How to clean and open a flipknife the right way ?

J

JediPimp

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Jun 5, 2015
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Hey you knife experts, so a friend of mine gifted me a knife today he isn't using anymore. It was in use a long time and now it is a little bit dirty and sticky inside the handle and on the blade. Is there a particular way to clean that out ?
Also if someone could tell me the name of the knife it would be very kind. Also I really would like to know how to open it the right way. I tried it with the opening-lever on the top but the blade barely comes out a little bit and it feels very uncomfortable, the same thing with the little dot on the blade. Hopefully someone can help me :)
Sorry for my question but I'm only a beginner when it comes to knives and such stuff.

Greetz, Toni.


At the end a picture of the knife I ment.

IMG_1671.jpg
 
I rinse with warm water and dry with a folded paper towel. The thumb stud, assuming that's the "dot" you refer to, is how to open it. Grab a hold of the knife, put your thumb on the stud, and swing your thumb in the direction of the pivot. I'm sure there's youtube videos that would give you a visual of how to work it.
 
Yeah thats the thing I ment. I tried to do it that way but it doesn't work. Mabye it's because of the dirt sitting in there. What do you think about using WD-40 on it ?
 
Depending how gunky it is, warm water might not do it but that's where I'd start. Maybe some detergent in the water,then rinse with clear water. For a real mess, I've used Gun Scrubber or spray carb cleaner. Then lube it with a light oil. You should then be able to open it easily with either the "opening lever" on the back or the stud on the blade. I can't read it in your photo but it looks like there is lettering on the blade close to the handle. That might be a clue as to the name or maker of the knife. I'm no expert but I'm guessing this is not an expensive knife, so it may never work as well as a better blade.

WD 40 is neither a cleaner nor a lubricant. WD stand for "water displacement" and that's what it should be used for not to clean or oil your knife.
 
If you want to clean it I would rinse the pivot area with lighter fluid. Let it drip dry. Then you can use any decent gun oil from rem oil, lpx, hoppes. There is a ton of stuff at walmart. I prefer not to use WD40. It usually isnt thick enough to stick around. Also I dont care for washing my knives in water. If you dont get it all out things can corrode. The knife you have seems to be a coast if I am reading the blade right. Coast is known for low cost entry level blades. Nothing wrong with that, its just not anything special.
 
JediPimp said:
Yeah thats the thing I ment. I tried to do it that way but it doesn't work. Mabye it's because of the dirt sitting in there. What do you think about using WD-40 on it ?
Click to expand...

Put the red straw in the WD-40 nozzle. Put the straw tip as close as you can to the pivot works/bushings as exposed through the front or back of the knife.

Give it a full half-second blast right into the pivot. POW ! Do this again from the other side, preferably 180-degrees around the other side. BIFF !

You will now have a totally wet knife. Start opening and closing the blade, not fast, not slow. Do this a few times then wipe down the rest of the knife, which should be drenched in WD-40 by now....might help loosen some of the gunk that's left.

When you get the rest of the knife as dry as possible inside and out, start opening and closing the blade at a normal speed, maybe varying it some, for 50-100 openings. Have a rag or Kleenex handy as you do this and continue to dry off the pivot area as the '40 works out of there.

After that it should be feeling smoother. After you open and close it as much as you want set the knife aside for a day or two in the garage. Let the WD evaporate totally. You can work the blade during this time now and then if you want. Won't hurt it. Dry the pivot if it still looks wet as you do this.

Day or two later the knife should be in reasonable, basic working condition provided there was nothing major wrong with it to begin with. NOW you can start your own clean up of the knife.

Anytime you wash the pivot area out with water be sure to follow with just a shot of WD-40 to totally dry it out.

WD-40 will clean. It has a slight solvent effect. And it will lube. It leaves a light lubricating film. It's slightly better than water for either. It's main purpose though is drying. It doesn't replace oil for lubing or a dedicated cleaning agent for cleaning.

EDIT: I don't oil or grease my good folders at all. I run them dry. Flippers too. But if they get gritty or sticky I do flush them as described.
 
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If yours is a frame lock, don't squeeze the handle as you're trying to open the knife. Also, if you're using the thumb stud, press it so that it swings out, don't press down on the stud with your thumb.
 
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