KABAR maintenance?

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dudethatlikesblades

Joined
Nov 6, 2014
Messages
43
Hey all!
I've been considering buying a bk10 for a survival/hunting knife but I just want some tips on how to maintain it because we all know that 1095 rusts. Which leads to my first question-will I only need to oil the knife when it gets wet or after every use? Say if I used to baton outside on a sunny day and put in my closet without oiling it would it rust after a certain amount of time? Is there a oil I can use to prevent rust that isn't harmful because I want to skin game with this knife.

Thanks in advance! ;)
 
I have the BK14, and I do very very very little maintenance on it. I use it similarly to your applications, and it really has no problems. Every once in a while I'll wipe it down with some oil, but it really doesn't demand much. Haven't used it for skinning, but I have used other 1095 steels and they did develop some color. As far as keeping it sharp -- no problem. Super easy to sharpen.
Maybe I should actually answer your questions now though...
No, you don't need to oil it after every use, I don't, and it hasn't rusted at all on me, just the coating wears off. If you leave it wet in a humid area though, it absolutely will rust.
Mineral oil works if you're looking for something more food-friendly.
 
Yes, mineral oil.
The blade coating, if you leave it in place, will do a good job of protecting it from rust. As it wears away, corrosion will be more of a concern. However, the edge is not protected, and can/will rust if not cared for. As for mainenance after batoning, it depends on the wood. If it is very dry wood, a quick wipe to clean should be sufficient. The best thing you can do is avoid putting it away damp or dirty (I don't mean dirt dirty)...but that should be a habit with any knife, regardless of whether it's "stainless" or "carbon".

Many of us strip the coating, and allow (or encourage) a patina to form. Patina is still a form of corrosion; but it helps protect against the red rust that damages the blade
 
You might want to try looking *outdoors* for a *coyle* pricing (hinthintwinkwink) for a BK10...
 
Tuff Cloth. They are pretty cheap and work very well. I have many Ka Bar and BK knives and whenever I come to the end of a day of working outside with them I wipe them down totally with Tuff Cloth. Rust inhibitor/lubricant does not attract dirt. If your Ka Bar is really nasty at the end of a heavy task wipe it off before you hit it with the Tuff Cloth. Been using them for years along with spray bottle Tuff Glide which is the liquid the Tuff Cloths are soaked in. Just oiled up my many Ka Bars and BK's today matter of fact. Cheap and most knife retailers sell it.
 
Take a micro fiber cloth and lightly soak it in mineral oil, then stick it inside a plastic bag. A zip-lock or glad twist tie bag comes to mind, place it inside a backpack and take it with you for when you need it.

You could also get a pack of bottles that are BPA-free, food safe plastic. Their designed for shampoo, soap, medication, coffee, etc...do a search for "Contain-Alls Set". Put a small amount of Mineral Oil U.S.P. inside one of the smaller sized bottles and take it with you for when you need it.
 
WD 40 will clean and protect the blade. Wipe it on/wipe it off.
It's pretty safe to use on knives that will be used on game. WD 40 contains mineral oil.
 
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