The Damascus knife is distinguished by its patterned blade. It is particularly appreciated by knife lovers and professionals. To ensure its longevity and maintain its aesthetic appeal, it is important to maintain it well. Here are 3 tips for maintaining a Damascus folding knife.
Maintenance of the blade
So, if the Damascus knife is designed with the artisanal technique, then it is generally made of two or three different steels. The assembly is done by a fire forge. The blacksmith makes sure to obtain a solid block and then puts it back into the fire. With this method, the patterns are more original. There is also the industrial technique where stainless steel is used. The patterns are much less elaborate than with the artisanal method.
In any case, you should be aware that this accessory is always susceptible to rust. To avoid any risk of rust on the blade, make sure you clean it well after each use. You should also ensure that the knife is stored in a perfectly dry or very low-humidity area. The main aim is to prevent rust from forming.
If the blade of your Damascus folding knife is already rusty, it should be cleaned immediately. You should use organic oils for this purpose. If the corrosion has only affected a very small area, then you can use a machine polish. However, it is essential to lubricate the blade after the operation. This will avoid the risk of rust reappearing.
Care of the handle
The handle of a Damascus knife can be made of different materials. It can be made of steel, precious wood, or horn. In any case, it is important to keep this part dry at all times. As for maintenance, this depends on the material of which the handle of your knife is made.
If the handle of your knife is made of precious wood, here are some maintenance tips depending on the type of wood. If it is made of amourette, you can use turpentine and neutral wax to clean it. If it is made of rosewood, then you can use turpentine with palm oil or neutral wax as with the previous one. If the handle is made of birch, you can clean it with turpentine and linseed oil.
If the handle of your knife is made of horn, remember that this is also a natural material that can dry out over time and allow the fiber to show on the surface. To avoid this, consider oiling, just as you would with wood. You can use linseed oil, for example. Of course, you should also avoid differences in humidity and heat.
Maintenance of the mechanism
As this is a folding knife, the mechanism must be considered. Therefore, to maintain this part of the accessory, you must add a drop of oil. You can use mineral oil such as sewing machine oil or silicone oil (WD-40, etc). To do this, put the knife in the closed position, and pour the oil at the joint. More precisely between the blade and the spring. Then open the knife and apply the oil to the whole mechanism. All you have to do is wipe off the excess to finish. If your folding knife with a Damascus blade has other parts, then you can also perform the operation on its mechanism.
Finally, don’t forget to think about the edge of the blade. In fact, to ensure that the knife will be able to serve you for cutting, you must think about sharpening it regularly when you notice that it is becoming inoperative. To sharpen it,
- Think of using a natural stone,
- You moisten the stone before sharpening,
- You can start the operation by making sure you keep an appropriate angle.
Finally, to keep your folding knife in good condition for as long as possible, it is recommended to avoid using it for anything else. For example, using it as a screwdriver or as a lever. You can also keep it in a leather sheath.