown spots in that picture.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

That's straw colored oxides from the heat treatment process.