Knife Care and Maintenance:
Keep the blades dry and wipe finger prints and moisture off, after use, with a
soft all cotton cloth or chamois. This is particularly important with blades of
high carbon steel. Tarnishing is a normal property of carbon steel and cannot be
avoided. Applying a couple of drops of any quality oil or silicon treatment to
the blade with a soft all cotton cloth will provide excellent protection. A
good wax is also excellent protection. Check your knives often for possible
trouble spots. If any stains appear, try removing the stain with a standard metal
cleaner or polish. Blades of most stainless steels used in knives are not rustproof
but are rust or stain resistance. So therefore stainless steel blades should
still be kept clean and wiped dry after use, especially many of the new high
carbon stainless steels like ATS-34, and CMP-T440V.
Folding knives require special care:
When not in use, store knives and leather sheaths separately because leather
does absorb moisture and can rust your blade. Tanning salts and acids present
in the leather can rust or tarnish steel. Keep leather sheaths limber with leather
preservative or mink oil. Folding knives require special care. Keep the locking
device on folding models clean and free of debris. An occasional drop of light
oil at each joint will assure smooth blade action in opening and closing. Each
blade should click open smoothly and snap shut. This opening and closing is what
the old timers called "Walks and Talks" well.
Keep knives sharp. A sharp knife is safer to use, A sharp knife requires
minimal effort to cut and therefore has less a chance of slipping. The secret
of proper sharpening is to do it regularly. Use an sharpening steel, or other
mechanism frequently. If you have difficulty maintaining an edge on knives, have
them professionally sharpened
Never sharpen blades on a power-driven grinding wheel, which can bum the temper
from the blade. This is the type of highspeed grinder found in many home shops.
Remember that knives are cutting tools and blades are very sharp. Therefore,
please exercise caution when handling your knife. And, never use your knife as
chisel, pry bar, screwdriver or hammer. If your knife is a good one then a chisel,
pry bar, screwdriver or hammer will cost less than a knife replacement anyway.
Do not pound on the back (spine) of the blade. Keep sharp knives well away from
the reach of young children.
Always cut with the edge moving away from you. Knives can have sharp razor
edges so handle all knives with care and respect Do not use for throwing unless
specifically produced for that purpose.
If you carry a pocket knife in your pocket with coins or keys you will scratch
the handle and bolsters. The same is true if you put all your knives in a cardboard
box stacked one atop the other, they will all get scratched, which reduces their value.
Knife Collection Care:
Remember to take excellent care of your collection, as you are the curator during
your lifetime for future generations to enjoy. Moisture and finger prints are the
prime villains to avoid. Check your collection periodically and keep your knives
in a dry location. A good rule to follow is to make sure the room that you store
your knives in is comfortable for you to stay in, then it is more likely to be a
good storage place for your knives. The storage room should be low in humidity
and cool. Avoid areas with a high relative humidity or a great shift in temperatures.
(Relative humidity can be high in attics and basements, especially if they are
unheated or uninsinuated. Moisture from condensation can come into contact with
your knives if they are stored in such areas.) If you live where it is humid use
silica gel or other desiccants (a drying agent) to help keep your knives dry by
placing them in a strong plastic bag that has no holes and can be closed tight.
Make an asserted effort to wipe your knives at least once a month. Your collection
can lose value very quickly if yon allow your knives to deteriorate from lack of
care and maintenance. I also recommend using SIMICHROME POLISH.
FEBRURARY 2005