| When you are ready to buy a new hunting knife, one | | | | sheath unless you are in the field or need it to be |
| of the most important issues to consider is whether | | | | there. |
| you want the blade to be made from a stainless | | | | Stainless steel knives tend to be more expensive |
| steel or high carbon steel. There are several very | | | | than high carbon knives due to the fact that more |
| distinct advantages and disadvantages of both types | | | | work goes into making the knife stainless or "rust |
| of steels and I am writing this article to share these | | | | proof". Many hunters are mislead by the word |
| factors with the reader so that you can make an | | | | "stainless" and believe that their stainless steel hunting |
| educated decision when it is your time to buy. | | | | knife will not rust under any condition! This belief is |
| As a general rule of thumb, high carbon steel is | | | | false and many hunters are upset to find rust spots |
| harder than stainless steel and will stay sharp for a | | | | and corrosion on their favorite hunting or outdoor |
| longer period of time. The downside of having steel | | | | knives after only several uses. I recommend that you |
| that is so hard is that when the knife eventually loses | | | | use the same caution and maintenance procedures |
| its sharp edge, it will be more difficult to re-sharpen. | | | | with a stainless knife as you would with a high carbon |
| Hunters are particularly fond of high-carbon steel for | | | | knife in terms of rust prevention. Stainless steel is |
| their field knives because they need a knife that will | | | | softer than high carbon steel and accordingly can be |
| keep its edge while skinning large animals. | | | | sharpened much easier. |
| Re-sharpening a dull knife while the animal that you | | | | It is a good idea to keep a light coat of |
| just killed is decomposing can be very tedious and | | | | non-detergent based oil on your high carbon-hunting |
| frustrating. What many hunters fail to remember is | | | | knife when it is not being used. I especially |
| that the high carbon content in their knife makes it | | | | recommend 3-in-1 oil; as it seems to be effective for |
| much more prone to rust. Moisture is the main cause | | | | rust prevention, yet gentle enough to not corrode |
| of rust on most hunting knives. This moisture can | | | | the blade in any way. Many knife buyers like to use |
| come from blood, rain, or water that is used to clean | | | | gun oil when it comes to lubricating their favorite |
| the blade. Always remember to thoroughly dry the | | | | hunting knives. This is a good practice, but I would |
| blade of your knife (high carbon or stainless) after | | | | advise that you make certain that the oil does not |
| use if it comes into contact with any moisture. | | | | have any type of acid or other substance in it that |
| Storing your hunting knife in its sheath (knife holder) | | | | could corrode the blade of your knife. Lubricating |
| for long periods of time can also cause the blade to | | | | your stainless steel hunting knife with oil is usually not |
| rust as moisture tends to develop inside of the | | | | necessary, but a light coat of non-detergent based oil |
| sheath and sits on the blade which causes corrosion. I | | | | should not cause any harm. |
| recommend that you do not store your knife in its | | | | |