How long does an unused straight stay sharp?

[Kriton]

OK, I have sent the bulk of my blades to honemeister to sharpen, kept one in reserve, hadn't shaved for 4 days (shooting camp) - came back set up for a shave (stropping, hot towel, etc.), and it didn't go too well, pulling tugging, no nicks but just a real touch and go thing (rather disappointing) - razor just was not sharp enough to deal with growth, certainly not against the grain...I stopped, and finished up with the electric it-who-must-not-be-named.

My thoughts are this, if I had had the rest of my razors, I would have just found one that was sharper - but in this case, it just wasn't up to snuff, I didn't have the time to paste strop the thing - and had to move on -

So, when I get the stable back, I would like to put back a spanky honed razor, saved just for those emergencies when the rest are too dull, or too badly stropped to do the trick, and my question therefor is, how long could I hope to "save" a razor before I would need to rehone - could I keep one fresh indefinitely, perhaps even oiled - before needing to take it out and strop or worse? I will have enough razors to have a rotation without the "reserve" razor, but I am unsure whether just natural oxidation of the blade edge would foil my master plan?

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

K

[xman]

Without rusting, indefinitely. Make sure the razor is perfectly dry and cover the blade with mineral oil.

X

[Namdnas]

Another trick for storing metal items for long periods of time, in adverse conditions, is to rub a candle on the surface. Oil works great too, but has the tendency to evaporate faster. I remember reading that many soldiers would bury their rifles, etc... to retrieve after the war, with this method.

[Wildtim]

Another trick for storing metal items for long periods of time, in adverse conditions, is to rub a candle on the surface. Oil works great too, but has the tendency to evaporate faster. I remember reading that many soldiers would bury their rifles, etc... to retrieve after the war, with this method.

Don't use the candle if you get it close enough to the edge to protect it you will roll the edge by rubbing the candle on it.

[thebigspendur]

Get yourself some A.J Russell No Rust its a silicon thick gooy prep that will preserve any metal, knives or guns forever.

[Bear]

Can you also use Johnson & Johnson's Baby Oil - made with a high grade of mineral oil?

Or is it recommended to use just pure mineral oil? If so, where do you get it?