How to Care for and Preserve Stainless Steel Hunting Knives
Hunting knives, sometimes called survival or field knives, are an essential part of the field-dressing process. Hunting knives made with stainless steel blades are able to withstand frequent, heavy use better than their carbon steel-bladed counterparts. Though they require less frequent care than carbon steel hunting knives, stainless steel hunting knives still require a bit of special care to maintain their performance. With the proper cleaning and storage practices, you can prolong the life of your stainless steel hunting knives.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Clean stainless steel hunting knives after each use with a spray cleaning product that has been specially formulated for use on stainless steel. Apply the cleaning product to your hunting knives according to package directions.
-
2
Dry your hunting knives with a soft cotton cloth immediately after cleaning them. Dry both the blade and the handle thoroughly, paying special attention to the moving parts of folding hunting knives.
-
-
3
Rub the blades of your stainless steel hunting knives with a lubricating oil after cleaning them to prevent rust spots from forming. Apply the lubricating oil to the blades of your hunting knives with a soft cotton cloth.
-
4
Sharpen the blades of your stainless steel hunting knives if you notice a reduction in their cutting performance. Sharpen the blades on a lubricated stone, observing the original angle of the blades.
-
5
Store your stainless steel hunting knives out of their sheaths and in a cool, dry location when not in use.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Remove rust spots from the blades of your stainless steel hunting knives by scrubbing them vigorously with a steel wool scouring pad. Repeat Step 3.
Avoid immersing your stainless steel hunting knives in water or other liquids as this can encourage rust to form on the blades.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit the hunting knife image by Serghei Velusceac from Fotolia.com
