LC200N Caribbean

[sal]

Peter just finished testing the Caribbean models in LC200N. The first shipment just came in with the ceramic ball bearings. The plain edge tested well, about 30% better than plain edge H1. The serrated version tested about 4.8 times better than the plain edge.

We are also learning that H1 may be better at corrosion resistance than LC. We're finding that LC200N by itself is quite resistant to corrosion, but other materials attached to the LC may cause minor corrosion on some cases due to; galvanic reactions of material or accelerants like sulpher in the other materials. This was the case with the LC Mule that came back corroded. We're still testing. (I also need to know if we replaced that Mule?)

sal

[cabfrank]

Thanks!

[Mushroom]

Great to hear! This is an exciting model for sure!

Interesting to hear of the notable performance differences between plain and serrated LC200N! Makes the serrated model all the more tempting! :spyder:

[elena86]

Ceramic ball bearings :confused:

[Evil D]

Ceramic ball bearings :confused:

I'm assuming he's referring to the detent balls.

[SpyderNut]

Ceramic ball bearings :confused:

I'm assuming he's referring to the detent balls.

That was my understanding as well.

[Nord]

Man I sure hope there are no ball bearings in the Caribbean or any Salt knife ever, just another place to get gunked up, especially in a knife that will see a lot of that if used for fishing etc. I'm sure Sal just misspoke though.

We are also learning that H1 may be better at corrosion resistance than LC

Given that it is only galvanic corrosion that is the issue then the answer would be to not use any dissimilar metals in the lock bar etc, or have them DLC'd like the coming Native 5 Salt (though I assume the DLC would wear on the contact point, so may not be a solution)

If lc200n is used for all metal parts, then the galvanic corrosion problem is gone.

It is a little disappointing honestly. I think we all had a lot of enthusiasm for Lc200n precisely because it would just as corrosion resistant as h1 but be stronger. If it's stronger but less corrosion resistant then for me it is a downgrade from H1. At least it is a solvable issue of galvanic corrosion and not an actual problem with the material itself.

Thank you Sal for updating us, I look forward to seeing how this plays out

[The Meat man]

Peter just finished testing the Caribbean models in LC200N. The first shipment just came in with the ceramic ball bearings. The plain edge tested well, about 30% better than plain edge H1. The serrated version tested about 4.8 times better than the plain edge.

We are also learning that H1 may be better at corrosion resistance than LC. We're finding that LC200N by itself is quite resistant to corrosion, but other materials attached to the LC may cause minor corrosion on some cases due to; galvanic reactions of material or accelerants like sulpher in the other materials. This was the case with the LC Mule that came back corroded. We're still testing. (I also need to know if we replaced that Mule?)

sal

Thanks for giving us this update Mr. Glesser! I'm excited to see these new Salt models moving forward.

[spambait11]

It is a little disappointing honestly. I think we all had a lot of enthusiasm for Lc200n precisely because it would just as corrosion resistant as h1 but be stronger. If it's stronger but less corrosion resistant then for me it is a downgrade from H1. At least it is a solvable issue of galvanic corrosion and not an actual problem with the material itself.

I agree with the sentiment above. Depending on Sal’s answers to the above, my preorders for the Caribbean and Autonomy 2 may be canceled. Shoot. All that waiting for nothing.

[Diamondback]

Thanks for the update. Stuff happens; every problem leads to new solutions and the advancement of new knowledge. If it's not one thing it's another...we learn to accept and often like it that way. :spyder:

[sal]

Ceramic ball bearings :confused:

I'm assuming he's referring to the detent balls.

That was my understanding as well.

That is correct.

sal

[sal]

Hi Nord,

Welcome to our forum.

Hey Spambait, Nord. Sorry for your disappointment. Though I will say that your LC200N knife will be corrosion free with very minimal care.

sal

[dplafoll]

Man I sure hope there are no ball bearings in the Caribbean or any Salt knife ever, just another place to get gunked up, especially in a knife that will see a lot of that if used for fishing etc. I'm sure Sal just misspoke though.

We are also learning that H1 may be better at corrosion resistance than LC

Given that it is only galvanic corrosion that is the issue then the answer would be to not use any dissimilar metals in the lock bar etc, or have them DLC'd like the coming Native 5 Salt (though I assume the DLC would wear on the contact point, so may not be a solution)

If lc200n is used for all metal parts, then the galvanic corrosion problem is gone.

It is a little disappointing honestly. I think we all had a lot of enthusiasm for Lc200n precisely because it would just as corrosion resistant as h1 but be stronger. If it's stronger but less corrosion resistant then for me it is a downgrade from H1. At least it is a solvable issue of galvanic corrosion and not an actual problem with the material itself.

Thank you Sal for updating us, I look forward to seeing how this plays out

There's still a place for degrees of corrosion resistance. Having LC200N in the lineup gives users the ability to choose a different balance of CR and edge retention, where CR is higher than almost every other steel but edge retention is superior to H1. Another step on that spectrum would be S110V in that it's very corrision-resistant, but not as much as LC200N, but then also has more edge retention, and so on. As long as there isn't some sort of widespread corrosion issue with the LC200N models, I doubt it'll be too much trouble to use them in a corrosive environment.

[blueblur]

Thanks for the update. It’s always great to hear this type of information, especially with new models and materials.

[ABX2011]

I'm wondering if that outperformance of serrated compared to plain edge is true across all steels? How is it tested?

[Surfingringo]

Stainless hardware will eventually rust on any knife given enough exposure, including the H1 Salts. When using a highly corrosion resistant hardware like what Spyderco uses on their salt knives it takes a LOT to make it rust. I have tortured my tusk and Spydiechef just like my other Salts and they have fared about the same as their H1 counterparts.

I’m going to be doing some experimenting soon with DLC coated hardware. I’ll update here if I get interesting results.

[rybu0305]

Thanks for the update Sal. I’m so glad this knife is going to be released soon.

I’m not concerned with it having slightly less corrosion resistance.

[curlyhairedboy]

Thanks for the update, Sal!

[The Meat man]

What I would like to see is a serious, no-holds-barred test between H1 and LC200N for corrosion resistance. None of this soak-it-in-saltwater-for-an-hour-and-see-what-happens stuff - I want to see them exposed to saltwater for a month - or until one of them begins to rust.

[ThePeacent]

much appreciate the info. :spyder:
Thanks Sal, these are awesome knives and your innovation and tests with the steel very cool! :cool: