How to Oil a Pocket Knife
Key Takeaways
- Properly oiling a pocket knife helps prevent rust, reduces wear, and keeps all moving parts operating smoothly.
- Always clean and fully dry your knife before applying oil to avoid trapping dirt and debris inside the mechanism.
- Use a purpose-made knife oil or food-grade mineral oil, and apply only a small amount to prevent buildup.
- Focus oil on the knife’s moving parts, including the pivot point, blade tang, detent ball, and locking mechanism.
- After oiling, open and close the blade several times to evenly distribute lubrication throughout the knife.
Understanding how to lubricate a folding knife is an important rite of passage for new owners and seasoned collectors alike. This critical part of knife care prevents corrosion and keeps the knife’s moving parts working smoothly.
Here’s how to oil a pocket knife!
1. Clean the Knife
Remove all dirt, dust, gunk, and grime. Applying oil to a dirty knife can create an abrasive taste that damages its components over time.
Use a solution of mild dish soap and water to clean the inside and outside of the knife. Make sure the knife is bone-dry before oiling.
Follow this guide: How to Clean a Pocket Knife
2. Don’t Disassemble the Knife
Disassembling the knife can do more harm than good, especially if you don’t know how to oil a pocket knife properly. Taking apart and putting the knife back together can be difficult and may void the warranty.
3. Use Knife Oil
Before oiling, make sure you have the right type of oil. We recommend using purpose-designed knife oil. Food-grade mineral oil can work in a pinch, but knife oil guarantees optimal results.
4. Don’t Overdo It
As you learn how to lubricate a knife, you’ll find that less is more. Too much oil will seep through and saturate parts of the knife that don’t need to be oiled, and excess oil attracts dirt and dust.
5. Oil Moving Parts
Here’s how to oil a pocket knife:
Identify parts that move, rotate, or rub against each other. The goal of learning how to lubricate a folding knife is to keep those parts moving smoothly without too much friction.
The most common parts that need to be oiled are:
- The Pivot Point: This is where the blade rotates. Oil ensures that the blade’s opening and closing action is smooth.
- The Blade’s Tang: This is the bottom part of the blade that sits inside the handle. Oil it to minimize friction where it rubs against the handle’s inner liners.
- The Detent Ball: Some modern folding knives and assisted-opening knives with locking mechanisms have a small bearing that prevents the blade from accidentally opening.
- Locking Mechanisms: Oiling locking mechanisms prevents “lock stick.”
That’s how to oil a pocket knife!
6. Work the Oil
Now that you know how to lubricate a knife, the last step is working the oil into the mechanisms. Open and close the blade a few times. Use the locking mechanisms. The goal is to distribute oil throughout the creases and crevices.
Reach out for Guidance
If you have any questions about knife maintenance, get in touch. Customize high-quality pocket knives at Palmetto Wood Shop!
