Traditional folder intended for occassional use - 1095 or O1?

jprime84

jprime84

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Jul 7, 2014
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I have some esee knives in 1095 and it seems to me that keeping a folding 1095 knife rust free could be tough if I actually carry it around and do some work with it once in a while. I also like a knife in O1 steel but know little about it. How will it fare vs the 1095?

If it matters, the knives are Great Eastern Cutlery.

Thanks!
 
Either should be fine if kept oiled and wiped off after each use. Also dont take them swimming.

It helps to store them waxed or well oiled and in decently arid environment.
 
If you want it bright and shiny then SS is more for you, 1095 is going to patina regardless unless you really make efforts to keep it polished up. I guess if you're in the habit of a quick buffing with a Sunshine cloth at the end of each day it'll look great. For me, as far as rust I've had little to no problem on any of mine. I live in the desert and you're in a far more humid climate so you'll have to watch yours more carefully than I do here. YES they turn grey, but NO they're not rusty. In hot summer if I'm perspiring then pocket moisture can leave pepper spots on the spine or springs of the knife, but a couple minutes with a Sunshine cloth should have it looking spiffy again if that's how you like it. I just don't worry about any of that. I don't let red rust spots linger, but darkening I don't bother with.

I just don't fret over it myself. My knives do darken over time with a greyish patina and that's just nature taking it's course. If you use it and carry it then that's how any of the carbon steels are going to be. Just enjoy the knife and carry it, that's what it was made for is my opinion. Patina has nothing at all to do with how it works or it's sharpness. But for those who like it shiney just spend a minute or two with a polishing cloth and you'll probably be just fine. :)
 
arizonaranchman said:
If you want it bright and shiny then SS is more for you, 1095 is going to patina regardless unless you really make efforts to keep it polished up. I guess if you're in the habit of a quick buffing with a Sunshine cloth at the end of each day it'll look great. For me, as far as rust I've had little to no problem on any of mine. I live in the desert and you're in a far more humid climate so you'll have to watch yours more carefully than I do here. YES they turn grey, but NO they're not rusty. In hot summer if I'm perspiring then pocket moisture can leave pepper spots on the spine or springs of the knife, but a couple minutes with a Sunshine cloth should have it looking spiffy again if that's how you like it. I just don't worry about any of that. I don't let red rust spots linger, but darkening I don't bother with.

I just don't fret over it myself. My knives do darken over time with a greyish patina and that's just nature taking it's course. If you use it and carry it then that's how any of the carbon steels are going to be. Just enjoy the knife and carry it, that's what it was made for is my opinion. Patina has nothing at all to do with how it works or it's sharpness. But for those who like it shiney just spend a minute or two with a polishing cloth and you'll probably be just fine. :)
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Oh I like a patina look anyway, I just didnt want them to rust down around the pins or in the handle somewhere I couldnt see.
 
I ended up choosing the O1 model, a GEC #71. I saw eschwebach's on the EDC thread one too many times and knew I wanted one. Mine will have green linen micarta scales.
 
jprime84 said:
I have some esee knives in 1095 and it seems to me that keeping a folding 1095 knife rust free could be tough if I actually carry it around and do some work with it once in a while. I also like a knife in O1 steel but know little about it. How will it fare vs the 1095?

If it matters, the knives are Great Eastern Cutlery.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Chapstick is your friend.

The below knife has 1095 blades. So far this summer it has been fishing, crabbing, cut salted eel for bait, been in a salt water environment on the Chesapeake Bay here in Maryland. But it has been dried off with a clean bandana every day, and a bit of Chapstick rubbed between thumb and forefinger then all over the blades. No rust, but a nice patina developing.

Either 1095 or 01 will just fine with a tiny bit of care. Carbon blades are way more forgiving and durable than people give them credit for.

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Your the first person I've heard of using chapstick in such a way.

I own a carbon steel opinel and GEC Bullnose in 01 and their a lot harder to rust or patina than people say. I tried neglecting the Opinel to see if I can make it rust or patina but after owning it for close to a year all that has happened is the blade is a duller gray (I think but I am not positive, it's not as shiny as my other stainless steel knives) and developed a few dark spots or it could be dirt.

The GEC dulled in color a bit to a duller gray but is still a bit shiny, and developed a few dark spots and rust spots because I used to carry it while I worked out and I sweat a lot. I removed the rust spots and swapped knives to a stainless knife for when I workout and all progress has magically stopped on the blade getting duller and dark spots appearing. The GEC has been my most carried knife for the past 3 months and has seem some use to say the least. The Opinel doesn't get a lot of carry but it sees most of the cardboard cutting duty and some of the dirtier jobs that need to be done, it's a cheap beater that cuts like a scalpel.

O1 seems to be the least rust resistant thing I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with but is still bearable. I believe 1095 is more rust resistant to my knowledge. Just double check your knife once in awhile, how often depends on your environment and what you use it for. A quick glance between the liners before you close the knife will probably be sufficient, it's really not that big of a deal. It wouldn't surprise me if you do that already without knowing. On the plus side it seems O1 loves to take a stupidly sharp edge for me, I hope it will do the same for you.

If you find that it rusts too easily for you or too much trouble just force a patina on it. That will offer it some protection, and then give it another shot and see if it works for you. Just a little heads up your blade may not be the only thing made out of O1, I believe my Bullnose liners and backspring are O1 as well if my memory serves me correctly. Which is actually where most of the dark spots and small bits of rust appeared for me.

But like I said earlier for the most part I've found the whole rust issue blown out of proportion. I bought the carbon steel opinel over the stainless to see if I could make it rust and without forcing it I don't think I ever will. It has never seen oil or any preventive measures and I've tried fight my urge to clean it as much as possible and it's still chugging along perfectly fine despite it getting some of the more abusive and dirty jobs I have.
 
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