Salt

Rust is the nemesis of all cutting tools—particularly those designed specifically for use in and around the water. Spyderco’s remarkable Salt Series tackles this age-old problem through the groundbreaking use of nitrogen-based blade steels like H-1®, H-2, LC200N and CPM Magnacut. The result is a diverse selection of knives that are incredibly resistant to corrosion and ideally suited to the needs of divers, fishermen, military personnel, and water sports enthusiasts.

H-1 is a specialized austenitic alloy that uses 0.15% nitrogen instead of carbon to achieve its steel-like qualities. In addition to making it extremely corrosion resistant, it also makes it a “work hardening” material. Unlike the heat-based hardening and tempering used for conventional steels, H-1 hardens through the mechanical processes of shaping and grinding the blade. This unique property also makes it significantly tougher than carbon-based steels.

H-2 is a specialized austenitic steel that is incredibly corrosion resistant. It also does not rely on the heatbased hardening and tempering processes used for conventional steels. This unique property makes it significantly tougher and more ductile than traditional carbon-based steels.

LC200N is a nitrogen-rich martensitic steel that achieves its hardness through a conventional heat-treatment process. While it does contain a trace amount of carbon, its high nitrogen and chromium content give it superior corrosion resistance and toughness, even at the high degrees of hardness required for knife blades.

CPM MagnaCut is a powder metallurgy steel conceived by Larrin Thomas, a Ph.D. in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. MagnaCut challenges traditional stainless steel chemistry by reducing the amount of chromium in the steel to a precise range while adding vanadium and niobium. The result is a blade material that offers an extraordinary balance of wear resistance, toughness, and corrosion resistance.

Through the use of these extraordinary alloys, other corrosion-resistant materials, and the latest advances in technology and manufacturing methods, Spyderco continues to wage a relentless war on rust. And like everything else we do, the more we learn, the better our products get.