What kind of steel is used for liners, etc.?

[Knutty]

I was considering buying a Ladybug Salt, and a thought occurred to me: Sure the blade is rustproof H-1, but what kind of steel is used for the liners, the lock, and so on?

The same question applies to a ZDP-189 knife: If I buy a Spyderco with a ZDP blade, that doesn't mean the liners (etc.) are also ZDP, does it? I feel a bit silly asking (because I don't think the liners are ever made of ZDP), but I've never seen this discussed.

[Donut]

I'm pretty sure only the blade is made from the premium steel. For all other parts, you want something that is more rust resistant.

Salt knives come linerless with mostly titanium hardware. There have been a few professional divers who have commented that they think the spring is not as rust resistant, and that they break in a few years when diving every day. I expect that if you are not a professional diver, you will never notice an issue with the spring.

[Drkknight614]

My atlantic salt hasnt seen much salt water per say, but it sits clipped to a pocket on my fire bunker gear. Every once in a while if I havent used it I check it. Its gotten wet so many times, and I dont bother to take it out and clean it. It hasnt rusted one bit. My ladybug salt from county comm has been tested though. I have worn it in a pool for extended periods of time...no issues. When I went to South Beach Miami, it sat in my pocket. Went to the beach everyday, was in the water for hours....no issues. The salt series is indeed RUST PROOF. Cutlerylover on youtube did an extended test tryingto get it to rust...didnt happen. Actually I forgot a part did rust on my ladybug. Right where it says H1, the 1 has some discoloration. It hasnt spread anywhere though, and do not see it becoming a problem.

Also, if for some reason the spring did break due to rust...spyderco would replace it no doubt.

And as far as ZDP, I think with back lock spydercos, the back lock is the same steel. Im not positive but my thought is it has to be or at least a steel similar in hardness. Zpd 189 is a tough steel and if you made a lock for it with a soft steel the zpd would wear it out over time.

[jacobwilson99]

The parts of a ZDP knife are not ZDP. Think of how specialized every knife would have to be, every different steel having it's own different hardware in a specific steel. And even getting a steel as expensive as ZDP, keeping the prices down, and essentially wasting such a high quality steel on parts that don't need to be of such quality.

[Donut]

That is something good to note. Every time I go swimming, maybe 12 times per year for the past 3 years, I have either my Tasman or Dragonfly Salt. They have seen salt water, pool water, and look and operate fine. I don't dry them off or give them any more attention than just wearing and using. There are some scratches from use, some wear on the clip, but no rust or discoloration.

[rycen]

The discoloration in the logo is from the tooling used.Once cleaned it will never reappear.