Looking for a knife that will stay "clean"?

JDX I work outdoors in sand, mud, and sometimes salt water. Heat and humidity keeps me drenched with sweat during the summer months here in SW FL. I wanted a knife that would stand up to the elements and went with a Spyderco Pacific Salt. You can just flush it out when you get home.
 
bt93 said:
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.
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Yup get a cheap box knife for the sand bags. Use the pm2 for the non-gritty stuff.
 
bt93 said:
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.
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i don't buy knives just to look at, I buy them to use
 
I would go for a fixed blade. After a long day of use I just take a course side of a sponge and go to work, handle and all, then leave it out to dry for a bit. If you do have a pocket knife clipped in pants, make sure the pivot is down, so tip up carry. That usually keeps mine ok enough to where I can use a air compressor blow gun at the end of the day. As for cutting thing that get it dirty, choose the right tool for the job. like people said, box cutter, fixed blade, maybe neck knife, whatever, but folders can be a pain for that purpose.
 
I have found fixed blades and sandy environments to be a bad idea. Its not the knife that needs cleaning, it is the sheath and they can be almost impossible to clean the grit out, kydex or leather. That will grind up the blade as you slide it in and out and ruin the edge.

After decades of desert travel, backpacking, hiking, camping...the knife I carry that is the most sand and grit resistant is indeed an Opinel. My slip joints started galling with the grit and liner locks would sometimes fail to lock well because of the grit (CRK). Opinels are made for that kind of field work. They take a beating and keep on working very well...a good time tested design for working in the grit...
 
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 $
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My favorite of the Opinels. I wish they did more with that blade and handle shape.
 
Having an open construction with standoffs instead of a backspacer which is much more likely to collect dirt, sand and pocket lint. You can easily clean the majority of it tapping it or running a cloth between the handles and then clean the pivot less frequently.
 
I would get a fixed blade. I have an ESEE 3 and Izula and both are great. Can take a beating and the 1095 stays sharp forever. Plus, they make them in a ton of sizes so you could get whatever you'd feel comfortable having clipped to your belt.
 
Have you ever tried something with a hawk bill style blade? The pivot's not going to be any more impervious to grit, but the blade shape facilitates draw cuts rather than slicing or sawing which should aid in keeping the pivot out of the sand to begin with.

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With this one, if it does get dirty you can just spray it off and go back to work. No need to worry about rust.

Lansky also makes a hawk bill knife that's a great value. 9cr18mov, which is a great steel and good build quality for under $30.
 
The Tops Mil Spie 3.5 has pivot designed with no bushings and no bearing. But there are frame cut outs that tend to hold dirt/grime
 
My emerson horseman get dirty and it stays that way Monday thru Saturday. I clean it on Sunday. I do landscaping and gardening. The dirt is inevitable.
 
T.L.E. Sharp said:
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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I'm confused at what you're trying to say. Are you saying I can loosen the pivot and it will be easier to clean via air compressor? Or?
 
No knife will "stay clean", but in terms of ease of cleaning, along with the CRKT mentioned, the Fox Hector framelock looks intriguing to say the least in terms of easy cleaning.
 
A Salt, evn though it's a lockback, might be your best bet

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Really easy to use, almost no maintenance, very lightweight, just put them under water or on the dishwasher, no liners, no real trouble, they're my go-to folders for dirty jobs

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ThePeacent said:
A Salt, evn though it's a lockback, might be your best bet

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Really easy to use, almost no maintenance, very lightweight, just put them under water or on the dishwasher, no liners, no real trouble, they're my go-to folders for dirty jobs

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that's a great point. I completely forgot that with the salt series I can just flush them out since they don't rust (duh) thanks again. I think I'll go for the hawkbill shaped blade
 
Boker, Buck, Case, and Gerber all make/made blade exchanging folders. These are very easy to clean by removing the blade and rinsing the parts. Google Buck Selector.
 
Might I suggest the svord peasant folder. It's a decent friction folder, and if you keep it clean it will out last you. I gave one to my dad for Christmas 2013, has abused every day on the farm and he doesn't take care of his knives. Despite being using to cut open bags of cement and mulch, baling twine, hoses, even house repairs it still has an edge. It might not be as flashy as the pm2, but it's a workhorse that's easy to clean and will do what you need.
 
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