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Do Folding Knives really need maintenance?

B

blandies

Joined
Aug 18, 2011
Messages
159
I just purchased my first good *and pricey* knife. It is a folding knife with g10 handle scales and a 154cm blade. The instructions it came with said to occasionally use "break-free" to lube the pivoting parts and to keep the blade coated lightly with machine oil.

Is any of this really necessary? I've kept cheaper folding knives for years without ever coating the blade or lubing the joints. Since this is my first expensive knife I want to be sure I do things right. Are the instructions just something the company put in for added assurance or is this something everyone should be doing with their folding knives?
I do want this beauty to last a lifetime.
 
Every 4 or 5 months I'll drop a few drops of lubricant into the pivots on my EDC blades, I just do it for assurance that it will keep a smooth opening, but that's just me.
 
Depends on whether you want to maximize the useful life of the knife. It has moving parts. Keeping grit out of the pivot and keeping the pivot lubed reduces wear.

Typically, cheap knives, that often need more maintenance, get less. Quality knives will usually stand more abuse, but get better care.
 
Just about anything on the planet that is made of moving parts requires maintenance, think about it. Guns, knives, cars, etc.
 
RevDevil said:
Just about anything on the planet that is made of moving parts requires maintenance, think about it. Guns, knives, cars, etc.
Click to expand...
Exactly. You should definitely lubricate the pivot and any other moving parts.

Depending on where you live (e.g., in a humid climate), where you'll be using the knife (e.g., near water), how much you sweat, the chemistry of your sweat, etc. coating the blade with oil or some other corrosion inhibitor may also be strongly recommended. And even if it's not mandated by the factors just mentioned, it's so little trouble to put some oil/Tuf-Glide/whatever on the blade that there's no reason not to do just as an extra precaution.
 
Whenever they need I take my knives and rinse them with hot water, work a drop or two of dishsoap into the pivot and the lock, then scrub the bejeezus out of the pivot and the lock interfaces with an old toothbrush, rinse thoroughly with hot water then dry the knife off and add a drop of oil to the pivot and lock and its good to go for another few months.

And as with anything else a little maintenance and care goes a long way towards preserving the function of your knife :thumbup:
 
You wouldn't buy a Ferrari and then skip oil changes. Just so with your knives, regardless of the price. What did you get btw?
 
If you clean the pivot with water and any of the parts are not stainless, WD-40 has developed to displace water. It's a poor lubricant (weak film strength) but will insure that no water is hiding on interior parts. Follow with suitable lubricant (e.g. mineral oil).
 
blandies said:
I just purchased my first good *and pricey* knife. It is a folding knife with g10 handle scales and a 154cm blade. The instructions it came with said to occasionally use "break-free" to lube the pivoting parts and to keep the blade coated lightly with machine oil.

Is any of this really necessary? I've kept cheaper folding knives for years without ever coating the blade or lubing the joints. Since this is my first expensive knife I want to be sure I do things right. Are the instructions just something the company put in for added assurance or is this something everyone should be doing with their folding knives?
I do want this beauty to last a lifetime.
Click to expand...

I oil my non-stainless blades.
When I have a new stainless knife that is stiff, I oil it.
Otherwise, not so much.

I've carried knives for years without oiling them (same knife, everyday, for more than 10 years) and it did just fine. It still gets carried and it still works fine.

If you want the ultimate in smoothness, oil it.
If you get it soaking wet, oil it.
If you have a stainless blade that all you want it to do is work, oiling is optional.
 
blandies said:
It is a folding knife with g10 handle scales and a 154cm blade.
Click to expand...

What it be?

Like knarfeng stated, I oil my new knives if they are stiff and they seem to stay smooth for a very long time. Of course i will oil them if i got gunk or water in the pivot.
 
I only have very little experience with folders, but the ones I do have do then to get a lot of ling and derby inside the handles and mechanisms. It does cause slower opening of the knife, and since I do carry them as weapons, that a big problem for me, so a do clean and lubricate them the same time a clean a lubricate my riffle and gun.
 
Not much maintenance required. Nothing too hard really. Just some common sense - nothing more.
 
I keep my pivots and blades on even stainless knives with a thin coating of mineral oil at all times. Just to make sure I don't get unnecessary staining on a blade that cost hundreds of dollars, taking steel wool to my pricey ones would be sad lol.

I'd say it's always better to maintain then to let be, things should in theory always perform best. Your mileage and preference may vary.
 
In short, yes.

To maintain optimum functionality of your tool, give it it's due maintenance. That of course varies on how much you put it through, usage and environment. A tool will still work if not cared for, but such practices will cause it to degrade more rapidly in time. Since you want yours to last a lifetime, like any other tool or anything of value for that matter; take care of it and it will take care of you.
 
The famous old saying ( which is always repeated in Traditionals ) says it all.
"Oil the Joints"
Depending on use of course may call for the odd warm water wash out, blow out and mineral oil, not a tedious task, but an enjoyable one.
I find that if I keep a few of my Carbon slipjoints out without the needed film on them, they can get away on you if you dont keep an eye on them , with the insurance of the drop of oil spread on a rag, they will start to slightly speckle.
I think its a part of owning these great knives, and that is when you give them the odd maintenance oil, you get to thumb them and appreciate them as well.
 
I purchased a hogue 4" tanto folder for $239.99 *expensive to me for a knife*. I love the little thing though.
I will get a can of break free then and some mineral oil and keep the pivots lubed with break free and a light coat of mineral oil on the blade.

It was my thinking that lubing the pivots would actually attract more debris since any little dirt or dust would stick to it since it's lubed. Am I wrong here? I've never used break free before.

And how often should the knife be lubed &coated? I don't want to over-do it.
 
Just don't overdo the pivot lube, a drop here and there will do. I'd pay special attention to the button lock though, that would worry be more regarding keeping it clean and functioning properly.
 
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