How To Care For A Bowie Knife
Caring for your bowie knife is essential. Without the proper care and maintenance procedures, you’ll find that your knife does not stand the test of time. What’s involved with proper care? How do you ensure that your knife will remain by your side, a trusted friend in the face of any situation that might occur? Actually, proper bowie knife care is relatively simple and should require very little in the way of materials or additional costs.
The first thing that you’ll need to remember is to keep your bowie knife clean and dry. Of course, there are times when the blade will be wet, with water or another substance. There are also times when the blade will become dirty – after all, the utility of these knives is one of their most powerful benefits. However, take the time to clean and dry your knife blade after every use. If you don’t, you’ll find that even stainless steel blades can corrode and rust.
Proper sharpening is another concern. Without the right sharpening tools and procedures, the edge of your knife will give out eventually. This is true no matter what type of metal you choose for the blade of your bowie knife. Make sure that you know how to sharpen that blade, though, or you could find that you actually cause more harm than good in your efforts. Use a whetstone or a high quality all-in-one knife sharpener for the best benefits. Also, if you’re forced to use an emergency sharpener (such as a rock in the wilderness) always make sure that you sharpen the knife properly at your first opportunity.
Another area of concern with bowie knife sharpening is proper storage. Carrying your knife in a leather sheath is fine – these are excellent options, particularly for those who don’t like the feel of a hard scabbard or sheath. However, leather tends to attract moisture, so storing the blade for a long period of time in a leather sheath might not be the best idea. Choose a well-sealed storage environment to help protect your knife from corrosion by moisture.
Other considerations when caring for bowie knives include oiling the blade when in storage (to protect against moisture), or proper use of the blade. Remember, this is a knife, not a hammer, screwdriver or pry-bar and should not be used as such if you can avoid it.
Dave is the owner of an online bowie knives and glock grip extensions store.
