Keeping your Hunting Knives in Perfect Condition
How to Keep Your Hunting Knife in Perfect Condition
Dull edges and a fading shine to your hunting knife are clear signs that it’s time to take the initiative to get your gear cleaned and serviced. After all, having a hunting knife that isn’t up to par can make any trip in the wilderness tougher than it needs to be. Learning the necessary techniques to clean and maintain your knife will save you time and money in the long run. Plus, it never hurts to have the skills available, because every good outdoorsman knows the importance of being prepared for just about anything. After all, in the wilderness, just about anything can happen.
Cleaning Your Hunting Knife
Your hunting knife should be treated not only as a piece of equipment or an investment, but as an extension of yourself in whatever way you plan on using it. As such, it should be cleaned and oiled regularly to maintain a tip-top working condition. The main thing to be concerned with is rust. A rusty blade is worthless and will end the life of an important and costly tool. However, taking simple preventative steps such as simply washing your hunting knife thoroughly after every use goes a long way.
If you’re looking to be more thorough in your cleaning, which is never a bad thing, you should first get rid of any fingerprints that may be lingering on your blade. The acid in these fingerprints will lead to rust over time as they accumulate on the surface. By rubbing a simple mixture of salt and vinegar on the blade with a clean wine cork you’ll get rid of any fingerprints that may be there. Don’t press too hard, though, or you may mark the blade.
Oiling Your Hunting Knife
To further prevent your hunting knife from succumbing to the tortures of rust, oil is an important tool. It also helps to maintain that your knife function properly. Any general-purpose oil is fine to be used on a hunting knife. If you have a bottle that you use on a firearm, that would work perfectly. Apply a small amount when you’re oiling a knife. If too much is applied, dirt and dust are sure to stick on the blade. It’s also important not to get any oil on the blade, because having it slip out of your hand would never be a good thing. Try covering the handle of your hunting knife in a cloth when you oil in the blade just to be safe.
If you make sure to spend a few moments to perform these simple tasks, you’ll always have a clean, well-working knife at your side. And isn’t that really the best thing you can have when you’re out hunting?
-Ben Anton, 2007
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