Rust on VG-10 from Spyderco?

[kkokkolis]

Is this normal to find dozens of tiny rust spots on Ladybug's VG-10 steel after some hours per day exposure to sandy environment near the sea? Mine did! I tried to polish it, the rust went away but the spots are there. I've never seen something like that with any Victorinox. The Opinel I used by the sea had nothing, neither the Bahco I used in the sea.
I thought that VG-10 was stainless. Perhaps I was wrong and that's why they sell this H-1 Salt steel.
Spots are very small to be seen in an iPhone pic.

[jekostas]

Is this normal to find dozens of tiny rust spots on Ladybug's VG-10 steel after some hours per day exposure to sandy environment near the sea? Mine did! I tried to polish it, the rust went away but the spots are there. I've never seen something like that with any Victorinox. The Opinel I used by the sea had nothing, neither the Bahco I used in the sea.
I thought that VG-10 was stainless. Perhaps I was wrong and that's why they sell this H-1 Salt steel.
Spots are very small to be seen in an iPhone pic.

Well, two things.

1.  "Stainless" doesn't mean it won't rust, it just means it won't stain as much.  So yes, it's pretty normal to find rust spots on any steel exposed to a high-moisture environment.
2.  Victorinox uses steel with much less carbon, and puts a mirror polish on all of their products.  Both of these tend limit corrosion.

[nate j]

"Stainless" doesn't mean it won't rust, it just means it won't stain as much.  So yes, it's pretty normal to find rust spots on any steel exposed to a high-moisture environment.

Yes, stainless steel stains less, as they say, but that doesn't mean it is impervious to rust under all conditions.  Salt water is particularly hard on steel, even most stainless steels.

[jzmtl]

Yeah it could rust if you don't wipe it down after salt exposure. Seaside also has a lot salt in the air, I remember seeing Grant's jeep's towhook, only a few months old and rustier than my years old one. They both get sprayed by winter road salt, except he lives near the sea and I live inland.

[Ashley]

Sea salt is hard on any steel. If you want a knife steel that won't rust in sea salt try spyderco's H1 or Benchmades H2O

Ash's mobile on the move.

[kkokkolis]

It looked like it was air sprayed.
But I had my Swisschamps by the sea side for years (the last one for 15) and nothing happened. That's what I call Rosyfrei. The screws on my Casio Pathfinder remain shiny after hundreds swimming sessions. I wear during shower also.


Ἄφοβον ὁ θεός, ἀνύποπτον ὁ θάνατος· καὶ τ’ ἀγαθὸν μὲν εὔκτητον, τὸ δὲ δεινὸν εὐκαρτέρητον.
Φιλόδημος Γαδαρεύς

[bmot]

I think Victorinox has always been an exception with rust... Their very polished finish helps a lot, in comparison to the less polished Spydie, too, I believe.

[jekostas]

It looked like it was air sprayed.
But I had my Swisschamps by the sea side for years (the last one for 15) and nothing happened. That's what I call Rosyfrei. The screws on my Casio Pathfinder remain shiny after hundreds swimming sessions. I wear during shower also.


Ἄφοβον ὁ θεός, ἀνύποπτον ὁ θάνατος· καὶ τ’ ἀγαθὸν μὲν εὔκτητον, τὸ δὲ δεινὸν εὐκαρτέρητον.
Φιλόδημος Γαδαρεύς

Both of those steels have substantially less carbon in them than VG-10.  They're not comparable.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yeah it could rust if you don't wipe it down after salt exposure. Seaside also has a lot salt in the air, I remember seeing Grant's jeep's towhook, only a few months old and rustier than my years old one. They both get sprayed by winter road salt, except he lives near the sea and I live inland.

There is a lot more at play than just the salt, although that is a huge factor.  The salt in the air is much worse than the salt on the roads (although we have both) as it is accompanied by moisture- kid of like planting a seed stuck in a ball of fertilizer.  It is a perfect environment for growth.

Add to that the rapid and large temperature changes here (I have seen it fluctuate almost 20C in 24 hours many times) and you have a recipe for corrosion that produces perfect results every time.

Def