which steel would be best for a hide-away blade?

P

peshkabz

Joined
May 6, 2003
Messages
198
ATS-55
AUS-6
AUS-8

I live in a very humid environment and sweat buckets. These choices are attached to the knife options I have chosen due to knife size. All spydies.
 
Of the steels you listed AUS 8 would probably be the best, as it will hold an edge better over AUS 6. Yet, if it is only as a last ditch weapon the AUS 6 may have a slight edge in the corrosion factor. I hope this helps.
 
Honestly, I don't know from experience.

Looking at metallurgy, the AUS-6 has the lowest carbon content, and therefore will leave more free chrome around for chromium oxide formation, which is what makes stainless resistant to staining. The AUS steels have 13% to 14.5% chrome, while ATS-55 is pegged at 14%, but free chrome after heat treat is what counts.

You oughta post on Spydie's site... Sal has the actual test data to back up his well founded opinions.
 
If it is a 'last ditch tool/weapon' then edge retention is probably going to be the least of your worries. I would go with 6 or 8
 
I've carried my Voyagers in AUS8 jogging and sweating for a number of years and have yet to see any corrosion other than a very slight darkening of the tanto blade.
 
The finish on the blade also matters. Bead blasting will hold in moisture. I suggest you remove any bead blasting if you happen to use a knife in a very corrosive environment. Even the AUS6 will rust under heavy moisture (especially with moisture locked in)
 
Talonite will be the ebst. i simply LOVE my camillus Mini Talon. the best knife i own.
 
Mission MPU, titanium blade, skeletal handle, flat kydex neck sheath.

But this may be overkill. With any care at all, like a freshwater rinse and drying after use or a couple of days, AUS 6 or 8 is fine.
 
Yes, I suppose that if cost is no factor, Talonite would be the best "hide-it-and-forget-it" knife material. I see that no one has yet mentioned H-1, which Sal Glesser of Spyderco thinks highly enough of to have said he wished they had brought it to market before Benchmade... He is also planning an H-1 Delica, which he mentioned here on BF... I am drooling for such a knife. Spyderco will be doing it right, with H-1 springs and lock, too!

With H-1 in mind, you might consider the Benchmade 100SH2O, Dive Knife. I have one. It gets nice and sharp, has some serrations, a sturdy handle (screw-on scales that are removable) and a good sheath. It helps to know that tests have shown it does not rust in a salt chamber... Even Sal said H-1 is up there with Talonite...

Also, think about some stash-knives for utter defense, like some of the nylon resin dealies such as the Delta Dart and the Executive Letter Opener. (Anyone know if these are impervious to aging? Does the plastic do well over time in storage, or does it get dry and crumbly at all?)

---Jeffrey
 
Originally posted by calyth
The finish on the blade also matters. Bead blasting will hold in moisture. I suggest you remove any bead blasting if you happen to use a knife in a very corrosive environment. Even the AUS6 will rust under heavy moisture (especially with moisture locked in)
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While I agree that bead blasting will hold moisture, removing bead blasting means, for most of us without a belt grinder, getting out the sandpaper. You'll have to go well past 400 grit, or you'll leave scratches instead of pits to hold moisture.

Get as smooth a finish as you can. Get wet/dry sandpaper from autobody section of autoparts store, hardware store, etc. Go from 400 to 600 to 1000 to 1500 grit at least, maybe to 2000 grit. This'll get close to a very smooth, approaching mirrored finish. Mirrored is arguably the least corrosion prone (unless you are willing to fill brushed scratches or bead blasted pits by using a coat of oil).

If you can wait for an H1 Delica, that sounds promising. Sal indicated it showed ZERO corrosion in testing, like Talonite/Stellite do. Impressive. And lower cost eventually.

I answered the original question about AUS-6, 8, and ATS-55. For sure, cost-no-object, Talonite or Stellite will be maintenance free (rust-wise).
 
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