Touching Your Knife?

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oXObsidianXo

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Dec 30, 2013
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Does getting oil from your skin on the blade of your knife would cause severe discolouration if left un-cleaned for extended periods or even rust.
 
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aww, come on. Unless you have some wierd glandular problem or are an alien that sweats acid, you will not rust a stainless steel knife by touching it. Mineral oil is probably overkill too, but if you are super paranoid, glove up with mickey mouse white gloves like they use for handling relics in a museum.
 
In all seriousness, I saw one person douse his hands in alcohol prior to handling ridiculously expensive knives. Apparently it prevents your hands from producing any oils for a short period of time. I don't think I would worry about this unless I had a knife worth at least 5 figures.
 
I've got hundreds of folders and before I or any of my grubby handed friends smear their body fluids all over them a hand washing is required. No washy, no touchy. At the very least I'm not going to open all of my folders at the end of the day to find which ones have smudges all over them. Not all of them are stainless and even if they are not all stainless is stainless.
 
I touch my knives every day. Oh the horror of it! Don't usually even wash my hands prior to doing so! EEK! Grease, oil, metal chips, sealant. Yuck. Fortunately for me, it all washes off them and leaves no trace of it's existence.

But if some other grubby handed bum asks to use my knife, I hand him (or her) my titanium handled leatherman charge. Nobody uses my knives except me.
 
The original topic was asking if getting oil from your skin on the blade of your knife would cause severe discolouration if left un-cleaned for extended periods or even rust. No the title doesn't sound wrong given that we are on a knife forum and thus there is no hidden message here.
 
oXObsidianXo said:
The original topic was asking if getting oil from your skin on the blade of your knife would cause severe discolouration if left un-cleaned for extended periods or even rust. No the title doesn't sound wrong given that we are on a knife forum and thus there is no hidden message here.
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The answer is, yes and no. It depends on what your body chemistry is doing. Some people that take medication for chronic illness or conditions have a higher acidity in their skin oil than others. In addition, some people can rust plastic, because their pH is so acidic, can be attributed to diet and genetics as well. Many people have brought this up. However, some stainless steels are stainless, not rust proof. I hope this helps.
 
Had you asked the question originally as you did in post #14 you wouldn't have gotten so many wise crack answers.
 
Several comments have been moved to a closed thread in Whine & Cheese for disposal. This thread has been in Maintenance all along, and those comments were way out of line. Please discuss the topic or stay out.
 
Even my most reactive carbon blades are fine from me touching them. I even subjected to vinegar baths and blood baths etc to force patinas.

I wouldn't worry too much about oil off your hands, unless you're pouring sweat at the time.

Keep a microfiber cloth handy, I keep one in my car, at work (in my knife roll) and several at home and once a while wipe down my blades.
 
The only steel that I've had react to the oils/acids in my skin was super blue. Even with Eezox I saw my prints start to become permanent. I forced a Patina after I realized there was no way to keep super blue shiny and new looking.

Every other steel has been fine though.
 
Go to a knife show and watch the knifemakers after people have been looking at their knives. They've got that chamois going, cleaning fingerprints off them.
 
Yes if you have a knife or even a firearm that you're going to leave unattended by all means wipe it down with a cloth and something to protect the metal.
PS,it's also best not to store your knife in it's sheath or firearm in a case for extended periods of time.
 
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All my $100 dollar plus knives have a coat of Ren wax on them. Can't beat it for blades and handles.
 
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