Your pocket knives take care of you, whether you need to dispatch an envelope or just cut up an apple or open a package. Therefore, it behooves you to take care of them; because, when you reach for a tool on a daily basis, 9 times out of 10 it’s that little blade. 

That being said, here are some top pointers for making sure you keep your pocket knives in top shape.

Clean, Dry and Oil Before Storing

First and foremost, the most straightforward and important aspect of pocket knife maintenance is making sure you never put the thing away wet or dirty.

Stainless steel is better than nothing, but any steel will rust if you neglect it. Therefore, always dry the blade before storing. 

If there is any residue left on the blade from any cutting chores you performed, wipe that off too, before storing. 

Also, make sure that you periodically oil both sides of the blade. This will help prevent rust in a big way. It’s also advisable to oil the pivot point lightly from time to time to keep it running smoothly. 

Compressed Air

There will be times when you need to clean out the space between a pocket knife’s scales. Water is not advisable for this, as leaving moisture in that area can accelerate rust and corrosion. 

A better option is compressed air. Just use a small can of this stuff to blast the lint out from between the knife’s scales. It is surprisingly effective at removing lint, dust, and other debris that can get into the pivot mechanism or lock and cause premature wear. 

Keeping the Pivot Point and Hardware Tight 

Over time, you may also find that some play develops in your pocket knife’s pivot mechanism. To a point, this is normal, and can more or less be easily addressed by tightening the fastener that secures the pivot point. 

You should also get in the habit of tightening the rest of the knife’s hardware as well, as over time these can walk loose and you don’t want to lose them. 

Most knives are made with small fasteners that accent a Torx wrench of appropriate size. Just be sure to keep yours tight so you don’t lose any hardware. 

Keeping the Knife Sharp 

Lastly, it is a good idea to keep your pocket knives sharp, as a sharp knife is a safe knife. The sharper the knife, the less effort you will need to expend when cutting, which means you won’t have to strain and will be less likely to slip. 

Most pocket knives have edges sharpened at angles between 15° and 17°, some a little more or a little less. Try to match the angle at which the knife is already sharpened. If you don’t know it, you can also establish a new angle by placing the blade flat on the stone and then raising the spine about the height of a dime. 

This will establish an angle that is appropriate for the vast majority of pocket knives, since most are not used as choppers, and few need an edge any finer than that. 

Give your knife a few passes at this angle as though you are trying to shave off the top layer of stone, and then sharpen the other edge in the same manner.

Looking for a Place Where You Can Explore New Pocket Knives?

Looking for a place where you can get new pocket knives? Visit BUDK. A dedicated knife store, BUDK carries a wide range of knives and tools from some of the top brands, like Benchmade. If you’re here to round out your EDC rotation, BUDK is a great place to start.

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