KNIFE CARE & MAINTANCE

RELH · Nov 17, 2018

For you hunters that have a custom or high quality hunting knife, DO NOT PUT IT IN A DISHWASHER TO CLEAN. Clean it by hand and dry it after use.
I just finished repairing a Damascus steel knife that I made and sold to a local customer years ago that was put into a dishwasher to clean. I have another knife in route, stainless steel that was put into a dishwasher that had a high enough water temperature that it broke down the epoxy bond between the handle scales and steel tang. It take about 200 degrees in temperature to impair the epoxy bond.

The Damascus knife had rust spots that were too deep to grind out and after repair there is several blemishes that faintly show in the steel. The stainless steel knife will probably require new handle scales.

My warranty does not cover abuse or neglect and putting a custom knife into a dishwasher is both. Have a great hunting trip and use your knife to clean your game animal and HAND WASH IT AND HAND DRY IT AND PASS IT DOWN TO YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER IN THE YEARS TO COME.

RELH

elkassassin · Nov 17, 2018

Too Late RELH!

1911 gave me specific Knife Care Lessons a few weeks ago!

The Dishwasher is HELL on HATFIELD Knives!

I know so many people in so many places
They make allot of money but they got sad faces

It Ain't Easy being Me!

RELH · Nov 17, 2018

Bobcat, dishwasher is hell on any knife. Now you know why low price kitchen knives have copper or brass rivets to hold the handle scales on instead of pins and epoxy. They know that they will end up in a dishwasher.
The heat not only breaks down the epoxy bond, it also warps burl wood forcing it to pull away from the steel tang. Even stabilized burl wood will warp if the water is hot enough or the knife is subjected enough times to a dishwasher.
I could use rivets, but my customers would think they look "CHEAP" on a custom. They are cheap compared to the price I pay for mosaic pins. 3 bucks per inch.

RELH

elkassassin · Nov 17, 2018

Ya!

I'm Just RAZZIN You & 1911!

Thanks again for the Knives You've Built Me!

I know so many people in so many places
They make allot of money but they got sad faces

It Ain't Easy being Me!

Longun · Nov 17, 2018

Havelon Throw-aways are the best invention yet...along with my razor raptor blades..

BIGJOHNT · Nov 17, 2018

>Havelon Throw-aways are the best invention
>yet...along with my razor raptor
>blades..

Yes Havalon?s have there place . But try and cut threw the Cartledge or a little bone. Nothing like a custom Hatfield knife that is tough and keeps a edge. Unlike a plastic knife it will last for ever. The also have a beautiful wood or horn handle. Well unless up put them threw a dishwasher cycle. Right Brandon. ?

RELH · Nov 17, 2018

He did not do it. He left the knife on the kitchen counter and his daughter tossed it into the dishwasher. I am willing to bet she gets a 10 minute lecture on the care and cleaning of a custom hunting knife.
Now, if it is the daughter that butchered out his deer. He better only give her a one minute lecture. Tick her off and he will have to field dress and butcher out his own deer.
Heck I can not trust my own wife not to cheat and toss a custom kitchen knife in the dishwasher. Her custom kitchen knives get micarta handle scales and no burl wood for her. Our dishwasher only gets to about 150-160 degrees so no worry about harming the epoxy if done only a few times.

RELH

eelgrass · Nov 18, 2018

I accidentally left my Hatfield knife on the counter once. My wife washed it by hand and cut herself. That's a different issue though. When she sees it now she gives it a wide berth.

I sharpen my personal knives different than hers. I can't trust her with a really sharp knife.

OchocoKid · Nov 18, 2018

Then get a Ruana.

seriously though, I agree 100% on the dishwasher I'd never do that to a knife I like.

Question, is there anything to clean sambar or elk horn such as a Ruana that won't take the color off? I've just used pure water and no soap for years because I turned a nice old M stamp knife white by repetitive cleaning when I was a kid.

Stay Thirsty My Friends

NVBighorn · Nov 18, 2018

This sounds like a quality issue to me. ;-)

+1 on the Havalons. They are my go to skinning knives any more. My go to for bone and cartilage is a 5 inch 2 blade folding Old Timer my wife gave me 35 years ago. It will break down a leg joint in seconds. I've marked thousands of calf ears with it, cleaned it in vet disinfectant and I know it has been thru the dishwasher more than once. It's not pretty any more but it's still a good knife. Just touch it up with a steel now and then. If I ever forget it on a mountainside it will mean more to me than any fancy knife but at least I wont be out several hundred dollars.

RELH · Nov 18, 2018

This sounds like a quality issue to me.

Is this your way of getting back for calling you a idiot in the political forum?
If you ever lose your knife, you can get a cheap "made in China" for a replacement.

RELH

OchocoKid · Nov 19, 2018

To me part of being a hunter is carrying a high quality fixed blade knife. I know there are sensible alternatives, but they will never do for me.

I enjoy them as much as my custom rifles.

Stay Thirsty My Friends

elkassassin · Nov 19, 2018

>This sounds like a quality issue
>to me.
>
>
>Is this your way of getting
>back for calling you a
>idiot in the political forum?
>
> If you ever lose
>your knife, you can get
>a cheap "made in China"
>for a replacement.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> RELH

After You Called Him an Idiot it Took 3 Months for Him to Show Back up!

I know so many people in so many places
They make allot of money but they got sad faces

It Ain't Easy being Me!

1911 · Nov 19, 2018

>
>To me part of being a
>hunter is carrying a high
>quality fixed blade knife.
> I know there are
>sensible alternatives, but they
>will never do for me.
>
>
>
> I enjoy them as much
>as my custom rifles.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Stay Thirsty My Friends

Write this one down. Finally something me and the Thirsty Gentleman from Oregon can agree on.

huntin50 · Nov 20, 2018

LAST EDITED ON Nov-20-18 AT 01:25PM (MST)[p]Wow
I didn't know knives needed so much care?
I do a two step cleaning process.

1. wipe the blade on some sage brush after gutting your deer or elk. This will get the big chunks.

2. wipe the blade on your pant leg below your knee, for the finishing touch. (Walking through brush and dew will clean your pants with time)

3. cut through salami or pepperoni a few times at lunch time to get anything missed in step one or two. Your good to go.

I might touch up the blade a little extra before carving the Turkey Thursday. Happy Thanksgiving.

heartshot · Nov 20, 2018

Best reply of the week!

kilbuc · Nov 20, 2018

huntin50.....+1, time tested method.

Zeke · Nov 20, 2018

>LAST EDITED ON Nov-20-18
>AT 01:25?PM (MST)
>
>Wow
>I didn't know knives needed so
>much care?
>I do a two step cleaning
>process.
>
>1. wipe the blade on some
>sage brush after gutting your
>deer or elk. This
>will get the big chunks.
>
>
>2. wipe the blade on your
>pant leg below your knee,
>for the finishing touch. (Walking
>through brush and dew will
>clean your pants with time)
>
>
>3. cut through salami or pepperoni
>a few times at lunch
>time to get anything missed
>in step one or two.
>Your good to go.
>
>I might touch up the blade
>a little extra before carving
>the Turkey Thursday. Happy
>Thanksgiving.

+1

This is what I usually do UNTIL I get home. I then hand wash with dishsoap and dry. Dishwasher? No thanks.

There's really no super "care" that they need except maybe a little oil on the blade if it's not stainless.

Damn few things are better than the look and feel of a well used fine custom knife.

Zeke

#livelikezac