Deep Cuts: Is Magnesium on Knives a Fire Hazard? Debunking Myths About the Work Sharp RMX

Deep Cuts: Is Magnesium on Knives a Fire Hazard? Debunking Myths About the Work Sharp RMX

The internet is buzzing about Work Sharp's choice to use magnesium for the handle of their new RMX knife. Is it flammable? Is it going to corrode? Many online seem to think it's a terrible idea. But, are they right? Mostly, they're not.

Let's cut through the noise and get to the facts. This post is based on the Deep Cuts YouTube video, where we dive into the magnesium debate and more.

Now, let's find out why everyone might be wrong. Watch the full discussion on YouTube!

Deep Cuts: Reconnecting with the Community

The Best Damn EDC community is important. That's why there have been so many attempts to bring back the EDC Weekly. But it always felt a bit forced. No matter how many tweaks were made, it felt outdated.

So, it morphed into a newsletter. Which is great! Except it turned into late nights getting it done. The newsletter isn't going anywhere. Sign up for the EDC Weekly newsletter to stay in the loop on gear drops and exclusive content! weekly.bestmc.com/subscribe

But there was still a desire to do something more interactive.

That's where Deep Cuts comes in. Think of it as a way to reconnect through YouTube and audio. What can you expect?

  • Gear showcases of cool new stuff.
  • Heads-up on product drops.
  • Answers to community comments.
  • Fun giveaways.

The focus is on having fun with the EDC community.

Pocket Dump: What's In Your Pockets?

What's in my pockets? On this particular day, after forgetting all my usual gear at home, it was:

 

Magnesium: Flammable Myth vs. Corrosion Reality

Let’s talk magnesium. @Obsidian_One on YouTube dropped this take in our recent video on the Work Sharp RMX:

He’s not entirely wrong. Magnesium does burn at a ridiculous 5,610°F, and once it’s going, good luck putting it out. That’s all widely documented.

But to ignite it? You need to shave it down—like the firestarter blocks—and heat it to about 883°F. As a solid bar, like a knife handle, it’s way harder to light. You’d need to hit it with direct flame…and stay on it for a while.

Obsidian_One’s skepticism isn’t misguided at all. One of the first things I asked Work Sharp when they told me they were using magnesium was, “Can you start a fire with it?”
They tried. They couldn’t. And there’s a reason for that: they’re not using raw magnesium. It’s an alloy—I don’t know the exact spec, but it’s clearly more stable and has an even higher ignition threshold.

And let’s be honest: if your RMX handle does somehow ignite, the fact that magnesium burns at 5,600 degrees is probably the least of your problems. You’re already incinerated by that point.

The more valid concern? Corrosion.

Dan Dovel—the mad scientist behind the RMX—showed us that uncoated magnesium will corrode if exposed to water. That’s not speculation. It’s just chemistry. Like anything else, it’ll need some care. The real question is: how long will it last? Or how badly will it corrode?

Even with Cerakote, constant button friction is going to wear through the coating eventually. What happens then? How quickly does it corrode? Can the button stick? Can you knock it loose? Will that affect tolerances? Is it fixable?

Dan’s carried a raw RMX for over three years. Several folks at Work Sharp have done the same. They had other prototypes in different materials on hand in Ashland—aluminum, steel, and titanium—and they still landed on magnesium alloy. That tells me they trust it.

That said… I still kind of want to grab a few RMXs and beat the hell out of them. Maybe even get my hands on a raw one and see what it takes to make it corrode to a point it’s unrecoverable.

Carry of the Week: 6x6 Matt's Unique Setup

Time to highlight a cool carry from the community. This week, it's 6x6 Matt from Instagram.

I may add a few things depending on the day, but these are the items that are almost always with me.

I still love my Alpaka wallet, as the zipper pouch keeps me from losing small items. I always have one (or two…or three) Covert Instruments items with me but the Riv Pick always stays in the wallet.

I didn’t think about including the Wazoo belt last time I was featured but if I am wearing a belt, this is this one. There are plenty of other goodies cached in there.

I still have the Panerai but the Breitling Navitimer 46mm in green is on my wrist more often than not.

Lastly, I decided to add the 711L ratchet to my minimalist keychain and the Railer bit holder keeps my trusty PB Swiss bits in place in case I need them while away from the house. If I take much more than this, I usually carry the Paladin33 Outback Omega Ultralight. I think I can blame Taylor for that purchase.

Matt

Here's a rundown of Matt's carry:


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