Oil the joints!

kamagong

kamagong

Joined
Jan 13, 2001
Messages
10,973
I enjoyed a nice, laid back morning today. Have the day off, so I used the free time to perform some long overdue maintenance on a few of my knives. I oiled the joints and scales, and brought the blades back to whisper quiet sharp. It took a little while, but these knives now all have edges that a knifenut can be proud of.

Most people can't stand the occasional maintenance that a good slipjoint requires. Can't say that I understand that sort of thinking as I personally enjoy it. Oiling, stropping, and even sharpening my knife is a relaxing ritual that helps me to clear my mind and reassures me that the trusted tool I have in my pocket is ready for any cutting task I may encounter.

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- Christian
 
Those knives look good, Christian.:thumbup:

What is the equal end knife on the bottom right?
 
Nice! It can be fun to have a good maintenance session.

I can pick out some of your knives... Eye Brand stockman, MM sodbuster... Is that KHnutbuster I see? And what are the other two (the jack and the cigar)?
 
puukkoman said:
Nice! It can be fun to have a good maintenance session.

I can pick out some of your knives... Eye Brand stockman, MM sodbuster... Is that KHnutbuster I see? And what are the other two (the jack and the cigar)?
Click to expand...

That is a KHnutbuster....with Case antique bone scales. :)
 
Christian,
Nice knives :) I personally love taking out the knives, giving them a oil, I find sharpening not the fun part-as I arent that good at it yet..so I just dont sharpen my nice knives.
 
Did so last night :D I had to clean up some of my more recent knives and finally had some free time last night.
 
puukkoman said:
I can pick out some of your knives... Eye Brand stockman, MM sodbuster... Is that KHnutbuster I see? And what are the other two (the jack and the cigar)?
Click to expand...

Railsplitter said:
What is the equal end knife on the bottom right?
Click to expand...

Jason is right, the open knife is a KHnutbuster wearing Case antique bone scales.

Starting with the 'Buster and going clockwise they are - Kerry Hampton KHnutbuster, Schatt & Morgan harness jack, Eye Brand large stockman, Moore Maker sodbuster, Imperial cattleman.

Campbellclanman said:
Christian,
Nice knives :) I personally love taking out the knives, giving them a oil, I find sharpening not the fun part-as I arent that good at it yet..so I just dont sharpen my nice knives.
Click to expand...

Thanks Duncan. I don't find sharpening all that bad if the knife I'm working with has good edge geometry. But I do agree that the first sharpening can be quite the chore with a new slipjoint. It's really a pity that the slipjoint manufacturers are unable to sharpen their wares to the same level as the modern makers like Kershaw or Spyderco.

- Christian
 
Some people may think me a wee bit nuts, but to me sharpening and caring for my pocket knife is sort of a zen meditation thing.

I find if I'm PO'ed or angry over some problem, just sitting and honing my pocket knife, or cleaning out the lint, stropping the blade, seems to have a calming effect. If I'm perplexed by a problem, very often after taking care of my pocket knives the solution is clear to me. I guess some people can sit there with their legs crossed humming "Ommmm" to them selves while I get the same result by honing and cleaning my pocket knife/knives.

Each to their own, say I!

Carl.
 
I do the same thing Carl. Sit at the kitchen table, nice and quiet and clean and hone a knife. Thers a thread about split backspring whittlers that got me to get out my NYK and give it a good clean up.
 
jackknife said:
... to me sharpening and caring for my pocket knife is sort of a zen meditation thing.

I find if I'm PO'ed or angry over some problem, just sitting and honing my pocket knife, or cleaning out the lint, stropping the blade, seems to have a calming effect.
Click to expand...

Same here. :thumbup: Zen and the art of pocketknife maintenance!

-- Mark
 
Here's another request for more of that cattle knife. It fascinates me. ;)

That S&M harness jack is one of nicest ones that Queen produced in recent years.
 
I have been sitting in a comfortable shair infront of my fire tonight as I have the sort of space one gets when the family isnt at home. Not that I dont like it best when they are at home ,but if they arent, one does the best of the situaltion and oiling and sharpening a little is good meditation. I even went to India in the mid 90ties to meditate but it was never as good as here in my shair by the fire.

Bosse
 
Here you go.

imperialcattleman2.jpg


imperialcattleman3.jpg


imperialcattleman4.jpg


The fit and finish on the cattleman is nothing special, it's a working knife through and through. There is a dimple on the blade of the sheepsfoot, which is lacking any sort of point. The backsprings also have visible grind marks. But this is still a great piece. The use of a pen blade instead of a spey is something I wish more manufacturers did. The Rodgers bone scales are really good looking. And the person who sharpened this knife could give lessons to the cutlers at GEC and Queen.

texasflyfisher said:
That S&M harness jack is one of nicest ones that Queen produced in recent years.
Click to expand...

Agreed. This knife is still the best production specimen I've ever seen. I don't know if the credit should go to Queen or the man behind this project, our very own waynorth. I do know that I'm willing to buy any limited production knife that Charlie commissions.

- Christian
 
I thoroughly enjoy the maintenance of my knives.
CEing and CFing at its best! I even use a loupe when I am working on an edge and also for the cleaning and oiling as well.
Fun ritual!
"OIL THE JOINT" ~ CHARLIE
 
Speaking of maintenance ....

What do you guys usually do when you want to remove grit and other nasty stuff from the internals of your knives.

I don't have easy access to any high pressure air equipment so blowing it out is not a viable option. One of my Spyderco knives accidentally went through the washing machine, didn't harm the knife and it came out sparkly clean all over but I'm not going to do that with one of my traditional knives! :eek:

So, what do you do to really clean them up?


.
 
I've used WD-40 in the past for really dirty knives. I don't know if that's available in Oz though. Most of the time I just use mineral oil, paper towels, and toothpicks.

- Christian
 
You can get some air-in-a-can, to blow 'em out and dry the crevices. It's normally used for cleaning out computers. A little WD-40, then some canned air, then some mineral oil... all set!

I have used all kinds of stuff to clean gunked-up knives... carburetor cleaner, silicone lubricant, WD-40, Fast Orange, all sorts of penetrants & spray cleaners. Some can be harsh on natural materials, though, so trust your gut.
 
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