Knife care: cleaning, oiling and sharpening

Clean the pivot

Rinse the knife in warm water with a drop of dish soap, open and close it a few times under the water, then dry it completely — especially inside the handle.

One drop of oil

Put a single drop of light oil on the pivot and work the blade open and closed. Wipe off the excess; oil on the outside only collects lint.

Sharpen little and often

Hold the blade at about 20 degrees to a fine whetstone and draw it across in smooth strokes, the same number on each side. A few passes every few weeks beats a full regrind once a year.

Store it dry

Leather and nylon sheaths hold moisture. For long breaks, keep fixed blades out of the sheath in a dry drawer, lightly oiled.

Trainers need care too

On butterfly trainers, check the pivot screws every few weeks and snug them a little at a time. Don't overtighten, or the handles won't swing.