My first carbon knife

A

alfbacca

Joined
Apr 12, 2007
Messages
95
So I finally picked up my first carbon knife, a Case Swayback Jack in Chestnut. I was pretty intimidated by carbon, mostly because I was afraid I wouldn't take care of it and it might rust somewhere in a corner. But after taking it out of its box and using it everyday for the past 2 weeks, I love this thing. It stays sharp even though I'm still learning how to sharpen freehand.

As far as cleaning goes, I wash and dry the blades each night after I use it and rub some mineral oil on the blades. I've also rubbed it a little mineral oil on the bone which seemed to have darkened it up a bit. Is there anything else I should do or am I heading in the right direction?

Plus I gotta say, I love it here. So many cool knives and great people!

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Just "oil the joint" and you're good to go.

Congrats on a fine little knife. :thumbup:
 
Welcome to the Traditional forum! Don't let the fact that it's a carbon blade keep you from using it. They take on great character with time.
 
Welcome to Traditional Forum. It is a fine place to be.
 
Welcome, this is the best (IMHO)forum, where everyone seems to carry themselves with civility and class! My fave forum. Also great choice for a first carbon pattern!
 
I much prefer carbon blades. I love the character they gain and the fantastic edge they take.
 
alfbacca said:
So I finally picked up my first carbon knife, a Case Swayback Jack in Chestnut. ... As far as cleaning goes, I wash and dry the blades each night after I use it and rub some mineral oil on the blades. I've also rubbed it a little mineral oil on the bone which seemed to have darkened it up a bit. Is there anything else I should do or am I heading in the right direction?/QUOTE]

Definitely on the right track. Welcome to the wonderful world of real knives for real lives. :) Depending on where you live (i.e. how salty the air is where you are, and how humid it is), I suspect in time you can ease off a bit on the nightly ritual. I've always found that keeping the blades clean and dry is the key, moreso than oiling the blades (do oil the joints from time to time to promote smooth opening/closing, of course).

As far as keeping the blades sharp, regular stropping will allow you to go longer between times on the whetstone.
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Welcome to the traditional forum, alfbacca.

A case CV is a great knife, and if treated well, you'll be handing it down to your son or grandson someday with all the memories attached to it.

Don't worry about the carbon steel, it's not going anywhere in this century. In fact, if I were you, I'd stop rubbing it down with minieral oil every night. With mine, I just wipe it off with a dry bandana after use. Go ahead and let it develope a nice deep patina. The more it darkens, the more the blade will be protected. Think of the patina (the darkening you see) on the blade as calluses on the palm of your hand, a protection to what's underneath. Like the parkerizing on the M-1 rifle, a bit of barrier from the ellements.

Definatly right on with the advise from mnblade on the stroping. Stroping nightly will mean less sharpening, which means a long life. In 1938 my dad was given a Case peanut. He stropped it nightly after dinner, and when he passed away in 1981, he still had that little knife. I carried it for several years before I sent it back to case for a new main blade and repair to a cracked handle scale. The knife is still around to this day. Case makes a heck of a product, and factory support is as close as a phone call. Very nice people.

Just keep it dry, don't worry about the natural darkening of the blades, strop it on the back of a leather belt nightly, and you and it will have a long long friendship.:thumbup:
 
Nice knife. Looks like a have a little patina going on the blades already. And that's a good thing.:thumbup:
 
You chose wisely. The Case Swayback Jack is a fantastic knife, and a hard act to follow. The fit and finish on mine is superlative, and the CV takes and keeps a wicked edge!
 
good to hear case people are so nice. glad to hear they back up there products. thanks for the info on cv. i will start using one of mine. enjoy your retirement.
jackknife said:
Welcome to the traditional forum, alfbacca.

A case CV is a great knife, and if treated well, you'll be handing it down to your son or grandson someday with all the memories attached to it.

Don't worry about the carbon steel, it's not going anywhere in this century. In fact, if I were you, I'd stop rubbing it down with minieral oil every night. With mine, I just wipe it off with a dry bandana after use. Go ahead and let it develope a nice deep patina. The more it darkens, the more the blade will be protected. Think of the patina (the darkening you see) on the blade as calluses on the palm of your hand, a protection to what's underneath. Like the parkerizing on the M-1 rifle, a bit of barrier from the ellements.

Definatly right on with the advise from mnblade on the stroping. Stroping nightly will mean less sharpening, which means a long life. In 1938 my dad was given a Case peanut. He stropped it nightly after dinner, and when he passed away in 1981, he still had that little knife. I carried it for several years before I sent it back to case for a new main blade and repair to a cracked handle scale. The knife is still around to this day. Case makes a heck of a product, and factory support is as close as a phone call. Very nice people.

Just keep it dry, don't worry about the natural darkening of the blades, strop it on the back of a leather belt nightly, and you and it will have a long long friendship.:thumbup:
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Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

I love the color of this bone so much, I'm considering picking up a Chestnut med stockman or a mini trapper. Is the bone darker in person or lighter like the online pics? Does anyone have pictures of either of these?
 
If you start to develop a taste for carbon blades I highly recommend finding yourself a USA Schrade Old Timer (any model to start) and an Opinel #7. From there you'll be hooked on carbon cutting machines.;) Enjoy! Great Case BTW. Oh yeah, you need a Case Soddie too!
 
Great to have you here alfbacca welcome.

I have a good feeling that you are really going to enjoy that knife and like everyone has said, you don't have to baby those blades too much at all. JK and Blues pretty much nailed it. Use it, wipe it down at the end of the day and "oil the joints" on occasions. You'll get to the point when you will know when to put a drop in there by the feel when you open it.
 
Great first carbon knife! If you like yours as much as I like my swayback you will have a small collection of carbon workers in no time! Enjoy that knife!
 
Gotta tell y'all, I'm having a hard time not clicking the continue button on the screen with a Chestnut stockman in my shopping cart. I already have an Amber bone stockman, which after carrying today, I felt like the blades were too shiny after having it for a year. Decisions, decisions.
 
I have a CV amber bone stockman that I like very much but I couldn't resist the cool chestnut bone. I had to get it and I must say it looks VERY nice on the stockman.
 
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