Cleaning Blades In The Field

[dartanyon]

I was washing up (lovely job) and while taking care with my kitchen knives I thought about how much care I dont take with my bush blades.
Wipe on the grass, poke in hot water and then a shine on my pants ... not always in that order. Yep, have been known to use sand and dirt while scrubbing the pots
Any better ideas other than carrying a purpose washer?

 

[Bushman5]

I take better care of my woods blades than i do my kitchen blades

 

[Joezilla]

about the same for me as far as poke in hot water. I just use 'em and get 'em dirty and enjoy the "shine"

 

[bcornelis]

I do the wash and pants wipe method most of the time (now using snow for washing) but recently have been carrying a small micro fiber cloth in my pack for the wipe part.

 

[dawsonbob]

Being the fastidious type, I clean my blade by sticking it into the ground two or three times to knock the big chunks off, wipe it on my trousers, and put it away. Okay, so I'm not really fastidious.

 

[BoxANT]

A Tuff Cloth really does not take up that much space

 

[akabu]

You can use Olive Oil to wipe and clean or ash/sand or if you have a fire arm use CRC-2-26 to lube and clean /protect biodegrade/food safe

 

[dartanyon]

akabu - I forgot about ash/charcoal from the fire ... cheers

 

[Calebklyne]

i wipe them on whatever and give them a good sharpening and cleaning at home

 

[fujita yuji]

Occasionally I use packed snow.

 

[Thalestin]

water and then wipe on pants. I have also been known to use spit lol

 

[nodh]

I usually carry a small bottle with alcogel hand sanitizer, like everyone and his brother does during swine flu season. I however used it before it became "popular" and I use it to start fires and clean my knives. First wipe off as much as possible with water then give it a scrub with the alcogel. I know I might miss inside the handle but it is clean enough to cut food with anyway.

 

[ZombaiO]

Wash 'em and wipe 'em in my pants

 

[jw2n]

Do not stick them into the ground. You do more damage to the knife in a few thrust into the earth than you will do in a year of ordinary use. There are any numbers of elements and compounds in soil that are as hard, or harder than your steel. Nevermind the scratches, it will take an edge of instantly. I clean the best I can - pants/grass/water, and lastly pour leftover boiling water over the blade. My knives are used for food prep, as well as everything else.

 

[Patrickknives]

Kill a bear, skin, reduce fat, coat knife. (first clean with fresh chopped stick)

Or maybe a little oil.
As a knife maker sometimes I look at the knives I use for everyday and camping/hiking and really do feel sorry for them. I know there are better homes, but they probably will not have as much fun.

 

[dawsonbob]

Do not stick them into the ground. You do more damage to the knife in a few thrust into the earth than you will do in a year of ordinary use. There are any numbers of elements and compounds in soil that are as hard, or harder than your steel. Nevermind the scratches, it will take an edge of instantly. I clean the best I can - pants/grass/water, and lastly pour leftover boiling water over the blade. My knives are used for food prep, as well as everything else.

I was kidding about sticking them into the ground, jw2n (not that I've never done it). I take better care of my blades than that, but it's not a religion: my knives are all users.

 

[hollowdweller]

I take better care of my woods blades than i do my kitchen blades

That's me.

 

[skitertank]

spit,water and my shirt work great in the field.

 

[HikingMano]

I take better care of my woods blades than i do my kitchen blades

Haha, +1

But I'm starting to take better care of my kitchen blades now that I'm getting better ones.

As for woods blades, I usually rinse em, and then wipe em on pants or on a bandana. I clean, sharpen, and oil them when I get home.

 

[Wandering_About]

I take better care of my woods blades than i do my kitchen blades

My woods blades are my kitchen blades!

In the wilderness, water and a wipe on the pants is about the best my knives get. I've never had the need to oil my knives when out and about. Cleaning gunk off with water well keeps them clean enough to prevent any sort of damage or corrosion occuring.

If I use a knife for game cleaning I will sometimes use a bit of soap just to get the gut funk and fat residue off.