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’ll be able to typically defeat the previous by selecting a distinct blade materials or therapy. A knife’s edge consists of thousands and thousands of microscopic serrations fabricated from chemical compounds often called 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 will be made in addition to its put on resistance. Nevertheless, due to the iron, they’re vulnerable to rust and corrosion. For a lot of knife customers, excessive corrosion resistance is a necessity. You would possibly must 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 manner, 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. Among the items we’ll take a look at have none; these can be superb for army and first responder varieties who could need to work round harmful ordnance the place a spark and even the magnetic presence of iron might set off an explosion. (Discuss with our nonmetallic knife information for extra particulars on the efficiency of varied supplies.) We check out some blades created from true “tremendous steels” on this regard, in addition to a number of created from alternate supplies. Whereas researching this information, a number of knives have been supplied to us with corrosion-resistant coatings equivalent to 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 laborious 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:
Twine 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 have been smaller knives created from small items of leftover metal used of their bigger fight knives, and the Nail represents the by-products of utilizing titanium. It is a quick, discreet piece that has a strong look and is a really succesful stabbing device for self-defense. Titanium accommodates no carbon and won’t rust, so one thing like this may be left on a ship, in a automotive, or exterior nearly ceaselessly with out oxidizing. It is available in a minimalist Kydex sheath.

Professionals:

• A cord-wrapped deal with gives for a superb 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 gentle weight and superior corrosion resistance make this an excellent backup self-defense piece.

Cons:

• That is just about a spike or a shiv meant for stabbing. It couldn’t be used to slice bread or baton wooden, for instance.
• Not a repeatedly catalogued merchandise. You’re greater than possible 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 often called their Salt collection. These knives are created from extraordinarily corrosion-resistant, nitrogen-based steels. They sometimes have high-visibility yellow handles, that are precious 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 shiny 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’ll be able to 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 absolutely immersed in recent or salt water.

Professionals:

• 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 handbook opener.

Cons:

• I get using FRN as a deal with materials to maintain prices down, however milled aluminum handles or scales fabricated from G10, carbon fiber, or Micarta would possibly’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 option to decrease the specter of corrosion, however liners might make an excellent knife equivalent to this somewhat 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 most recent 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 few of the highest-end 1911s on this planet. This blade is exclusive because it’s created from 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 by way of being a each day person.

Professionals:

• The blade is created from polyhedral tungsten carbide with a Rockwell Hardness of 71 HRC — meaning 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, far more than a few of Sandrin’s first choices.

Cons:

• It requires two arms to soundly shut the blade. The lock is robust and dependable however retracting the lock bar one-handed would possibly trigger an harm.
• There’s no lanyard gap on the deal with.
• Tungsten carbide requires a specialised sharpener, and in the event you don’t have the tools or know methods to 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 most recent 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 measurement as a normal EDC pocketknife with a titanium body lock deal with.

Professionals:

• This is among 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 occasions longer than a carbon metal blade.
• It is a very dressy-looking knife and can seem non-threatening ought to it’s good to use it in a social setting equivalent to a restaurant.

Cons:

• You’ll must train somewhat 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 laborious (equivalent to bone).
• Whereas ceramic appears to have the ability to reduce 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 sometimes not a fan of G10 or plastic blades, as they often can not hack it as a reducing device for very lengthy with out carbides bonded to the sting in some method. Nevertheless, Krein’s talent as a sharpener actually exhibits itself right here, and his grind towards a skinny edge makes for a surprisingly good cutter if you realize the bounds of the fabric. My first incident with this blade was pondering it was a coach till I used to be proven the way it reduce by a plastic water bottle.

Professionals:

• It is a 1:1 nonmetallic copy of Krein’s in style 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 far more than its Kydex sheath.
• Surprisingly sharp and stabby because of Krein’s angles of sharpening and skill to make a skinny edge

Cons:

• Because it has a G10 blade, its skill 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 device 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: Wanting 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 in style with collectors and customers who desire a nearly rust-free knife. The blade rides on ball bearings to make for a clean 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.

Professionals:

• This blade has the proper symmetry of a dagger blade with out the double-edge issue. Skeletonized to cut back weight.
• Motion is clean; 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 could be too artsy or busy for some. Due to its excellent symmetry, it’s attainable to attempt to open it from the improper aspect at the hours of darkness.
• 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 superb G10 grips for handguns and AR-15 rifles. They’ve additionally been making a wide range of special-use daggers, pens, and different gadgets 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 either side. These are key to utilizing this blade as a reducing device versus only for stabbing. You’ll be able to select both a leather-based or a Kydex sheath for this mannequin.

Professionals:

• The serrations are harking back to shark enamel. They mimic in macro measurement 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’ll match them as much as the VZ grips in your favourite firearm.
• You might go away 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 you’ll want 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