Rust is one of the most common enemies of a quality knife. Whether you work near salt water, sweat heavily, or simply live in a humid climate, choosing a corrosion-resistant blade steel can save you hours of maintenance and keep your knife performing optimally for years.
The most rust-resistant steels in production today are H1, LC200N, and Vanax — all nitrogen-based alloys that are effectively immune to corrosion. Spyderco's Salt series (Pacific Salt, Atlantic Salt) uses H1 steel specifically for marine environments. LC200N, found in the Spyderco Siren and Manix 2 Salt, offers even better edge retention than H1 at the cost of slightly more difficulty in sharpening.
For everyday carry where perfect rust resistance isn't required but good corrosion resistance matters, VG-10, M390, S35VN, and CPM-S30V all perform excellently. These steels are used in knives from Spyderco, Benchmade, Kizer, and Zero Tolerance.
At the budget end, AUS 8 and 8Cr13MoV offer decent corrosion resistance with easy sharpening, making them solid choices for users in moderate environments.
The worst steels for rust resistance are simple carbon steels like 1095, D2, and 5160 — all of which require oiling and drying to prevent patina and rust formation.