Spyderco Pacific Salt Folding Knife

A kayaking knife suitable for use in a salt water environment has to be easy to access,  rust proof, and durable enough to hold an edge for a decent amount of time.  Knives claiming to be rust proof are usually made with steels that are unable to hold a cutting edge for any measurable amount of time.

The Spyderco Salt series of knives use H1 steel.  H1 steel is a precipitation-hardened steel, utilizing nitrogen instead of carbon to harden the steel.  It reaches a Rockwell hardness of 57-58rc and outperforms most other stainless steels in corrosive environments.  All internal steel parts are treated making them impervious to rust and pitting.

  The blade has a prominent thumb ramp with jimping and an opening hole with a large 14mm diameter for easy opening/closing.  The blade is coated with a titanium carbonitride to prevent light reflecting off the blade.

The black "Fiber Reinforced Nylon" handle is textured in a light checkerboard pattern for excellent grip retention, even when wet and is fitted with a reversible titanium pocket clip.  The addition of a lanyard hole offers a backup method of attachment for use around water where once dropped, a knife is often lost or elusively hard to retrieve.

The lock on the Pacific Salt was stable under white knuckling pressures and various heavy grips, with the stability in the latter enhanced by the milled out section of the lock bar which aids in preventing accidental releases.

Conclusion

This knife suits the required purpose, and I would highly recommend it as a general purpose knife for kayaking purposes

.My personal findings on the Spyderco Pacific Salt  after 6 months of use as a kayaking knife:

• No signs of corrosion evident (washed in fresh water after each trip).
• Holds edge well and easy to resharpen.
• Easily worked with natural stones.
• Comfortable and secure handle with secure locking mechanism..
• The black titanium carbonitride coating on the blade scratches easily.