Suggest For Me A Salt Water Blade

M

made up name

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Oct 9, 2007
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I am looking for a plain edge knife that can be used around salt water and not corrode. It will be used as a defense knife, a bait cutting knife, and a general purpose knife.

I like the Spyderco Salt fixed blade plain edge. What else is out there?

Thanks!
 
Either a Spydie Salt knife, or something in titanium like a Mission Knives blade if you want real salt resistance.
 
I don't think you can top the Spyderco Aqua Salt. If you watch Deadliest Catch on Discovery, the crew of the Northwestern have been carrying Aqua Salts as deck knives. We've seen pictures of them frozen in two inches of ice without harm. TazKristi over on the Spyderco Forum said when the temperatures dropped below -20 F, the crew started betting how soon they would break. Everyone lost. The only Salt to become unusable was the one that went over the side. ;)
 
yablanowitz said:
I don't think you can top the Spyderco Aqua Salt. If you watch Deadliest Catch on Discovery, the crew of the Northwestern have been carrying Aqua Salts as deck knives. We've seen pictures of them frozen in two inches of ice without harm. TazKristi over on the Spyderco Forum said when the temperatures dropped below -20 F, the crew started betting how soon they would break. Everyone lost. The only Salt to become unusable was the one that went over the side. ;)
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+1 for the spyderco H1 knives.
 
I don't quite understand Spyderco's description as to how it doesn't rust:

Whether sporting or laboring in saltwater two features rate highly in choosing a fixed blade utility knife, reliable cutting performance and the knife’s ability to remain rust free without maintenance. The knife industry toyed unsuccessfully with non-rusting steels for years until two years ago when Spyderco started manufacturing blades using an alloy called H-1. H1 is precipitation-hardened steel, utilizing .1% nitrogen instead of carbon. Carbon is the component in steel that makes the blade hard and allows it to hold an edge. Carbon also reacts to chloride, making rust. With nitrogen replacing the carbon; hardness and edge retention are realized but nitrogen doesn’t react to chloride so it physically cannot rust.
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Rust is Iron Oxide. It doesn't have anything to do with the carbon as far as I know. Can anyone clarify this for me?

Sorry for possible threadjack.
 
Walkabout, thanks for the link to Boye knives, they look like they are well thought out, and I see the maker has lots of interesting stuff to say re: knife performance, testing etc. Have you used them, do they hold up well?

Re how does H1 work, I own one but am somewhat ashamed to say I don't know how the rust resistance works either (I actually got it because I like the blade shape, much like the infamous "Harpy" but with synthetic handles and can vouch for its construction and cutting power but not rust resistance). I think the idea is that the iron is bonded to other elements such that it doesn't oxidize, or at least not much. You might get a better answer to this is in the Spyderco or metallurgy forums.

Spyderco doesn't mince any words when they say H1 WILL NOT RUST, I have not seen any report of someone saying they had any rust, I would think if rust were a problem the company claim would be mocked/dismissed.
 
tambrico said:
I don't quite understand Spyderco's description as to how it doesn't rust:



Rust is Iron Oxide. It doesn't have anything to do with the carbon as far as I know. Can anyone clarify this for me?

Sorry for possible threadjack.
Click to expand...

I have wondered the exact same thing myself. I don't disagree with the rust resistance but the chemistry doesn't make sense to me.

Non-hijack statement: Aqua Salt rules!
 
MassMatt said:
Walkabout, thanks for the link to Boye knives, they look like they are well thought out, and I see the maker has lots of interesting stuff to say re: knife performance, testing etc. Have you used them, do they hold up well?
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Hi,

I have a Boye folder (only got it a couple of weeks ago), and a Basic 3 in the mail. I haven't had a chance to test the folder out in real use... we will hopefully be doing some ocean kayaking and that is where I hope to use them. The folder seems very well built. The blade is smooth and centered, with no blade play. Boye knives have a good reputation based on my reading, which is what lead to my purchase.

I also have a Spyderco H1 folder and fixed blade... they also seem great. Like many people here, I have a broader variety than I really need, but I enjoy trying different tools for working outdoors. I'll be flying to the east coast next week to do some coastal hiking, and I'll probably bring the Spyderco blades... they're easier to replace if they should disappear from my checked luggage. :)
 
You can go with Mission all of their models both fixed and folder are solid titanium construction. The knives are very tough and will NOT rust or corrode due to sea water or dang near anything else for that matter including most harsh chemicals. All of their models are offered in plain edge or partially serrated.
 
Mission has a great rep and Titanium is light and strong but a poor edge holder, not good for a general use blade IMO; Mission's Ti offerings seem targeted to bomb squads, people who need non-magnetic as well as just non-rusting.
 
Talonite is probably one of the best blade materials for salt water applications. I have a Mayo TNT out of the stuff and love it. Not sure if Talonite is being used in production knives -- the now out of production Camillus Talon is the only one that comes to mind. Quite a few custom makers are using Talonite. Spendy though.
 
Mission holds an edge better than you think and according to STR who bought his MPF 3 from me, and compared it to Talonite said the Mission beta ti straight up outperforms his talonite blade. STR says while the Mission BETA Ti is behind steel it is definitely ahead of talonite and thats coming from a knowledgeable longtime maker/modifier as a direct result of his testing. He also said he was actually kinda surprised by its performance. It holds an edge better than you think, again while not up to steel, it does better than a lot of people give it credit for.
 
Spyderco's H1 knives, Aqua Salt, Rock Salt, (other salt folders).

The only person who has gotten it to rust so far was with some chloride. :barf: Nasty stuff.
 
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