How-To protect blade edge when shipping knife

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dbSanDiego

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I tried searching but didn't find a post that was on point.

I need to ship a knife. What is best method to protect blade edge? I can't really afford to buy any new product. But at my house I have paper, cardboard, boxes, a lot of tools, old packages ...

For a previous shipment I wrapped the blade very tightly with plain paper--got the idea from watching a seppuku scene in Shogun.

Thanks for any suggestions.

best,
--dave
 
I assume this is a kitchen knife or some other fixed blade with no sheath? If so, I'd wrap the blade in paper and then bubble wrap and tape it up tight so that it can't rattle around in the box.
 
When I've shipped a fixed blade off to a kydex maker I favor, he instructs me to keep the sheath so it doesn't get misplaced, and construct a sheath of folded cardboard. Naturally being sure it is well taped and the box is padded so as not to allow any movement.

Never had an issue with doing it this way.
 
For a fixed blade I would suggest wrapping the blade in a thick stock paper or some thinner cardboard and wrap the whole knife up in some packaging material. If it is a folder the job is much easier, because all you need to do is put a strip or two of tape around the knife while closed to prevent it opening then put some packaging material on it.
 
Joe58 said:
When I've shipped a fixed blade off to a kydex maker I favor, he instructs me to keep the sheath so it doesn't get misplaced, and construct a sheath of folded cardboard. Naturally being sure it is well taped and the box is padded so as not to allow any movement.
Click to expand...

When I have received new fixed blades from custom makers, the blades have generally been wrapped in a plain cardboard wrapper...works very well. Not to worry. I ALWAYS ship in a USPS Priority flat rate box; never had a problem.
 
I do this: wrap blade in paper. Wrap with tape. Fold cardboard around the paper. Wrap with tape. Fill bottom of box with crumpled up paper. Put the knife in. Crumple more paper on top of knife until box is full. Close box and wrap tape around box in several different directions. Shake the box. If you can't hear the knife rattling around in there, you're good to go.

Here is how NOT to ship a knife (I received one I ordered on eBay this way).... Wrap blade in one layer of paper towel, tip exposed. Throw in box with three, yes THREE, crumpled up paper towels. Wrap tape once around seam of box, and ship. Results? Box gets crushed all to hell and shows up with the tip poking 1/4" out the end of the box. Also, along the way, the knife continually stabbed the end of the box in several places.... I was not amused. And this was a $200 knife... Jeebus.



^^^look at all the damn poke marks! And the totally crushed box! I was pretty pissed to say the least, but the knife had no damage so I didn't say anything.
 
Wrap the blade sheathed in cardboard, wrap the whole knife in paper, tape the whole thing to the inside of a large flat box.
 
Joe58 said:
When I've shipped a fixed blade off to a kydex maker I favor, he instructs me to keep the sheath so it doesn't get misplaced, and construct a sheath of folded cardboard. Naturally being sure it is well taped and the box is padded so as not to allow any movement.

Never had an issue with doing it this way.
Click to expand...
Excellent suggestion.
Tape the blade with blue masking tape.
Create a cardboard sheath and make certain the blade cannot slide out or cut its way out.
Make sure that however it gets packaged, take into consideration the potential injury a carrier would sustain handling and delivering the package.
Do what you can to prevent damage or injury to the knife and the mail carrier. That should be the priority.
No such thing as being too careful in this case.
 
I get fixed blades shipped to me in all fashions. From being wrapped in 50 paper towels (every single one taped up) to literally a knife taped (with about 3" of scotch tape) to the side of a small square of bubble wrap with no other protection at all.

It's interesting because it kinda tells you something about the owner. One guy might be really layed back and think nothing bad could happen, or he might be very particular and pack to survive a nuclear blast.

When shipping them and their new sheath back, I try to emulate their style to a degree.

Mostly I use common sense. Knife is covered and taped. Sheath is wrapped in cloth and tied with string. Both are packed in a box with enough packing to insure that the contents don't move around. Easy.
 
I put a two-three strip thickness of duct tape laterally down the edge and seal it good to the sides. Then wrap the blade in anything cardboard and run duct tape around that in two or three places up to the handle.

Anything after that is optional before it goes in a box.
 
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