Will a knife's condition deteriorate if unused?

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Vulpix

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Nov 28, 2015
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Hi everyone!

New to this site as well as the knife world, but everyone seems really nice here.

I have a question: Will a knife's condition deteriorate (dull, stiffen, rust, etc) over time if I don't use it?

I have a Real Steel E77 folding knife that I'm really happy with, and was planning to get another one as a back-up. The thing is I'm not sure when I would use it, if ever, and was worried if its condition would deteriorate.
 
If the knife were a highly sought after one off item from a renowned maker, I would do something reasonable to preserve the knife and minimize any sort of discoloration, oxidation, etc. But the knife you mention is a simple $20 Chinese knife with a potential link to a shady (rebranded) manufacturer. If you store the knife in a bucket of saltwater outdoors it may not look good after a couple days. But if you store it in the packaging in which it arrived, then it should be alright for decades. I wouldn't concern myself much over a $20 knife. Hard to say because you can't be sure what that knife is made from.
 
If you are really worried about long term storage, Renaissance Wax is a museum-grade protectant/preservative.

But a container of it is going to cost more than the knife did.
 
With fixed blades, just don't store them in leather sheaths (or against the leather sheath), store knives in a damp environment, or where chemicals are apt to be spilled. I might add that if you have cats, don't store your knife where they are likely to pee. :D Had one throw up on a blued revolver (house gun) and didn't see it for apparently weeks.... not good for the finish.

Some plastics may get hard and brittle with age.
 
Properly stored I imagine the knife would last indefinitely. Clean and dry with a light coat of preservative grease and stored in an airtight bag. You would have to do some research as some plastics might not like certain types of greases or preservatives.
 
Knives last a long time if left in their original packaging, with the following taken into consideration:
They can rust if left in a humid environment or where moisture will condensate on the steel, but generally not if the parts are stainless.
Some plastics can fade or become brittle or chalky if exposed to sunlight or high heat.
The springs can weaken if left in a half-open state, as displayed in some store cases.
Wood that wasn't completely cured can shrink if stored in an extremely dry environment.
Mold can happen if stored in a damp place, paperwork and packaging is more susceptible than the knives themselves.
Sealed containers can trap in moisture, leading to rust.

But yeah, in general, if you stick a new knife in your desk drawer in your air-conditioned and heated home it will stay 'new' indefinitely. :thumbup:
 
Corrosion is a steels worst nightmare. The only thing you need to worry about when you store a knife. Like others have said, use a protectant of some kind and you are fine. If you live in a dry climate you are better off. If not, then you need to make sure blades, pivots and all metal areas have some protectant on them, even a layer of oil will do.
 
I'd lube my pivots, oil the blade and store it next to some silica desiccant and you'll have it in pristine condition for many years. A Seki Boy Scout knife a friend gave me has been oiled and has been sitting in a Plano box with some desiccant packets for 5 years now and looks as good as the day I was gifted her.
 
Vulpix said:
I have a question: Will a knife's condition deteriorate (dull, stiffen, rust, etc) over time if I don't use it?
Click to expand...
YES! If your knife does not drink blood on a regular basis, it will slowly disslolve!

Im kidding!:D

If you worry about this or want to store any blade long term, buy some PRE-LIM (you clean and prepare the blade with this) and a can of RENAISSANCE WAX, as Marci mentioned.

Both products are what museums and collectors use for long term storage and upkeep of blades. It comes highly recommended, but consider whether or not the knife is worth it, as a can of Ren Wax costs several times the worth of the knife in question.

Should you go for it, both products can be had from the big river or that big auction site.
 
If you are "getting into knives", you are apt to be buying a number of knives in the next few years. Likes and dislikes change. So in general ask yourself the question if you really should get a duplicate for using? I seldom have exact duplicates of knives. I might get an exact duplicate knife that has been discontinued that I really like or one that I use all the time and could potentially loose or misplace for an extended period of time. I have some slip joints that are the same model with different scales, but I only have exact duplicates for the Victorinox Adventurer (sak) that I carry every day and don't want to change to another Vic for the foreseeable future. It is not an expensive knife. Just a knife that I really depend on.
 
Thanks for all the input everyone!

Man, this site is really the best. I've learnt a lot here thanks to all you awesome people.
 
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