Storage of knives after 4 years

A few more details would help with my guess....

What area of the country? Near the ocean? Is it humid? How much does the temperature vary from hot to cold, summer to winter?

I'm guessing your knives will be fine assuming they weren't left in leather sheaths, or your storage unit is on an ocean beach somewhere and that the storage unit was able to "breathe" and not stay overly humid after it rained.
 
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shane45-1911 said:
A few more details would help with my guess....

What area of the country? Near the ocean? Is it humid? How much does the temperature vary from hot to cold, summer to winter?

I'm guessing your knives will be fine assuming they weren't left in leather sheaths, or your storage unit is on an ocean beach somewhere and that the storage unit was able to "breathe" and not stay overly humid after it rained.
Click to expand...
Central Virginia. It gets pretty humid.
 
shane45-1911 said:
A few more details would help with my guess....

What area of the country? Near the ocean? Is it humid? How much does the temperature vary from hot to cold, summer to winter?

I'm guessing your knives will be fine assuming they weren't left in leather sheaths, or your storage unit is on an ocean beach somewhere and that the storage unit was able to "breathe" and not stay overly humid after it rained.
Click to expand...
I took them all out of sheaths. Sprayed with rem oil. Winters get a few weeks of freezing. Summers get hot and humid. Storage unit is vented
 
SCKAUTOCRAFT said:
I took them all out of sheaths. Sprayed with rem oil. Winters get a few weeks of freezing. Summers get hot and humid. Storage unit is vented
Click to expand...
They might have a little dried rem oil on them. Otherwise, I'd guess they're fine.
Four year deployment? Holy moly. What's the first restaurant you're going to?
 
I am an OCD anti-rust nut. If you ever plan on storing your knives for a long time and you want 100% guaranteed corrosion protection, just use vaseline (petrolium jelly) this will stop any form of corrosion. Oil is good but not on the same level. Vaseline is cheap and available anywhere. I have tested it on carbon steel test plates that I've left out in the rain and all elements for 3 yrs straight in the corner of my yard, not one single spec of corrosion. Just rub a moderate smear all over whatever you don't want to rust, not even salt water will get through that stuff, i live near the ocean also. Cheers
 
4 year deployment? That’s insane. The longest I’d ever heard of while I was in was 18 mos. I’m not sure where you were or if you can talk about it but welcome back and enjoy yourself.
I’d imagine that your knives may have some spotting of rust after 4 years. I wouldn’t think it’d be too bad though. I had left a few in my truck during my last deployment(12 mos) and had no issues when I got back. For reference, my truck was parked in a field on Ft Lewis for a year.
 
I have knives all over the house & garage. Some I haven't seen or used in over 30 years. I carry a knife or two in the car & only take it out when buy a new car every three or so years.
They are steel tools & not at all fragile.

As long as they have been in a dry place & not in a fire or something, I think you overthinking this.

BTW - welcome home. Thanx for your service.
 
Welcome back and thanks for what you do! I bet you have some minor rust spotting on carbon steels but not anything unfixable. The people demand update pics!
 
Welcome home. Please let us know how the knives weathered storage
 
Since it's been over two Months since the O.P.'s last post: I wonder how everything turned out?
 
Should be fine.
Any carbon steel without a patina might need rubbed with a oily rag.
I'd oil all the joints on the folding knives, just as preventative maintenance, when putting them back in service.
 
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