Care for a fiddleback?

klags

klags

Joined
Oct 20, 2015
Messages
102
I was hoping to get some input on what to do in terms of care for my fiddleback?

What kind of oil do you guys use to protect the handle and blade?

Do you use a stropping leather with compound to keep the blade honed/sharpened?

Are there any particular "do's and don'ts" for these knives?

Thanks for any guidance.
 
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ence-care-optimization-and-improvement-thread!

This is a good place to start. Also, the "maintenance" sub-forum is a great source of info. The guys there are friendly and helpful, and the search function can lead you to a TON of great threads on any specific questions you might have.

FWIW, I like Strop Man compounds and Flexcut Gold compound. The Flexcut Gold usually comes with an inexpensive strop which I have found to be VERY functional. For less than $14 you get a tool that will allow you to create a shaving sharp edge on your Fiddleback.
 
I have had some rust form on a couple of Fiddlebacks (and others). This has occurred when moisture (sweat, rain, water) has gotten into the sheath and the knife sat with that moisture for a day or two.

While high carbon steels are fantastic is so many ways, they can stain and rust. The staining you see with normal use, especially cutting acidic foods, is a normal thing. I like the way a knife develops subtle stain patterns. Often these stains are buffed out when you strop an edge. To avoid rust, I try to wipe and dry my blade during the day and before sleeping. Don't store your knife in a leather sheath.

In re handles, I don't do anything for micarta scales. For wood scales, I will occasionally rub them with linseed oil, furniture oil, or even Balistol gun oil. I should probably do that more often.

Most of my knives look like they've been used...because they have been.
 
Rotte said:
I have had some rust form on a couple of Fiddlebacks (and others). This has occurred when moisture (sweat, rain, water) has gotten into the sheath and the knife sat with that moisture for a day or two.

While high carbon steels are fantastic is so many ways, they can stain and rust. The staining you see with normal use, especially cutting acidic foods, is a normal thing. I like the way a knife develops subtle stain patterns. Often these stains are buffed out when you strop an edge. To avoid rust, I try to wipe and dry my blade during the day and before sleeping. Don't store your knife in a leather sheath.

In re handles, I don't do anything for micarta scales. For wood scales, I will occasionally rub them with linseed oil, furniture oil, or even Balistol gun oil. I should probably do that more often.

Most of my knives look like they've been used...because they have been.
Click to expand...

Yeah, my knives will be put to use too. How do you store your knives, if not in their leather sheaths? That's likely an important tip that I want to pay attention to...

I was looking at stropping compounds online. Thanks for the recommendations on that as well.

When the knife arrived, it appeared to have been oiled on the blade. Do you guys oil the blades when storing to protect them as well??

Can I use the oil that people use for butcher's blocks for this as well? I've never looked into what kind of oil that was, but there is some lying around the house somewhere.
 
TxSportsman said:
klags... click this link
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the links, Gentlemen, much appreciated. As is the patience with a sharpening noob. I need to learn how to do this right, now that I own a good knife. Luckily I have a pile of shitty old ones in my kitchen to practice with. Just have to find one with a convex blade to make sure I'm getting it right.

Looks like I'll be buying a strop and some compound, that seems to be the right place to start for me so far... not ready to get into really removing metal and full out sharpening just yet.
 
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