Tips on Cleaning Your Bowie Knife Correctly

Cleaning knives is a basic part of their maintenance. Without proper cleaning, knife blades will often rust and, in some cases, they will take other damage from substances to which they are exposed during use. Cleaning your knife is the single best, and easiest, way to preserve the blade.

First, it's important that you understand why you should care for your knife properly. You might be under the impression that Bowie knives need little or no care at all. This is not the truth. Like any other knife, these blades must be maintained in order to avoid rust, discoloration, dull blades and other problems. This is true even if you have a knife with a blade made of surgical stainless steel. Without the proper care, you will find that your blade becomes an eyesore, rather than something of which you can be proud.

Bowie knives and other hunting knives tend to take a lot of abuse. Blood and bodily fluids from animals can corrode knife blades, and there are plenty of damaging substances found in most camp sites. The first line of protection for your knife is a simple wipe down. After you use or sharpen the knives-on every occasion-make sure to wipe it down with a soft cloth. A damp cloth is preferable-dry the blade before sheathing or folding it-but soft, dry cloth is better than nothing.

You can also choose to polish your blade after cleaning it. While many cleaning compounds also promise to polish the blade at the same time, many people choose to use a separate application of polishing compound, with either a soft cloth or a buffing wheel to increase the shine of the Bowie knife blade. Once polished, make sure that you wipe the blade clean of dirt after each use.

Another part of keeping your Bowie knife clean and ready to use is proper storage. If you use your knife on a daily basis, then storing it in a leather sheath is a decent option. However, for longer-term storage, invest in an airtight container. Leather can wick moisture from the air, causing rust to form on your blade should you leave it in the sheath for very long periods.