Sheathed knives during the hunt

N

Naphtali

Joined
May 20, 2002
Messages
148
I use non-stainless steel kitchen knives. Other than initial discoloration/staining, I experience zero additional corrosion. But I clean and dry them thoroughly. I find no additional rust inhibitor or wax necessary to maintain them. But condition of their use is well controlled.

Those of you who use non-stainless or near-stainless (D2, etc.) steel fixed-blade knives: After a successful larger game (deer, elk, moose, etc.) hunt when you have field dressed and/or quartered your animal, and you will be in the field for several hours to several days, you will clean your blade as best you can then sheath it. How severely does your blade corrode (or rust or whatever deleterious effect results)? OR what procedure do you use to maintain the blade - assuming you don't carry detailed maintenance equipment with you?
 
that has never been an issue. I hunt and field dress/process deer and hogs in Florida and Georgia. Simply wash off the knife with water from your canteen, wipe with your shirt tail, and move on. Clean and oil the steel when you get home.
 
Blood patina from constant butchering or, at home, forced vinegar patina with beeswax candle coat.
 
Blood contains an iron compound [ hemoglobin]and salt , both will corrode steel .
As mannlicher suggests, wash and dry after use with a thorough cleaning at home.
 
I keep a couple of the little individually wrapped hand sanitizer wipes in my pack. I usually rinse off the blade with a little water then wipe it down with one of the wipes. That way my sheath doesn't get all nasty. I only small game and turkey hunt though so I don't usually get a ton of blood on my knife like you would field dressing a larger animal.
 
This is a sanitation issue, knives go back into their sheaths clean, just as I will take my boots off before entering the house.
 
Hypochondriacs.
I've an old slaughterman's skinner, must've been on the killing chain for years, covered with a black-grey blood patina. I suppose thats technically corrosion.
I can't afford a digital camera.
 
I generally wipe off on leaves or snow (if there is any snow); then rinse with water I have on me or from a stream or puddle; dry on pants; and place in sheath making sure that the knife is secure as when dragging a deer out you may rub brush and so forth and the knife may fall out of the sheath. Oil the when I get home or sometimes inside my truck. Have not really experienced anything that I would call a problem. I don't worry about a little discoloration on field knives. Never shot any really large animals hunting other than whitetail deer.
 
3 dogs & a folder (4", 5"?)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wyc2YvfbWzA
 
Pack along a small tub of chapstick, the one the size of a quarter.
When your done cleaning your game, wipe the knife down with water and apply some chapstick to your finger then apply that to the blade.
 
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