Very disappointed in new Buck Red Point

bush-haus

bush-haus

Basic Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2010
Messages
924
Other than the fact that it came EXTREMELY sharp out of the package, I am disappointed to report that my new Red Point, within just a few months, has started rusting. I live in a very dry area of the country. I clean it often, and yet there are roughly a half-o-dozen rust spots on the blade! :( Is this steel from China?
 
It just means it hasnt been cared for properly, most stainless steels will rust in fact often quite easily, they are often mildly resistant to rust.
Regards Tim
 
Not in my experience . I've found several stainless steels to be very rust resistant even in harsh environments . ie. swimming for 1-2hrs. in the Gulf of Mexico with it in my pocket and then not removing it or rinsing it the next day . Or field dressing a buck and on purpose leaving it uncleaned on a stump by the spot for a day or two . Filleting two dozen crappie and leaving the knife in the seat of the boat uncleaned for a day or two . ect., my test go on ... I've found very few 'decent' stainless steel to give me much rust concerns . I'm not familiar with bush's Red Point model so I cannot comment on what steel that one is . DM
 
I think all the Red Points are imports. However, good steel, if taken care of shouldn't rust.

May be a bad batch. If nothing else send it back to Buck.

How bad is the rust? Pics?
 
The redpoint is one of the imported models. The steel is supposedly similar to 440A. It should be fairly rust resistant.

That being said, it is possible to contaminate the surface of stainless steel and affect the oxide layer that protects it. Once you remove the contamination, all is normally well. I would try cleaning it with a scotch brite pad and something like Bon Ami. Do not use steel wool. Do not use a chlorinated scouring powder. Scour it, rinse it, dry it, and oil it. This will normally take care of the problem.
 
Thanks for the suggestion Knarfeng! will try that and see if it slows the rusting
 
Agreed . I've seen a Buck knife with a steel I could not get to rust just lay on a work bench at a house near the ocean and it rusted . So, those 'gentle' sea breezes have a powerful affect . DM
 
knarfeng said:
The redpoint is one of the imported models. The steel is supposedly similar to 440A. It should be fairly rust resistant.
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I couldn't agree more. I have a couple of old Kershaws (Japanese made) and a 30 year old Gerber Knight (Seki City) that are 440 A and they wouldn't rust unless you dropped them in acid and left them out in the sun. OK.... maybe not that rust resistant. But a few little specs happens from time to time in my very sweaty pockets, and in an odd moment I can rub them off with a pencil eraser in a couple of seconds. No big deal.

knarfeng said:
That being said, it is possible to contaminate the surface of stainless steel and affect the oxide layer that protects it. Once you remove the contamination, all is normally well. I would try cleaning it with a scotch brite pad and something like Bon Ami. Do not use steel wool. Do not use a chlorinated scouring powder. Scour it, rinse it, dry it, and oil it. This will normally take care of the problem.
Click to expand...

Excellent advice from knarfeng. That should do it.

Robert
 
I have to agree that Rockwell hardness numbers tell little about a knife blade but without extensive use and testing it tells us something . I think that even sharpening (ie. rebeveling) a blade can tell more than one thump from a RC machine . But its a starting place to learn . DM
 
Buck_110 said:
Blade steels that are highly vaunted, can and will rust easily if the heat treatment is poor or non-existent.
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I completely disagree with that comment.

Please show data supporting that statement.
 
Thanks for the link.

Heat treat does not affect the corrosion resistance of the stainless alloys I work with but the stainless steel alloys we use don't have very much carbon in them. Among other things that it does, increased carbon content tends to negatively affect corrosion resistance.
 
increased carbon content tends to negatively affect corrosion resistance.
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Yes thats correct, who wants a knife that resists rust very well in all conditions but doesnt cut well, I tend to find the ones that do are very expensive due to the higher chromium content etc. Most stainless falls into the lower category like for example the high carbon stainless that Schrade use, it is mildly rust resistant but holds a good edge because of the higher carbon content. Dont Buck also use the HC stainless???
Regards Tim
 
Bill Keys said:
Steel is like a good internet rumor; a lot of mystique, some truth, some slight of hand and a whole lot of (mis)conceptions. >>>
As far as edge holding, using Buck's heat treat and edging process, S30V is best, 154CM next and then 420HC; I specifically reference Buck's processes here because we have (CATRA) tested other's products (heat treated and edged by them) and have found knives with 154CM, ATS34, etc do not perform (edge retention) as well as our 420HC; don't under estimate the value of heat treat and proper edging/sharpening.

On toughness, in most cases, S30V will probably outperform 420HC and 154CM. >> The chemistry of S30V is such that when properly heat treated it give very good edge retention and good toughness.

Oh, heat treat can also have an impact on corrosion resistance; poor/improper heat treat can negatively impact the corrosion resistance of all of these steels.>>

Bill Keys
Director of Manufcturing and Engineering
Buck Knives, Inc
Click to expand...
a very good read there 110
thanks..
 
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