Storing Knives

J

jmel

Joined
Jul 18, 2015
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I'm fairly new to the knife world. Is is best to store fixed blade knives outside of the sheaths, especially those made of 1095 HC or can you simply keep them oiled and kept in the sheath? Thanks in advance!
 
Always outside the sheath.
I don't think there is any scenario I have seen that would change that in regards to longer term storage.....
 
Outside the sheath. If you use it periodically keeping it clean and oiled is fine. For some knives I know won't be used for an extended period of time I have used Rennaissance Wax instead.
 
It all very much depends on the humidity where you live. I have one 1095 knife (small puukko Iisaki aito) that I keep non oiled in its leather sheath and it did not even get a patina. And I use it rather rarely. I have several carbon steel kitchen knives (different steels) that I keep on magnetic knife holder and one that I kept for a long time in its leather sheath and again - no ill effects. But humidity in our place goes rarely beyond 60% and is mostly around 50% or less. If you live in warm and humid place (or close to see or ocean) you may need to be more careful.

When I do oil the blades (travel, shipping, etc) I use tsubaki (camellia) oil.
 
Random but, I save the little silicon packets the come in beef jerky, shoes, etc. as well... Keep them close to your Knives they'll help keep the moisture levels low...
 
strategy9 said:
Random but, I save the little silicon packets the come in beef jerky, shoes, etc. as well... Keep them close to your Knives they'll help keep the moisture levels low...
Click to expand...

Also rubbing your carbon steel blades with beef jerky will apply a light coat of fat on them that will inhibit rust.
 
I have stored stainless steel knives in leather for a long time with no problems, but if there are any brass pieces they WILL be a problem. It is best to oil or wax your blades and store them outside of the sheath. What I usually do is take a good sized piece of bubble wrap, lay the knife on one end and roll it up part way, then lay the sheath on it and roll it up the rest of the way.
 
I bought this knife on March first in 1991. I use it for two weeks out of every year for dressing deer and the rest of the time it sits on the leather sheath with a coat of whatever oil is closest to me when I put it away after deer season. No rusting ever. When I got it I did use silicone leather boot water proof liquid on the sheath, so maybe that helped. For four of them years I lived right on the coast of the Puget Sound and it still stayed rust free.

I know you guys love the original Schrades. This one and the SS1 are my only two remaining original Schrades. The rest have since been retired for being worn out.

 
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