Spyderco Stretch ZDP189 Rust Resistance

The_KaramVit

The_KaramVit

Joined
Jan 29, 2014
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494
I've found very mixed reviews regarding spyderco zdp189 rust resistance. None have been very decisive. Please tell me (preferrably through your own experience) if you have seen spyderco ZDP rust and what it took for it to do so. I sweat a lot in warm weather to the point of my knives getting substantial leg sweat in my pocket. I will also be taking ZDP to the Philippines where there is 80-90F degree weather everyday and high humidity. I want to know if it will hold up without rusting.

Follow up question: I am torn between VG10 and ZDP189 stretch. The only thing holding me from ZDP is the above issue. Please enlighten me.
 
My Zdp 189 blades have high corrosion tendencies when exposed to perspiration in a high humidity environment.For outdoor work knives, they require more maintenance than I like to give. But I feel the same way about m4. Maybe it s just me, but I like stainless for my outdoor knife.
 
whp said:
My Zdp 189 blades have high corrosion tendencies when exposed to perspiration in a high humidity environment.For outdoor work knives, they require more maintenance than I like to give. But I feel the same way about m4. Maybe it s just me, but I like stainless for my outdoor knife.
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I feel the same way. My outdoor blades are an H1 steel and a VG1 steel fixie. Those two have awesome rust resistance. I am definitely considering just getting the VG10 stretch for an EDC so i dont need to worry about it.
 
I have a Spyderco ManBug ZDP-189 on my keychain and often carry it during exercise (read sweaty) and I live 8 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Well, it does rust! Easily fixable but make sure you get the pivot area as well. Wash, dry and lube. I also had to use Flitz. Overall, I'll be looking at something more stainless for my keychain.
 
My ZDP 189 Lum Chinese hasn't really rusted, but it has stained a bit through use. It's not a deep patina like you'd get on a carbon steel.
 
I'm not a huge ZDP fan, so take that into account with my personal opinion.

I find ZDP-189 tends to spot and stain quicker than it does non-surface oxidizing and pitting, which is easier to remove than a steel that quickly pits. Still, I think it stains very quickly and it is one of the least corrosion resistant steels Spyderco has ever used (I think Sal said that himself) and so it's upkeep is more involved than some other steels.

I honestly like Spyderco's VG-10 over ZDP-189 for general usage. Corrosion resistance is very important to me on a folding knife, and especially one I use to cut acidic foods and eat with. VG-10 has reasonably good edge retention, but is super easy to sharpen, very tough, and good at resisting both staining and pitting. While I've owned VG-10 knives from some other makers that I was not thrilled with it, I find Spyderco's VG-10 has a great balance of edge retention and toughness. Between it's balanced performance, ease of upkeep, and lower costs, I look at it in the same light as ATS-34, 154CM, 440C, etc. in that it is a great steel for a general purpose folder when the heat treatment is done right. And Spyderco's heat treatment kicks ass!

Another downside to ZDP-189 vs VG-10 is of course costs. The VG-10 Spydercos are generally a good bit cheaper. In many cases, you can buy the VG-10 version, plus a Spyderco SharpMaker to maintain it for the same cost as the ZDP-189 version.

Finally, we are seeing some other super steels that have extreme edge retention with fantastic corrosion resistance, and IMO more ease of upkeep. I'm finding Bohler M390 to have some of the best corrosion resistance I have ever seen short of H1, and edge retention that I find to be better than ZDP-189. While M390 is not available on the Stretch, it's existence and the growing commonplace of its usage still is a thinking point to me. Even more so, in recent time we are seeing Spyderco use CPM-S110V on a knife for under 100 bucks. S90V is generally agreed upon to have better edge retention than ZDP-189. S110V seems to have notable gains in edge retention over S90V. So a "hypersteel" like S110V for that price (and on a great design) is hard to ignore! YMMV
 
pnsxyr said:
I'm not a huge ZDP fan, so take that into account with my personal opinion.

I find ZDP-189 tends to spot and stain quicker than it does non-surface oxidizing and pitting, which is easier to remove than a steel that quickly pits. Still, I think it stains very quickly and it is one of the least corrosion resistant steels Spyderco has ever used (I think Sal said that himself) and so it's upkeep is more involved than some other steels.

I honestly like Spyderco's VG-10 over ZDP-189 for general usage. Corrosion resistance is very important to me on a folding knife, and especially one I use to cut acidic foods and eat with. VG-10 has reasonably good edge retention, but is super easy to sharpen, very tough, and good at resisting both staining and pitting. While I've owned VG-10 knives from some other makers that I was not thrilled with it, I find Spyderco's VG-10 has a great balance of edge retention and toughness. Between it's balanced performance, ease of upkeep, and lower costs, I look at it in the same light as ATS-34, 154CM, 440C, etc. in that it is a great steel for a general purpose folder when the heat treatment is done right. And Spyderco's heat treatment kicks ass!

Another downside to ZDP-189 vs VG-10 is of course costs. The VG-10 Spydercos are generally a good bit cheaper. In many cases, you can buy the VG-10 version, plus a Spyderco SharpMaker to maintain it for the same cost as the ZDP-189 version.

Finally, we are seeing some other super steels that have extreme edge retention with fantastic corrosion resistance, and IMO more ease of upkeep. I'm finding Bohler M390 to have some of the best corrosion resistance I have ever seen short of H1, and edge retention that I find to be better than ZDP-189. While M390 is not available on the Stretch, it's existence and the growing commonplace of its usage still is a thinking point to me. Even more so, in recent time we are seeing Spyderco use CPM-S110V on a knife for under 100 bucks. S90V is generally agreed upon to have better edge retention than ZDP-189. S110V seems to have notable gains in edge retention over S90V. So a "hypersteel" like S110V for that price (and on a great design) is hard to ignore! YMMV
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Your reasoning is sound here, sir. I too am a fan of greater rust resistance considering i am capable of sharpening my own knife to a satisfactory edge. I think in the Stretch's case i will be happy with VG10. Thanks for helping!

Also, you must be talking about the S110V Manix 2, am i right? do you have any idea where to get one at the moment? A lot of places are sold out.
 
I would not shop at that store, they have a very, very spotty reputation and I've seen it first hand. Aside from that linking to dealers that are not members is not well received, you should know this rasco.
 
I think the VG10 would be the way to go.The Stretch is a great knife,you're gonna like it.
 
The_KaramVit said:
Your reasoning is sound here, sir. I too am a fan of greater rust resistance considering i am capable of sharpening my own knife to a satisfactory edge. I think in the Stretch's case i will be happy with VG10. Thanks for helping!

Also, you must be talking about the S110V Manix 2, am i right? do you have any idea where to get one at the moment? A lot of places are sold out.
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Thanks! And yes, I am referring to the 110V Manix Light Weight. It's an awesome model and an awesome steel. I can't say I know anyone who has them in stock currently, but to my understanding it is a full production run instead of a LE and so it will come back in stock. The 110V Manix LW swapped with a G10 handle from the normal Manix is so badass that it makes me wish I carried larger knives more often! I think that low-pricing we are seeing on S110V in some ways changes the argument for or against ZDP-189. S110V also has fantastic corrosion resistance, which I think is a plus.

And given the popularity the 110V Manix is having and Spyderco's tendency to make super steels on standard production models, I have a feeling we are going to see more affordable 110V knives in the near future. While the production localities vary, 110V in the Stretch would be awesome if they ever managed to do that...
 
Sounds like you have already made up your mind in favor of the Stretch in VG10, but I will just chime in as well and say that I absolutely love my VG10 Stretch and I live in a very tropical location on the island of Java, Indonesia.
I don't baby the knife other than wiping it off if it gets dirty and dry if off if it gets wet. I have never seen a single spot of rust. It is far away my favorite Spyderco and carry if pretty much every single day unless I am rotating in one of my other spydercos.
 
I used my Stretch VG-10 out on the boat and have some rust spots and stains. How do I get them off?
 
I love zdp189, but it does, in fact, corrode in sweaty outdoor use, if you don't maintain it. For a trip to the Philippines, I'd recommend the VG-10.
 
I stopped using my ManBug ZDP exactly due to rust issues mostly around the pivot. Went with LadyBug SS in VG-10. No issues at all. I like ManBug better on the keychain since it affords me a better grip plus the LadyBug SS is heavier than FRN or G-10. I'm going to try ManBug in VG-10.

If the sweat, humidity and salt exposure is excessive go with something in H-1 steel. For instance, Pacific Salt instead of Stretch.
 
I have several Spydies in zdp since I really like that steel. The only one that has given me a rust issue is my carbon fiber stretch and it's all around the pivot area and hard to get at. Thing is, I took better care of this one than I did the others that didn't develop a rust issue. It has mystified me.
 
Nobody said:
I have several Spydies in zdp since I really like that steel. The only one that has given me a rust issue is my carbon fiber stretch and it's all around the pivot area and hard to get at. Thing is, I took better care of this one than I did the others that didn't develop a rust issue. It has mystified me.
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maybe it's how keeping your eye on the kettle slows the boiling process. ahahaha. sometimes i wonder too. im just about to get my first O1 steel knife so it's gonna be a high maintenance year :D
 
bro5.0 said:
Like others, my zdp Endura formed a bunch of rust around the pivot.

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I can now really appreciate those blades for the stretch and caly which they make out of a composite superbluex420J1 and ZDP189x420J2 respectively. That must really help rust resistance especially at the pivot. Any negative marks on those?
 
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