Pocket Preps: Corrosion Resistant Knife Purchaser’s Information

To borrow a phrase from the firearms aspect of the home, knives have two enemies: rust and politicians. The latter is extra sophisticated to take care of, however you may typically defeat the previous by selecting a distinct blade materials or therapy. A knife’s edge consists of thousands and thousands of microscopic serrations manufactured from chemical compounds referred to as carbides. In blade metal, the carbide consists of iron and carbon. The scale and quantity of those carbides have an effect on how sharp a blade edge may be made in addition to its put on resistance. Nevertheless, due to the iron, they’re liable to rust and corrosion. For a lot of knife customers, excessive corrosion resistance is a necessity. You may have to do work in an especially humid atmosphere, or perhaps you end up on the deck of a ship showered with salt water for lengthy intervals of time. Both approach, you don’t wish to discover that your newest and best carry knife has rusted and pitted.

One other vein not directly associated to corrosion resistance is whether or not the blade has a metallic signature. A number of the items we’ll have a look at have none; these could be excellent for army and first responder sorts who could need to work round harmful ordnance the place a spark and even the magnetic presence of iron might set off an explosion. (Confer with our nonmetallic knife information for extra particulars on the efficiency of assorted supplies.) We check out some blades made out of true “tremendous steels” on this regard, in addition to a number of made out of alternate supplies. Whereas researching this information, a number of knives had been supplied to us with corrosion-resistant coatings resembling Cerakote. The issue with these coatings is that the very nature of a knife blade renders these ineffective for shielding the sting from rust. The carbides will all the time be uncovered when utilizing the knife for reducing and even sharpening it. For that reason, we dismissed many blades that purely relied on a coating like nickel or arduous chrome as nicely.

Mick Strider Flamed Titanium Nail

Blade size:
3.5 inches

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OAL:
6 inches

Weight:
2.1 ounces

Deal with Materials:
Wire Wrap

Blade Materials:
Titanium

Worth:
$125

URL:
mickstridercustomknives.com

Notes: Strider Knives has a historical past of utilizing each final piece of fabric from their knife-making endeavors in virtually each challenge. Their WP fashions had been smaller knives made out of small items of leftover metal used of their bigger fight knives, and the Nail represents the by-products of utilizing titanium. It is a brief, discreet piece that has a stable look and is a really succesful stabbing software for self-defense. Titanium incorporates no carbon and won’t rust, so one thing like this may be left on a ship, in a automobile, or outdoors just about ceaselessly with out oxidizing. It is available in a minimalist Kydex sheath.

Execs:

• A cord-wrapped deal with supplies for a wonderful grip in any atmosphere.
• The purpose on this is sort of a needle, and you shouldn’t have any issues poking holes in something with it.
• Titanium’s mild weight and superior corrosion resistance make this an incredible backup self-defense piece.

Cons:

• That is just about a spike or a shiv supposed for stabbing. It couldn’t be used to slice bread or baton wooden, for instance.
• Not a usually catalogued merchandise. You’re greater than doubtless solely going to seek out one at a present the place Strider is attending, or on certainly one of their social media or web site drops if you wish to keep away from the secondary market.

Spyderco Native 5 Salt

Blade size:
2.95 inches

OAL:
6.95 inches

Weight:
2.4 ounces

Deal with Materials:
FRN

Blade Materials:
LC200N

Worth:
$205

URL:
spyderco.com

Notes: Spyderco has a confirmed line in what’s referred to as their Salt collection. These knives are made out of extraordinarily corrosion-resistant, nitrogen-based steels. They usually have high-visibility yellow handles, that are worthwhile when utilizing them within the water, must you drop the knife or want it to face out from the background (until you paint the within of your boat brilliant yellow, after all). The Native 5 Salt marries this therapy to certainly one of Spyderco’s greatest U.S.-made designs. The spearpoint blade has a pleasant choil so you may choke up on it for extra delicate duties. The lockback mechanism is a time-proven design. The blade shrugs off any try at corrosion whether or not totally immersed in recent or salt water.

Execs:

• The deal with form is a trademark of Spyderco’s designs and intensely ergonomic.
• This was my first outing with LC200N metal, and I walked away impressed. Its chief property is substituting nitrogen for carbon in its composition. It is a very powerful and seemingly corrosion-resistant knife.
• Spyderco’s spherical gap makes for a quick guide opener.

Cons:

• I get the usage of FRN as a deal with materials to maintain prices down, however milled aluminum handles or scales manufactured from G10, carbon fiber, or Micarta may’ve made for a higher-quality really feel.
• Piggybacking on that, there are not any liners. I’m positive it is a cost-saving measure and a technique to decrease the specter of corrosion, however liners might make an incredible knife resembling this a bit of bit higher.

Sandrin Monza

Blade size:
3.38 inches

OAL:
7.67 inches

Weight:
4.3 ounces

Deal with Materials:
Titanium

Blade Materials:
Tungsten Carbide

Worth:
$399

URL:
cabotguns.com

Notes: The Sandrin Monza is the newest folding knife supplied by this Italian firm. This knife, and all Sandrin knives, are distributed within the U.S. by Cabot Weapons, makers of a number of the highest-end 1911s on the planet. This blade is exclusive because it’s made out of tungsten carbide. It’ll by no means rust and its edge will outlast virtually anything made by man. I reviewed certainly one of their earlier choices a number of years in the past in RECOIL journal, and this one is a large enchancment when it comes to being a day by day person.

Execs:

• The blade is made out of polyhedral tungsten carbide with a Rockwell Hardness of 71 HRC — which means it’ll maintain its edge seemingly ceaselessly.
• Extraordinarily light-weight and a real pocketknife for EDC use. Its locking system is exclusive and one of many extra spectacular I’ve seen shortly.
• The knife is well-suited for many reducing chores, way more than a few of Sandrin’s first choices.

Cons:

• It requires two palms to soundly shut the blade. The lock is powerful and dependable however retracting the lock bar one-handed may trigger an damage.
• There’s no lanyard gap on the deal with.
• Tungsten carbide requires a specialised sharpener, and should you don’t have the gear or know how you can use it, the knife must return to Italy for a tune-up.

Böker Anti MC

Blade size:
3.23 inches

OAL:
7.68 inches

Weight:
2.5 ounces

Deal with Materials:
Titanium

Blade Materials:
Ceramic

Worth:
$144

URL:
bokerusa.com

Notes: Böker was one of many first firms to supply a working folding knife with a ceramic blade. Ceramic blades have been utilized in kitchens for meals prep for many years. They require much less sharpening, are lighter in weight, and gained’t rust. The Anti MC is the newest incarnation of a ceramic folder produced by Böker. It’s a far cry from their preliminary providing practically 30 years in the past that had a 1-inch blade with a value level nearer to customized knife territory. This one is similar dimension as a typical EDC pocketknife with a titanium body lock deal with.

Execs:

• This is without doubt one of the lightest EDC knives on the market, and the ceramic blade and titanium deal with make it actually rust-free.
• A ceramic blade is razor sharp and can retain its edge 10 instances longer than a carbon metal blade.
• It is a very dressy-looking knife and can seem non-threatening ought to it’s essential use it in a social setting resembling a restaurant.

Cons:

• You’ll have to train a bit of extra care with this one; ceramic is brittle, and the blade can actually shatter when dropped or used to chop an object that’s too arduous (resembling bone).
• Whereas ceramic appears to have the ability to minimize ceaselessly, resharpening this knife would require a fine-grit diamond sharpening stone or belt.

Tom Krein G10 Bulldog

Blade size:
3 inches

OAL:
8 inches

Weight:
2 ounces

Deal with Materials:
G10

Blade Materials:
G10

Worth:
$250

URL:
kreinknives.internet

Notes: Tom Krein is a customized knifemaker who additionally has his personal manufacturing firm to mass produce a lot of his personal designs. He’s identified for producing extraordinarily sharp blades, and for a few years was identified for producing unbelievable regrinds on different maker’s blades. I’m usually not a fan of G10 or plastic blades, as they normally can not hack it as a reducing software for very lengthy with out carbides bonded to the sting in some method. Nevertheless, Krein’s ability as a sharpener actually reveals itself right here, and his grind towards a skinny edge makes for a surprisingly good cutter if the bounds of the fabric. My first incident with this blade was considering it was a coach till I used to be proven the way it minimize by means of a plastic water bottle.

Execs:

• It is a 1:1 nonmetallic copy of Krein’s well-liked Bulldog mannequin, a brief clip-bladed non-folding knife.
• As a result of it’s G10, rust or corrosion gained’t have an effect on it, and the knife is extraordinarily light-weight. It doesn’t weigh way more than its Kydex sheath.
• Surprisingly sharp and stabby as a result of Krein’s angles of sharpening and skill to make a skinny edge

Cons:

• Because it has a G10 blade, its potential to stay sharp gained’t final so long as different supplies. Chores like batoning wooden or skinning a deer are a bit a lot. That is extra of a defensive software in opposition to smooth targets.
• Roughly a customized piece and topic to availability

CRKT Hirin

Blade size:
3.39 inches

OAL:
8.69 inches

Weight:
5.9 ounces

Deal with Materials:
Titanium

Blade Materials:
Bohler M390

Worth:
$250

URL:
crkt.com

Notes: Trying like a cross between a high-end gentleman’s knife and one thing out of Star Trek, the Hirin from CRKT is a knife design by Dew Hara and produced in Maniago, Italy. This preliminary providing of 500 knives is proving to be well-liked with collectors and customers who desire a just about rust-free knife. The blade rides on ball bearings to make for a easy and fashionable opener. The skeletonized deal with and blade make this a working piece of artwork and craftsmanship that’s extremely corrosion-resistant on each stage.

Execs:

• This blade has the right symmetry of a dagger blade with out the double-edge issue. Skeletonized to scale back weight.
• Motion is easy; the blade flips open on ball bearing pivots.
• Bohler M390 metal proves to be nice at edge retention, corrosion resistance, and easily as a working metal.

Cons:

• The look of this knife may be too artsy or busy for some. Due to its good symmetry, it’s doable to attempt to open it from the unsuitable aspect at midnight.
• This was a limited-edition run from CRKT. It could be offered out until they produce one other run; subsequently, secondary market costs could apply.

VZ Grips Diamante G10 Dagger

Blade size:
4.75 inches

OAL:
9.9 inches

Weight:
2.4 ounces

Deal with Materials:
G10

Blade Materials:
G10

Worth:
$99

URL:
vzgrips.com

Notes: VZ Grips is thought for making wonderful G10 grips for handguns and AR-15 rifles. They’ve additionally been making a wide range of special-use daggers, pens, and different objects out of G10, such because the Diamante Dagger. The distinction between this dagger and different G10 knives is the incorporation of some scary sharp serrations milled into the profile of the blade on both sides. These are key to utilizing this blade as a reducing software versus only for stabbing. You’ll be able to select both a leather-based or a Kydex sheath for this mannequin.

Execs:

• The serrations are harking back to shark enamel. They mimic in macro dimension the sample of carbides present in a metal blade and make for a really environment friendly cutter.
• The G10 handles are supplied in a wide range of colours, and you may match them as much as the VZ grips in your favourite firearm.
• You possibly can depart it on the underside of the ocean or in a saltwater fish tank for years, and it’ll come out precisely as you place it in.

Cons:

• Some states regulate the possession and/or carry of double-edged daggers, so remember to test your native legal guidelines.
• Whereas succesful for many duties, it nonetheless has some limitations. Good for EDC, not a lot for bushcraft.

Written by Mike Searson