CARE & MAINTENANCE
KNIVES
CLEAN YOUR BLADE IN HOT WATER WITH MILD DETERGENT. RINSE THOROUGHLY WITH CLEAN WATER. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR KNIFE TO SOAK AND AVOID COMPLETE SUBMERSION.
NEVER CLEAN KNIVES IN THE DISHWASHER. DISHWASHERS CAN AND WILL DULL EDGES, WARP HANDLES, AND CAUSE BLADES TO RUST.
REMOVE DIRT, DEBRIS AND POCKET LINT FROM LOCKING MECHANISM AND/OR MOVING PARTS (IF APPLICABLE). COMPRESSED AIR IS VERY EFFECTIVE FOR REMOVING DEBRIS, AS WELL AS, DRYING YOUR KNIFE. IF COMPRESSED AIR IS NOT AVAILABLE, DRY COMPLETELY WITH A SOFT CLOTH.
ALL STEELS WITH CARBON CONTENT CAN RUST, AND THIS DOESN’T INDICATE POOR QUALITY. RUST IS A NATURAL REACTION WHEN STEEL IS EXPOSED TO MOISTURE, BUT REGULAR CARE CAN EASILY PREVENT IT. KEEP YOUR BLADE CLEAN, DRY, AND LIGHTLY OILED TO PROTECT IT.
A PATINA MAY FORM OVER TIME, WHICH ADDS CHARACTER AND HELPS SHIELD AGAINST FURTHER RUST. EMBRACE THE PATINA, BUT STAY VIGILANT WITH MAINTENANCE TO KEEP YOUR KNIFE PERFORMING AT ITS BEST.
LUBRICATE YOUR KNIFE. LIGHTLY COAT YOUR BLADE AND ALL PIVOT POINTS WITH YOUR FAVORITE LUBRICANT. CONSIDER USING A FOOD-SAFE OIL IF YOU USE YOUR KNIFE WITH FOOD.
TIGHTEN LOOSE SCREWS. RELEASABLE THREAD LOCKER HAS BEEN APPLIED TO SCREWS AT THE TIME OF ASSEMBLY WHICH MAY NEED TO BE REAPPLIED, DEPENDING UPON LENGTH AND MANNER OF USE, ETC.
THE BEST WAY TO KEEP A KNIFE SHARP IS TO MAINTAIN THE EDGE BEFORE IT DULLS. THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH A HAND HONE SUCH AS THE SMITH & SONS FIELD HONE OR SIMILAR PRODUCT. WHEN THE EDGE BEVELS NEED TO BE REESTABLISHED, USE A SHARPENING STONE FOR BEST RESULTS.
POWERED OR PULL-THROUGH SHARPENING SYSTEMS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED. SMITH & SONS KNIFE COMPANY WILL HAPPILY MAINTAIN YOUR SHARP EDGE AT NO CHARGE.
CLICK HERE FOR INSTRUCTIONS ONSHIPPING YOUR KNIFE TO US FOR PROPER EDGE RESTORATION.
SHEATHS
LEATHER IS A NATURAL MATERIAL WITH A LIFESPAN, AND WHILE IT’S DURABLE, IT REQUIRES SPECIAL CARE TO ENSURE LONGEVITY. EXPOSURE TO MOISTURE, EXTREME TEMPERATURES, AND SUNLIGHT CAN CAUSE THE LEATHER TO DRY OUT, CRACK, OR CHANGE IN APPEARANCE OVER TIME.
WE ADVISE AGAINST OILING OR USING CONDITIONERS ON YOUR LEATHER SHEATH. WHILE IT MAY SEEM LIKE A GOOD WAY TO PRESERVE THE LEATHER, IT OFTEN LEADS TO OVER-SOFTENING, WHICH CAN WEAKEN THE STRUCTURE AND COMPROMISE THE FIT, PARTICULARLY IN FRICTION-FIT SHEATHS. WITH REGULAR USE, LEATHER SHEATHS NATURALLY LOOSEN OVER TIME, AND THE ADDITION OF OILS CAN SPEED UP THIS PROCESS. TO MAINTAIN THE SHEATH'S INTEGRITY, IT'S BEST TO LET THE LEATHER AGE NATURALLY AND ONLY CLEAN IT WITH A DAMP CLOTH WHEN NECESSARY.
AVOID STORING YOUR KNIFE IN THE SHEATH FOR EXTENDED PERIODS. LEATHER AND KYDEX SHEATHS ARE DESIGNED FOR CARRYING YOUR KNIFE, NOT LONG-TERM STORAGE. STORING KNIVES IN LEATHER SHEATHS CAN TRAP MOISTURE, WHICH MAY LEAD TO RUST OR CORROSION OVER TIME. FOR KYDEX SHEATHS, PROLONGED STORAGE COULD PUT UNNECESSARY STRAIN ON THE SHEATH’S RETENTION SYSTEM. WE RECOMMEND STORING YOUR KNIFE IN A DRY PLACE OUTSIDE OF THE SHEATH WHEN NOT IN USE TO PRESERVE BOTH THE KNIFE AND THE SHEATH'S LONGEVITY.
KYDEX SHEATHS ARE DURABLE, BUT THEY ARE NOT IMPERVIOUS TO HEAT. EXPOSURE TO HIGH TEMPERATURES, SUCH AS LEAVING THEM IN A HOT CAR OR DIRECT SUNLIGHT FOR EXTENDED PERIODS, CAN CAUSE THE MATERIAL TO WARP OR LOSE ITS RETENTION ABILITY. ALWAYS STORE YOUR KYDEX SHEATH IN A COOL, DRY PLACE, AND AVOID ANY PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO HEAT TO ENSURE THE SHEATH MAINTAINS ITS SHAPE AND FUNCTIONALITY.