work folder- corrosion ressitant steel

C

calamander

Joined
Aug 24, 2014
Messages
43
Hello,
longtime lurker, first time poster. Looking for a folding work knife that has a steel that is pretty corrosion resistant (or very easy to quickly clean) under $100. I am a grounds worker, and the knife is to be used all year -40F to 95F. I have to open many salt bags this time of the year and in summer I open a lot (sometimes hundreds in a day) of urea fertilizer bags. Both of these are extremely corrosive. It also needs to have a durable tip and good lockup because I need to stab/puncture 5 gallon paint buckets for athletic field marking. I have been eyeing a s30v blur, but I am not sure it is the best option- maybe something cheap like a rat 1 or rat 2? Any ideas appreciated! Blade length 2.75" to 3.75".
 
One of the Spyderco Salt knives would be a good choice. H1 is almost corrosion proof.

You might also look at one of the Benchmade Lone Wolf knives in N680. That alloy is also extremely corrosion resistant (much more so than 420HC or 440A), and N680 has better edge retention than H1.
 
Any of the Spyderco Salt Series in H1 will do great. Serrated if you want to get the most out of the H1 steel performance.
 
Welcome aboard!!!! Another vote for the Spyderco Salt series. Yep, that's what they're made for. I have the PE and it is used moderately, the serrated sounds like the one you need.
 
Whoa, -40F? I thought it got cold in my neck of the woods! ;) It does but I'm not sure it ever gets quite that cold! -30 at the coldest perhaps.

I wanted to get a Salt years ago... now I kind of want to again.
 
I was going to say a Spyderco Salt series, then I read how much cutting you were going to be doing. While H1 is great for rust resistance, it is not the greatest in edge retention. Yes, the serrated models will hold an edge longer, however you will still be sharpening very regularly, and sharpening serrations is a pain.

I might look at something in N680, and buy some tuff cloth to wipe your blades with after you have cut a corrosive material. Spyderco Salt in H1 is still your best bet for corrosion resistance, it just leaves a lot to be desired in the area of edge retention.
 
The David Boye folders cannot rust. The blades are 1/2 Chrome and 1/2 Cobalt. They are a little more than $100, but they go on sale several times a year. Check out the website.
 
Spyderco Salt (3") or Pacific Salt (3.8"), plain edge or fully serrated.

A cardboard cutting test was posted comparing Spyderco PE v SE and the SE won hands-down cutting over 2500 linear ft. I think that'd be more than enough for a few hundred bags a day.
 
Thanks so much for all of the recommendations! Now I can spend some time and do a little research. I have been alternating between a Kershaw Mini Skinner and Esee Izula, cleaning immediately when finished. I would like to throw a folder into the mix (hopefully becoming my full time work knife) with the corrosion resistant blade, then I will spend much less time worrying about my knife!
 
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