Knife Storage

Reeper22

Reeper22

Joined
Nov 3, 2009
Messages
630
I got a Ka-Bar Black Fighter. It is about an inch long than the full-size USMC. When I put it in its sheath the handle protrudes out a bit and I can't fit it in the box. I'm a beginning collector and won't really use this knife. I want to keep the box but it's annoying keeping it separate from the knife.
My question is: Is it
a) better to keep it in the sheath and out of the box or
b) better to have it laying on top on the sheath in the box? Or, does it matter either way? Thanks!
 
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if you dont intend to use it leave it out the sheath...depending on your areas climate moisture can cause corrosion within the sheath, I personally dont worry about it and just oil my blades at regular intervals.

I'd personally use the kabar though, can throw anything at them...very good users.
 
Thanks for the reply Robert. The sheath isn't leather. It is some kind of synthetic material. I don't get the impression that it would trap moisture but then again I really don't know. It sits in its box in my closet in a 72-ish degree room in NYC. Thought I'd add that bit in case it was relevant.
 
Reeper22 said:
Thanks for the reply Robert. The sheath isn't leather. It is some kind of synthetic material. I don't get the impression that it would trap moisture but then again I really don't know. It sits in its box in my closet in a 72-ish degree room in NYC. Thought I'd add that bit in case it was relevant.
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I wouldn't worry either way, they have a protective coating...the sheath then is the kydex, last just about forever :) a knife like that doesn't really command much maintenance other then touching up the edge when you use it.

Welcome to BFC. :thumbup:
 
I've been keeping most of my knives in their sheaths for years -- actually, some decades -- now, with no problem. And that includes carbon steel blades in leather sheaths. I'll take them out now and then to use them, or give them a swipe of Tuff cloth, but generally speaking knives store just fine in sheaths, in my experience.
 
I'd prefer to keep it out of the sheath so I can fit it in the box to making storing a little easier. That's fine right? I'm so paranoid with 1095.
 
If you're collecting just to collect you could buy one of those boxes from the art store, then you can tie your knives into it with wire and hang it like a picture frame.
 
Aside from moisture, one of the main problems is that most things (leather, cloth, etc) have a greater affinity for oil than the metal does. Meaning that they tend to leach it off. This is less so with lubes like Break Free or most silicone lubes which tend to stay on the metal and not get leached off.

Ideally the best storage is probably laying on a metal or plastic shelf with nothing touching it, but that's usually not practical. The guns I have are wrapped in a cloth and stored in zip cases. They have been thoroughly wiped down with Break Free using the cloth they are wrapped in. I've done this for years and never had a problem.

My non-using knives are in a box, some in sheath and some not, wiped down with Break Free but not wrapped up. Some have been stored that way for 20+ years with no problem.
 
Alann, I keep my guns wiped down with Break Free in the box cases they came in. For example my USP is in the HK box with egg crates. I've heard the crates trap moisture but so far I haven't had any issues. What are your thoughts on that type of gun storage? To get back on topic, I collect some knives but I'm not going to frame any. I live in NYC and am in law school. I really have next to no practical reason to own a knife like a Ka-Bar but I feel compelled to buy and own knives I like. My plan at the moment is to lay it on top on its sheath so I can fit it in the box.
 
i think that as long as you arent putting it in the sheath and then leaving it in a basement for 10 years you should be fine.
 
For the ones that have sheaths I store them in the sheaths and never had a problem. :thumbup:
 
Don't store any knife with brass fittings in a leather sheath. The the leather will cause the brass to corrode.
 
Reeper22 said:
Alann, I keep my guns wiped down with Break Free in the box cases they came in. For example my USP is in the HK box with egg crates. I've heard the crates trap moisture but so far I haven't had any issues. What are your thoughts on that type of gun storage? To get back on topic, I collect some knives but I'm not going to frame any. I live in NYC and am in law school. I really have next to no practical reason to own a knife like a Ka-Bar but I feel compelled to buy and own knives I like. My plan at the moment is to lay it on top on its sheath so I can fit it in the box.
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Should work out ok. I'd probably still wrap them in a cleaning cloth with BF on it, but thats just me. I have a S&W59 thats been stored that way for years and its fine even without the cloth.
Any cardboard is going retain moisture to a lesser or greater amount. Trying to eliminate moisture with silica or the like is futile unless you have an air tight storage box of some kind.

Practical reasons for knives? Oh yeah, we're suppose to only buy them to be practical; I forget that! :)
I had/have numerous fixed blades which I was attracted to years ago...Randall, Gerber, Buck. Never found an occassion to carry them (Im really not an outdoor person). When I returned to knives last year after being away from it for a long time, I switched to folders and am swapping/selling off my fixed blades.
 
A.P.F. said:
Don't store any knife with brass fittings in a leather sheath. The the leather will cause the brass to corrode.
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:thumbup:EXCELLENT ADVICE!! Lets BOLD than and make it bigger.

I made the mistake of putting away a couple of Randalls in their sheaths and sort of forgot about them. Later when I got back to them I couldn't believe the green yuck growing:eek:. Cleaned up "ok" but marred the guard on one a touch. Hard lesson.
 
Alann45 said:
Practical reasons for knives? Oh yeah, we're suppose to only buy them to be practical; I forget that! :)
I had/have numerous fixed blades which I was attracted to years ago...Randall, Gerber, Buck. Never found an occassion to carry them (Im really not an outdoor person). When I returned to knives last year after being away from it for a long time, I switched to folders and am swapping/selling off my fixed blades.
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Lol. I don't even have a practical purpose for folders unless opening letters counts. But I spend my money on what I choose even though my friends think I'm ridiculous.
 
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