Having the hardened part come out darker was unexpected, but I agree, it is a nice surprise.
Yeah, if anything, usually it's a little surface spot here or there, that wipes off easily. But one day, while preparing dinner, I got sidetracked and neglected to dry the blade thoroughly after rinsing it off. I was surpised to see quite a bit of rust by the time I returned to the kitchen after the meal. That was my own fault though.
This last time, I had rinsed my sheath out because I was clambering around sandstone on a hike earlier and grit had gotten in. I guess the sheath hadn't completely dried out by the time I stuck my mineral-oiled knife back in. A day or two later, I took it out and voila, there was a few spots of rust that had actually started to pit a little (very slight, but there).
And yeah, it has been more humid up here than normal recently with the rain we've been having, so that could be contributing.
I'm looking forward to seeing how it goes :thumbup: