How to store fixed blade knives

J

johnfbkennedyy

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Feb 22, 2021
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Hi all! I know many posts have been made on this subject but not very recently. I have a knife collection, my folding knives I simply store them in my drawers. The problem is, I have many fixed blade knives that came with leather sheaths, these knives range from steel material of stainless steel to damascus and with stag horn or wood handle/scales material.

My question is, how should I store these knives? Some are big, like 10 inches full length, some are small. Im thinking on maybe a wooden box with some carpet material maybe? Also I'm guessing I would leave the sheaths separately in the cardboard box they came in.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!
 
I store mine without the sheath, usually hanging on the wall in my office, but as mentioned above, if you do store then in the sheath and/or if the blade is high carbon steel then a coat of oil (I use mineral oil) keeps the rust away.
 
I keep the factory boxes and store most of mine in the box but outside the sheath. If they didn't come with a blade sleeve I make my own. I have also bought boxes meant to store sports cards to store ones that didn't come with boxes. I do have a few with kydex sheaths that I leave in the sheath after wiping down with gun cloth. They are all kept in several 10gal totes.
 
I typically just keep a light coat of oil and leave them in the sheaths. If they're a stainless I don't even oil them. I keep them in the boxes too, if I have a box.
I do alot of shopping at the local flea markets and at the occasional gun show events when we have them, so I don't always have the original boxes. What jlauffer mentioned about sport card boxes sounds like a good idea. I may try that.
I prefer kydex sheaths if it's an option. As a general rule, as long as you keep them dry and clean, you should be fine. I make it a point to keep them clean and stored in a dry tote/ box. I've never had any problems. I hope that's some help.
 
Shrub said:
I typically just keep a light coat of oil and leave them in the sheaths. If they're a stainless I don't even oil them. I keep them in the boxes too, if I have a box.
I do alot of shopping at the local flea markets and at the occasional gun show events when we have them, so I don't always have the original boxes. What jlauffer mentioned about sport card boxes sounds like a good idea. I may try that.
I prefer kydex sheaths if it's an option. As a general rule, as long as you keep them dry and clean, you should be fine. I make it a point to keep them clean and stored in a dry tote/ box. I've never had any problems. I hope that's some help.
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Thanks a lot it is of very help! If they are leather I should stay away from storing the knife inside the sheath right?
 
All of my fixed blades are carbon steel.

I store those I’m not planning on using for a while in the leather sheath after wiping them down with tuf cloth marine.

Those I regularly use get stored in the sheath after coating the blade with mineral oil.
 
Come to think of it, I have a couple old Cold Steel push daggers that are stored in their leather sheaths, as the boxes aren't big enough to do otherwise. Have had them for 20+ years and no issues. Seem to remember reading somewhere that how the leather is tanned/processed makes a big difference in whether there may be a problem or not, but not sure how one would tell unless the maker specifically calls it out.
 
i haven't had a single issue with just using a tuff-cloth or a light wipe down with Slip 2000. I use Johnson's paste wax on my saw tables, works great. there are many options that will work fine, including good old mineral oil.

it will help greatly if they are in an enclosure that will either stop or dampen the speed at which the temperature changes within, and certainly shouldn't be stored with the blade touching anything that will hold moisture.
 
I store mine in the sheaths, which are sealed with SnowSeal to prevent them from absorbing moisture. I wipe down the blades with BreakFree CLP. And they are kept in a dry environment, the exception being my original Blackjack Campanion, which lives in the SUV in case Armageddon occurs and I need a stout blade. It's epoxy coated except for the edge, which has a coat of grease.
 
Mossyhorn said:
I store mine in padded, zippered pouches with an elastic band on back for a sheath.
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Exactly.

Storing in any container where they lay on a foam layer is a sure way to develop rust. Storing touching leather invites verdigris, especially if there's any brass involved.

I highly recommend using renwax on anything you're storing for more than a few months.

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