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Bowie Knife Blades And Rust
By: Blake Benson
Everything exposed to the atmosphere is constantly being attacked by various agents of decomposition. This is no different where metals are concerned, and a Bowie knife, no matter how expensive the blade, can and will rust. Fortunately, this doesn't mean you have to buy a new knife.
Knives can be cleaned of rust fairly easily. It's much easier, however, to properly care for your knife so that you don't have to go through the hassle of cleaning off the blade at regular intervals. Proper care makes knives last much longer.
Any type of steel can rust. The bluish-grey spots that develop on knife blades are not rust; they're oxidization spots and they're not harmful. Rust is a reddish color and it comes off in flakes. It can be removed. The good news is that you don't have to use any harsh chemicals to get the rust off of a Bowie knife. In fact, you can do it with white vinegar, citric acid or simple blade oil. Any of these products will remove the blemishes from your blade and get it back into like-new condition.
It will take time for any agent you apply to the blade to work on the rust. Plan on leaving a rusted Bowie knife sitting for at least a few days while the agent does its work. If you're using citric acid or white vinegar, you'll need to soak a cloth with it, wrap it around the blade and leave it to sit. Oil is used in the same way. After the blade has sat for a while, you can remove the cloth and work on the rust. Much of it will have dissolved with exposure to the solvent used. You can usually scrape away the remaining rust with a stiff toothbrush or a small metal tool, taking care not to hurt the blade.
The best way to avoid a Bowie knife getting rusted in the first place is to make sure that you never put the knife away wet or fouled with blood or grime. Always at least wipe the blade off before sheathing it. Preferably, you should have a rag handy that you can use to wipe down the blade thoroughly before putting it back in its sheath. The cleaner you keep the blade, the longer it will last and the less time you'll spend dealing with rust and other problems.
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