I've collected and used knives made of carbon steel for many years.
I coat each with a product made by
White Lighting they now call "Clean Ride". It is a liquid suspension of wax in a relatively quick evaporating carrier. I consider it to be like Ren Wax in a squirt bottle and it spreads into nooks and crannies. I just dribble it on, smear around with a finger and allow it to dry to a white waxy haze. If I'm just storing the knife I don't buff the haze clear, but if I want to use them or display them I'll buff lightly to clear the haze on the knife.
I store my knives for the most part in a wooden map cabinet, but anything that isn't air tight and is kept in temp/humidity that is comfortable for us will do.
I also add a VCI cartridge to the drawers of the cabinet. I use the small Bullfrog cups, but I'm also using Zerust in the safe.
There are many good options for preventing rust and good articles have been published in the knife enthusiast magazines, but I've had very very good results here in humid East Tennessee using this method.