Looking for a knife that will stay "clean"?

J

JDX

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Mar 2, 2014
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I'm doing landscaping and masonry as a summer job between semesters. Every day I'm cutting through bags of sand and the sand always gets in the pivot and I have to clean it every day (mostly my spyderco paramilitary 2) but even when it's just in my pocket, I get really dirty, sand, grass clippings etc. is there any knives that I won't have to clean after every day? And unfortunately fixed blades aren't an option. Budget is $150. I dislike clip points and lock backs. Thanks
 
I don't understand the question. Some knives are easier to clean than others, but there is no such thing as a knife that won't get dirty if you cover it in dirty stuff.
 
If you use a folding knife on dusty and gritty stuff, it will get crap in the pivot. Nothing you can do to stop it.

Options are a fixed blade or clean it, or use a cheap folder for work.
 
Any folder will get dust, sand,grit in the pivot.

What I do is flush my knife with hot running water every night. Blow it dry and it is good to go for another day.

Also, don't lube the pivot.
Unless you use a dry lube.
 
Hmm.. who wants to put in on a new Kickstarter campaign for a folder knife with little bristles mounted to the insides of the liner which clean the blade each time it is opened or closed?

Added available feature: ball bearing pivot with fewer ball bearings and added texture which clean the pivot surfaces when the knife is open/closed or simply shaken.

Sold separately added lanyard with scrub sponge end piece.


Think I'm onto something here.
 
you can use a sacrificial knife (as in knife you sacrifice to be dirty all the time) or use a utility knife.
 
Buy an Opinel... they are inexpensive, easy to clean and an amazing work knife.. check the opinel No.8 garden knife.. is about 10 $
 
The cleanest you can get is a friction folder or a slipjoint. Fewer mechanical parts.
 
scubisino said:
Buy an Opinel... they are inexpensive, easy to clean and an amazing work knife.. check the opinel No.8 garden knife.. is about 10 $
Click to expand...

BINGO.

The friction pivot is nearly impervious to sand and dirt and the lock is strictly optional.

Alternatively, get a wax based bike chain lube like White Lightening which is somewhat self cleaning. Just relube as needed and dirty wax will just slough off. This is how folks who ride in dry sandy places deal with chains.

The Opinel #10 Inox is a beast. 5 minutes with a file turns it into a drop point like the top one here:
https://flic.kr/p/gmoD1U
 
CRKT and Ken Onion just came out with a knife just for you it seems. The Homefront. It apparently comes apart and reassembles very quickly.

No such thing as a knife that won't get dirty, but at least this one gets clean with minimal effort.

crkt-homefront-k270gkp-cm-large.jpg

crkt-homefront-k270gkp-cm-apart-large.jpg


Maybe you could provide a good user review. My knives just get apple juice and lint in the pivot.
 
I'm surprised you don't just get a utility razor knife for what you do. PM2 isn't exactly cheap, razor's are. Save your good knives and waste the cheap stuff.
 
T.L.E. Sharp said:
CRKT and Ken Onion just came out with a knife just for you it seems. The Homefront. It apparently comes apart and reassembles very quickly.

No such thing as a knife that won't get dirty, but at least this one gets clean with minimal effort.

crkt-homefront-k270gkp-cm-large.jpg

crkt-homefront-k270gkp-cm-apart-large.jpg


Maybe you could provide a good user review. My knives just get apple juice and lint in the pivot.
Click to expand...

Uhhhhh...what's with that little gear/spur deal on the end there? What is that supposed to do?
 
Taken from a non-paying member dealer site:
"This in-field, no-tool take apart capability lets you purge your most reliable companion of a hard day's grime right where you are, without ever returning to your workbench. The breakthrough "Field Strip" innovation comes from the shop of world-renowned knife craftsman Ken Onion and has been over ten years in the making. To disassemble the Homefront when the knife is in the closed position, push the front release lever away from the blade, then spin the turn release wheel on the rear of the handle away from the pivot shaft—once you feel the handle release, pull it up and away from the blade. Reassembly is as easy as reversing the procedure, al-lowing for practical, quick maintenance where you stand."
Blade steel = aus 8
Quoted from their rather long description.
 
michaelm466 said:
ZT 0500 Mudd, but it's discontinued, and usually seen outside your budget
Click to expand...

I hadn't seen one of these. It's like a steam punk mud guppy. What you'd expect to see if Greg Medford had a hand in the evolutionary process.

"Darwin was a hack! You can't pry open a car door with a finch. Look at my new Tactical Mud Guppy."

ZT0500.jpg
 
NJBillK said:
Taken from a non-paying member dealer site:
"This in-field, no-tool take apart capability lets you purge your most reliable companion of a hard day's grime right where you are, without ever returning to your workbench. The breakthrough "Field Strip" innovation comes from the shop of world-renowned knife craftsman Ken Onion and has been over ten years in the making. To disassemble the Homefront when the knife is in the closed position, push the front release lever away from the blade, then spin the turn release wheel on the rear of the handle away from the pivot shaft—once you feel the handle release, pull it up and away from the blade. Reassembly is as easy as reversing the procedure, al-lowing for practical, quick maintenance where you stand."
Blade steel = aus 8
Quoted from their rather long description.
Click to expand...

I think it's a little overpriced, but most first gen offerings are. As well as most CRKT products. Does look like a nifty design though.

Would save me the trouble of taping off pivots while sharpening.
 
That CRKT Homefront looks like a neat gimmick.

If it's street price was less I'd pick one up just to test out at work.( Open pit gravel mine where I run a granite splitter.)

But $100 is too much for a knife I'd never carry afterwards.
 
One thing to note that for some reason I haven't seen mentioned anywhere is that you can adjust the pivot tension via a torx screw on the back. They expect it to develop blade play after 20-30 disassemblies but you can just add a bit more tension to relieve the issue.

That was my only real fear with the design.
 
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