Caring Case Chrome Vanadium

[PhoenixSlim]

Hey Guys! i been following this form for a while but this is my first time posting, i have seen post simuler to this one and ive followed there advise but it aint helped me much so i hope maybe someone could today =)

So ive always carried a Case CV my first pocket knife was from my great grandpappy and he carried it for well over 50 years it had a real nice patina on it and ive carried it for 15 over the years grandpappy used to just grind the blade to sharpen it so its lost a large amount of the blade and altho i now use oil stones to sharpen it im just afraid of losing it forever so i put it on a shelf and decided to get me a new case. So i ordered a Trapper Lock with CV blade and immediately started carying her, each night i wipe her off with a old hanky and then set her on my desk for the next day. unfortunately i learnt to late how hard on this knife i was being (and i assumed from not oiling it.) she ended up getting some pretty good sized pits and i decided after doing alot of research that i should just start with a new blade and take better care of it. so ordered a second one and i have oiled it ever night with rusty rags oil and there sheepskin kit after i clean it of course, and after a while my knife has is just covered with rust, following some peoples advise i cleaned it with vinegar and went back to oiling it daily but i constantly am getting rust no matter what i do. i do live in Arizona where its 110+ for 6 months of the year and unfortunately i sweat alot so i know thats doing a number on the blade. so is there anything y'all can recommend to help with my blade? i really love CV but if i have to go to SS just so i can keep a knife i will id rather not have to do that though, im sure back when CV was used alot more commonly people must have had some nice tricks to help with this sort of thing!

 

[marcinek]

Welcome. You can "force" that pit-ppreventing patina that was on granpappys knife.

Prolonged contact with acid will do it. I just like to cut up an apple, eat it, let the knife sit until it dries, then wash it with hot soapy water. Repeat. (Making fruit salads is also a great way)

A ton of other stuff will work too, mustard, vinegar, potatoes, etc etc etc.

 

[ocnLogan]

The trick to any non-stainless steel is to keep it dry. The oil is actually used to act as a barrier for moisture and air, which is what prevents it from rusting, not that the oil has any magical properties that prevent rust.

Also, the tip you got to wipe it down with vinegar is good, but a bit different. Vinegar actually forces oxidation (rust). The difference is that vinegar can force a good type of rust (its blackish/grey, and doesn't pit or flake like the bad red rust). This is called a "patina". Patinas can be forced by all sorts of things (cutting anything acidic... like fruit, wiping it with something like mustard or ketchup/hotsauce, etc). The Patina can help prevent the bad red rust, and is a totally normal thing for a carbon steel blade to develop.

Personally, I'd force a patina (maybe soak a paper towel in vinegar and wrap the blade and leave it for 45 minutes, unwrap, lightly clean up, repeat 2-3x). After that, if you're still getting rust, then look into perhaps not pocket carrying it, and getting some sort of a belt sheath for it. That should keep much of the moisture off of the blade, and therefor you should get much less chance of rust. I lived in Phoenix for 6 years, and did landscaping, window washing, and concrete work. Trust me when I say I know what you mean by sweat .

And there is no "shame" in using stainless steel. It was developed for certain situations, and this might just be one of them.

Good luck .

 

[PhoenixSlim]

Thanks for the reply's guys! sorry for the late reply, i didnt realize i wouldn't get a email/notification heh. im no stranger to patinas and have no problem forcing one ive attempted potato's and vinegar but only did it once and left it there for 15 - 20 mins so maybe ill try it a bit longer and a few more times see if that helps =) nah there is nothing really "wrong" with Stainless, but it surly dosent get as sharp as CV and i personally have never bent a CV blade, but ive done so to quiet a few SS (its better for everyone not to ask how they got bent, itll just start alot of yelling about the abuse ive put the poor things through. =P) and there's just something special about a good old fashioned CV blade =). Again thanks for the reply's guys! ill be sure to try out your advice =)