rust on Case Yellow Trapper blades..

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KBR

KBR

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Feb 12, 2002
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I am needing some advice on how to remove rust spots on the Chrome Vanadium steel blades on a Yellow Case Trapper. I bought one for my father-in-law, for his birthday, and despite me advising him to apply a light coat of oil to the blades, he failed to do so. He uses it everyday, mainly for cutting food, and now has a few stains and rust spots on the blades.

I have emailed Case and their recommendation was to send the knife back to them for some rebuffing on the blades, but they didn't give me any advice on how to remove the rust from this steel. Would anyone out there happen to have any suggestions??

Thanks for any feedback, it's appreciated. :D
 
Try some Flitz metal polish. It will remove surface rust. As for any discoloration of the blade, you're pretty much stuck with that. That is one of the charecteristics of carbon steel blades that see use. As long as the blade is not allowed to rust heavily and never be cared for, the discoloration wont hurt the blades. Lots of folks buy carbon steel just for the way it discolors over time.....it looks neat.
 
I agree the staining can look interesting. I recently bought a leopard cub. The other party listed the stain as it might be a concern in the deal, but once I received it, I found I liked it quite a bit. Enough to carry in my pocket daily.
 
I appreciate the info., however, I'm not sure where to find this Flitz metal polish. Would any metal polish do the trick? What about using some fine steel wool to remove the rust?

Also, would sending the knife back to Case and having them rebuff the blades, would this remove the staining? I understand that the staining adds character to the blades, I'll have to ask my father-in-law if he'd like to leave the stains and just worry about removing the rust.

Thanks for the info, so far.;)
 
Any good gun shop should have Flitz. If not, do a word search for it on the net, im sure there are many places it can be ordered online, and cheaper than buying it at a shop. Also, i see no reason why some fine steel wool couldnt be used to remove the deeper rust, and then a nice buffing with flitz to give the blades a smooth, uniform shine. I would recommend you do use flitz, it is an EXCELLENT product and works like a charm. If you have a Dremmel tool with a felt polishing wheel, it will save you some finger cramps and time.
 
Thanks for the info, Megalobyte. I think that I'll wait until next weekend to get that Flitz, at the gun show that will be here in town.:D
 
Flitz is amazing stuff. I use an old toothbrush and flitz for general polishing/cleaning.

2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper loaded with flitz can also do wonders to bring a shine back to a blade.

I would be careful with the steel wool. I have seen a few people make a real mess with it. Stick with as fine as you can find and load with with a bit of oil and it will generally clean very well without added many new scratches.
 
KBR, I bought my son one of those exact same knives for his birthday a couple of years ago. I ended up getting rid of it because it was a rust bucket. Big D1
 
Big D1, I strongly agree about these knives becoming rust magnets. ;) I think that my father-in-law is most to blame for his knife getting to this point. He isn't a novice of knives or knife care, but he didn't even attempt to take care of this beautiful knife. :mad: I strongly advised him to apply a light coat of oil to the blades, or at least to use my Marine Tuf-Cloth but, to no avail, he never took heed. And now, he'd like for me to see what I can do to help him out.

Anyways, from the info that I've gotten from Case, knives that they make with the Chrome Vanadium steel have a high probability of developing rust. These knives require much more consistent maintainence in rust prevention which, I think, can get to be a hassle. I suppose that the main reason that they use this steel, in some of their knives, is because it is the "original steel" that was used in Case knives way back when.

I just received a catalog from a dealer that has some Yellow Handle Case knives, including the Trapper, with stainless steel blades instead of the Chrome Vanadium. I think that I'll look into getting one for myself.:rolleyes: According to the book, these Yellows w/stainless steel blades are a limited run, so it's best to get them while they last. :D
 
I bought a scout. I've had it a month or so, don't use it that much. It's getting rust spots on it. I thought Case knives were better than that. I paid 35.00 for it, I guess I got what I paid for. I'll give it to one of my grand kids and get a decent knife. Disappointed in Case for selling such garbage.
 
I would go the Flitz route myself. Tooth paste might work or car paste wax. Basically looking for something with a very fine abrasive. Buffing is an abrasive also, just very fine. That's the final step in the blade polishing process at the factory. You can buff yourself if you have a grinder with a buffing wheel. It will take some effort to remove light rust spots.
 
Wyatt Thomas said:
I bought a scout. I've had it a month or so, don't use it that much. It's getting rust spots on it. I thought Case knives were better than that. I paid 35.00 for it, I guess I got what I paid for. I'll give it to one of my grand kids and get a decent knife. Disappointed in Case for selling such garbage.
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Case doesn't make garbage and It's not the fault of the knife The problem is that it's a carbon steel blade in an environment that allowed it to rust.
Case makes an excellent product, but If you really don't like the knife send it to me;) ;)This so called piece of garbage will last a lifetime if cared for.
 
A little care goes a long way. But a rust spot is not the end of the world with a carbon blade.
 
Man wakes up a 15-year old thread to complain that carbon steel rusts.
It was a stupid complaint 15 years ago.
It is still a stupid complaint.
I think we are done here.
 
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