Knife Storage Methods

RevDevil

RevDevil

Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
44,314
I'm sure many forumites have seen the knife storage videos on the web. Some guys use nylon magazine bags, others use pelican cases, the coolest I've seen so far IMO is Tonydahose's (Spyderco forums) system.

I'd like to know and see what you all use to store your knives. To keep this somewhat organized, name the storage device/method and how many and what kind of knives currently live in it. Post up some pictures and let's see where your workers and safe queens sleep.
 
I use a old watch crystal case with 8 lined drawers. If I had the money, I would get a large Gerstner case.

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The knife roll I got for $30 or so works well for me. It keeps my knives from rolling around, and the roll is very compact and portable. This shot of my knives was when I first joined this site a year ago or so. I have since gotten a number of Benchmades, a few more Spydercos, and a couple fixed blades. I just throw the fixed blades and their sheaths in a drawer because I only have a few of them. As for the Benchmades that are discontinued, I keep them separately in their original case so the handles won't get scratched.

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I bought one of those big cheap wooden storage cabinets, dislocated a finger and almost had a hernia lugging it through the mall, out to my car, then had to figure out how to get a seven foot long box wedged into my Hundai Elantra. After I got it together I was diasppointed with the shelf space I had so I made some smaller shelves to the inside, I'm not done yet but I'll post the whole thing when I am. I keep my fixed blades on one shelf and my folders I keep in various glasses cases and boxes I have. Others I keep in two Spyderpacs which have their own shelf specially built to house them. I also built a an axe rack for the big open compartment in the closet.
 
Craftsman lockable tool chests.

I'd use a gun safe if I thought it wouldn't fall through the floor.
 
Im more of a collector so I prefer Dodecapods. The fleece keeps my knives from getting scratched up.
 
I use Sack Ups.
Relatively cheap (New Grapham has them) and provides pretty good protection (silicone impregnated cloth) in most any storage container you want to use. Them come in several sizes and configurations.
 
I use a pelican 1400 case. About 14"w x 10"d x 6"h. It has these nice little 1x1x1 cm foam grid pieces that you can pick out and store a knife tightly. Not to mention it locks via padlock, wicks moisture (w/ dessicant) and is waterproof when closed up. Runs you about 70 bucks online, and has lifetime guarantee. Also if you mess up the foam removal stage you can buy a replacement one pretty cheap that glues into the bottom.

DC
 
I use my dresser. I generally just put them on the top. Some of them are stored in a drawer. Very fancy, n'est ce pas?
 
Most of mine are in Bills Custom Cases.

One thing you must avoid is any "air tight" container. These are not for long-term storage.

Another thing to avoid is desicant packs. These things aren't magic; they don't make moisture go away. They absorb and hold the water much like a sponge. But, like a sponge, they can, under the right circumstances, release that water. Temperature changes can do it. Many years ago, before there was bladeforums.com and we all chatted on an old Usenet newsgroup, there was a sad cautionary report from a collector who was going to be out-of-the-country on business-related travel for over a year. He put all of his stuff into storage. Concerned about rust, he put his collection of excellent, famous-maker Bowie-style knives into one of those water-proof ammo boxes. To be sure, he added some desicate packs. When he returned, he opened to box to find every knife hopelessly rusted and every sheath rotting. His question: How could this have happened? The concensus was the desicant packs released water into the sealed box.

The other thing to be very careful about is "foam" as you often find in Pelican or other cases. The cells of the foam can trap water near the knife.

Be very careful about colored materials. I was once shown a wonderful, Jody Samson ground, Bali-Song Cutlery custom weehawk with genuine, old-stock ivory inserts. What a great knife... until I turned it over. The ivory was a stark green. It had been sitting for years and years in a display case lined with green felt and the dye had migrated into the ivory.

The other secret is Ren Wax. And Ren Wax isn't just for museum pieces either. Any knife that's going to be stored for very long should have a quick Ren Waxing. Oh, and Ren Wax out of the jar is poisonous because the solvent is a petrolium distilate. But, that solvent evaporates when you apply the wax and the resulting layer is a) microscopically thin, and b) USDA-approved food-safe. So, go ahead and Ren Wax knives which will be used for food too.
 
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GWashington1732 said:
I bought one of those big cheap wooden storage cabinets, dislocated a finger and almost had a hernia lugging it through the mall, out to my car, then had to figure out how to get a seven foot long box wedged into my Hundai Elantra.
Click to expand...

Nice visual I got from that, I was lol'ing hard, thx.

I bought a Spyderpac (30) filled it up within a week (got about 36 knives in it). Also have a Rubbermaid tub that holds my very meager collection of fixed blades. I'll post some pics this weekend.
Bob W said:
Craftsman lockable tool chests.

I'd use a gun safe if I thought it wouldn't fall through the floor.
Click to expand...

I'll be getting one of these in the future, very nice possibilities for storage of all knives, lights, watches, etc.:thumbup:
 
Gollnick said:
One thing you must avoid is any "air tight" container. These are not for long-term storage.
Another thing to avoid is desicant packs. These things aren't magic; they don't make moisture go away. They absorb and hold the water much like a sponge. But, like a sponge, they can, under the right circumstances, release that water. Temperature changes can do it. Many years ago, before there was bladeforums.com and we all chatted on an old Usenet newsgroup, there was a sad cautionary report from a collector who was going to be out-of-the-country on business-related travel for over a year. He put all of his stuff into storage. Concerned about rust, he put his collection of excellent, famous-maker Bowie-style knives into one of those water-proof ammo boxes. To be sure, he added some desicate packs. When he returned, he opened to box to find every knife hopelessly rusted and every sheath rotting. His question: How could this have happened? The concensus was the desicant packs released water into the sealed box.
Click to expand...

If you had a container that was actually air tight it might be ok, but that is a huge IF. It is extremely hard to get a real air tight seal. While most ammo cans may be water resistent, I doubt they are totally water proof and certainly not air tight.
The problem with the silica is that if the container is not totally air tight, the silica removes the moisture, then nice fresh moisture gets pulled into the dry environment and the process repeats...so it's really worse than no silica at all.

I doubt the silica released the moisture. Depends on the type, but it takes quite a bit of heat to make silica give up the moisture.

Apparently another mistake he made was storing the leather with the knives. Something one should never do. Depending on how it was processed, leather gives off various compounds, some acidic, and none good for knives....particularly in a closed environment like an ammo can. Hadn't really thought about it, but I'm wondering if the many handles materials are giving off anything..don't know how inert they are.

Bottom line, you're correct that that method is most likely not going to work.

The REN wax you mentioned is excellent for long term storage.
I've had good luck using a liberal coating of Break Free on knives and guns that were put away for long periods (years).
 
pelican 1600 case. see my youtube review you can get there via my sig. the most awesome storage (show)case!!!
 
I just leave my knives laying around....
When I want to put them away, I'll usualy put them in their box or their (nylon) steath...
If I get more, I might buy a knife roll.
 
zyhano said:
pelican 1600 case. see my youtube review you can get there via my sig. the most awesome storage (show)case!!!
Click to expand...

I am familiar with your videos zyhano. You have a very cool collection of knives too I may add. I caught a little glimpse of what you stored in the Pelican. I agree it's an excellent way to store knives.:cool:

Nomad333 said:
I just leave my knives laying around....
When I want to put them away, I'll usualy put them in their box or their (nylon) steath...
If I get more, I might buy a knife roll.
Click to expand...

That is what I said last year. I started really collecting knives again last year. I had about 3-4 users always laying around (1 stockman, 1 Gerber folder, 1 Benchmade Nimravus, and 1 Sog Flash 1). I bought a couple Spydercos and a Benchmade Mini Grip... I am now totally hooked. I'd like to get a couple more fixed blades and am looking for a decent way to store them. Maybe a softshell duffel style tool bag.
 
RevDevil said:
That is what I said last year. I started really collecting knives again last year. I had about 3-4 users always laying around (1 stockman, 1 Gerber folder, 1 Benchmade Nimravus, and 1 Sog Flash 1). I bought a couple Spydercos and a Benchmade Mini Grip... I am now totally hooked. I'd like to get a couple more fixed blades and am looking for a decent way to store them. Maybe a softshell duffel style tool bag.
Click to expand...

I only have 1 balisong, 3~4 folders, and a fixed blaed without scales.
EDIT:
And I just ordered a Benchmade Model 51 today :D
 
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