Five Ways To Keep Your Survival Knife In Perfect Condition
Last time, we talked about choosing the right survival knife for you. But even when you find the perfect knife to suit your needs, you can`t call it a day, shove it in your bug-out bag and forget all about it.
I mean, sure you could do that, but when you`ll finally take out the knife and try to use it, you`ll be surprised to notice it turned into a piece of junk. It won`t be able to cut, chop or slice properly, you might see rust on the blade and the second you`ll start digging a hole with it will be the end of your formerly perfect survival knife.
But you can avoid all this if you follow a few simple instructions and turn them into habits. I`m not talking about habits like eating healthy or going to the gym every morning at 6 a.m. This are a few quick and very simple habits that only take you a few seconds (minutes at most) and you don`t have to do them daily. But the results will add a few years to its life expectancy and will save you the money you`d have to spend a new knife.
Here`s what you`ve got to do to keep your survival knife in perfect condition:
#1: Do not misuse it
If it`s a survival knife, then it`s supposed to be used for survival purposes. Don`t start using it wherever, whenever, on every task that implies the use of a knife. Take it with you when you go camping, so you can put it on a test. Or make a survival drill and see how good it is at chopping wood, cutting rope, slicing raw meat, and digging a hole. But that`s it. No cutting electric cables around the house or disassembling your electronics with it, ok?
#2: Clean it after every use
If you use it to chop wood or cut some rope, wipe it thoroughly with a soft cloth afterwards. There is no need to wash it with water and soap every time. But when it gets dirty or wet, rinse it with water, then wash it with a little soap and rinse it again. Don`t forget to wipe it with a cloth after you wash it! It`s important you keep the knife dry at all times.
Don`t clean only the blade. The handle should be wiped or washed, as well. You don`t want it to get sticky and uncomfortable.
#3: Make sure to keep it dry
This step is absolutely crucial if you want your knife to last as long as possible. If you store it while it`s still damp, it`s going to rust, even if it`s made of the best steel there is. So wipe it thoroughly every time you wash it and check it from time to time in its storage place, just to make sure it`s not damp.
Also, if your survival knife is made of stainless steel, wipe off any fingerprints you may leave on the blade. The oils on your skin can deteriorate the knife in time.
#4: Coat it with a bit of oil
From time to time, coat your survival knife with a bit of WD-40, to keep it protected from humidity and residues. You don`t need to soak it in oil, just a thin layer will do the trick.
#5: Sharpen it the right way
Here are the five steps of successful sharpening, straight from SurvivalNewsOnline:
1. Use a fine grit stone for a blade that already has a good edge.
2. Use a little honing oil.
3. Sharpen at a 20 degree angle.
* As a side note, the angle is very important, so make sure you get this right. Don`t worry if you don`t from the very first try. You will after you`ve practised a bit.
4. Give the knife 7 swipes on one side, then the other. Repeat with six, then five, and so on. You may need to start at 10 if it’s a little dull, or maybe 5 if it just needs a touch-up. You’ll get the hang of it with practice.
5. For a very sharp edge, repeat with a light hand on a superfine ceramic stone, no oil. Raise the angle a little to work just the edge, but not too much, or you’ll make it dull. Again, experience is the key, and you only get that with practice.
By Alec Deacon
Source: http://www.myfamilysurvivalplan.com/five-ways-to-keep-your-survival-knife-in-perfect-condition/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=five-ways-to-keep-your-survival-knife-in-perfect-condition
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