Thoughts on the "Salt" series

S

Short-Tang

Joined
Dec 6, 2012
Messages
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I live on the Texas coast. The marshes here make quick work of steel. From cars to guns to knives, keeping steel corrosion free is simply impossible. You knife guys will cringe when i say this, but i use very cheap, desposable knives because of this corrosion problem. A $5 knife does just as good as a $500 knife down here, because after 3 days its a chunk of rust. Well... I decided to invest in the Spyderco Pacific Salt. This will be my very first Spyderco. I had wanted the Salt-1, but they did not offer it with the black coated blade. Im very excited that they make a "dive knife" that isnt a fixed blade. Someone convince me I invested my $80 wisely...
 
Among other tests, cutlerylover did a 14 day test of H1 steel in salt water. He also did a bleach test. Did absolutely nothing to the blade.

Day 1 of the experiment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMyuF4mDySE

In his video series he compares a SAK and a cheapo $5 knife.


EDIT: You should be very happy with your salt. I love my Salt Dragonfly.
 
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It wont rust. I think there's a test on youtube in which someone left a salt knife in a jar of bleach for a really long time. Dont think it rusted but I'm pretty sure it stained? Ill try to find it.
 
The only Salt I've ever seen have any rust problems was one where one of the pins rusted.
If you go for the plain edge, I've found that sharpening with a medium diamond stone and no stropping gave the best edge retention.
The serrated blades are supposed to be better due to work hardening, but I've yet to see much difference between the PE and SE when the edge (on the PE) is unpolished.
 
Short-Tang said:
A $5 knife does just as good as a $500 knife down here, because after 3 days its a chunk of rust.
Click to expand...

I would be interested to know what good knives you have tried. My understanding is that some of the recent steels are very corrosion resistant.
 
Sal has commented that the edge of serrated H1 tests harder than any steel they've tested and will hold an edge equally well. It's a good tough steel (alloy) if you need high toughness. There was a thread over on the forum about one rusting, but i think it was determined to be either some kind of fungus on the blade or something on the blade collecting rust, but not the blade itself rusting. There was even pitting in the steel but i don't think it was "rust". Either way i have no doubt your new knife won't last longer than the $5 rust chunk blades.
 
bdmicarta said:
I would be interested to know what good knives you have tried. My understanding is that some of the recent steels are very corrosion resistant.
Click to expand...

The most recent "non-junk" folding knife I had was a Kershaw Leek. It was a gift. Of course it rusted in less than a week. But I dont think kershaw expects people to have their knife in the marsh for 40 hours/wk. No offense, but you obvously do not live on the coast. No matter how modern or expensive or "corrosion resistant'' a steel is, if it spends a week in the surf, its screwed. Especially TX/LA coast, muddy, nasty,swampy, salty yuckiness. there is a reason people dont bring "quality steel" fixed blade knives on dive trips, Dive knives are usually made with very soft, generally "bad" steel for a knife, but they dont rust... Normal modern quality knife steels may be "very corrosion resistant" in the midwest, or the desert, maybe even 20 miles from the shore... but if they could go in the ocean, there would be no such thing as a dive knife... divers would carry a Busse down there. Im not trying to be rude, for most people your are 100% correct that most modern steels can handle most climates. Its just that im about 15 "quality modern steel" knives into this occupation...lol. Please dont think i was jumping your hiney. I greatly really appreciate everyone's input. please keep all the criticisms and comments flowing, im constantly learning. :thumbup:
 
Short-Tang, if you were to clean and oil your knives at the end of the day would they still rust or are you seeing rust on your knives regardless of cleaning and oiling? I think you will be pleasantly satisfied with the Salt, btw.
 
I have tried cleaning and oiling. It does prolong the life some. But making a $75 knife last a month instead of a week almost isnt worth it. Im working and I cant just polish my blade all day. Oil washes off in about 30 seconds in the surf. I do care for my blades at home, and they last... but they dont go swimming every day. Good call though, as most people expect to simply wipe their blade on their jeans and think it will never corrode... I do not oil the junk knives i have been using lately. I buy them cheap so I can toss em. I hope I like the Pacific. I hope it isnt too big, I hear the Endura model is fairly large. Ive never even seen one... My buddy uses a Delica and the size and shape is good... I wanted the Salt-1 but it didnt come witht the coated blade..
 
If you are concerned about the coating adding extra rust protection, you should not worry. Since H1 is a work hardened steel (instead of Heat Treated) and is quite soft near the spine, I can only imagine that the DLC coating is to protect against scratches on the steel.

Does your friend use the Delica at work with you?
 
I have several H1 Spydies that I have used on the Texas Gulf coast many times without any corrosion problems. I am pretty meticulous about my gear, however, and still rinse, wipe & lube my H1 knives at the end of the day the same I do all my knives. About the only thing I don't do with the H1 that I do with other steels is wipe them with a Marine Tuf-Cloth. I only take a shower with my rods & reels though. No hooks or sharp edges near my hang-down rule is how I roll. :)
 
I've had a Pacific Salt for about 10 years now, this thing is great with basic care.... It's gone swimming with me in the Pacific ocean with no damage.

By basic care I mean if you do something silly like go diving with your knife in your pocket wash it and give a couple of drops of oil...
 
Hi Short-Tang,

Why do you need a coating? The coating on the Pacific was a military requirement for visibility issues.

sal
 
No the Delica owner does not work with me. I did not know the coating was for cosmetics only. If I knew I woulda gotten the Salt-1. This is why you guys is the experts and i'm the rookie. Live and learn. Im sure i will still be happy if its as good as you guys say.
 
Just rinse it off each day and keep it oiled. H-1 steel is some amazing stuff. If the Salt series knives can't hold up to your work, nothing will.
 
Short-Tang - Please report back and let us know what you think of the Salt after you have had a chance to try it out for awhile.
 
No rinsing needed, I am commonly in the salt water/ marsh muck etc. (like swimming) with mine, NO rust or corrosion...at all and don't shoot me here..no rinsing no cleaning unless fish guts etc. get so thick and dried on it that I clean for cosmetic reasons...h1 is not stainless....it is stain free, and oh yes I agree no other stainless I have their could ever do this...
 
The only other steel that will give H-1 a run for its money is Nitrobe 77. It is completely rust resistant, however, requires exceptional heat treating.

Des Horn (that Spyderco have a colaboration with) is the only maker that I know of using Nitrobe 77 and there is a long wait.

In short, for the price, H-1 is awesome!
 
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