My oldest and most used SAK. This knife could tell some stories. It takes time to gain even a semblance of patina on stainless.
So here's a question for all you "users" out there. Are you good about cleaning and sharpening your "used" knives? I will use my knives for almost any application at hand if that's what I've got. But at the end of a day of use I always clean, sharpen, and oil the knife before putting it away. Some of your knives look like they've never been touched. I see oil, grease, stains, pine tar, sap, tape adhesive, etc. What the hell. It's one thing to use it and another to abuse it from just plain old neglect. How about showing a little respect for a blade getting a job well done.
My initial reaction had a bad word so I will revise to say no. They get cleaned when needed and sharpened when needed. Just like any other tool I use.
OK my guess is a SAK is the only pocket knife because there's a Randall fixed blade also on him somewhere. Come on Expat, curious minds want to know?????
@Delkancott - I know I'm probably in the group of anal retentives that lurk around here. But all my tools get cleaned off at the end of the day, which includes muddy shovels, sap covered saws, and tape adhesived knife blades. If I was married to one of you I would probably drive you nuts with my nagging. Postscript: do I get any extra points for making Expat "feel bad"? It seems to me that is a form of butt hurt that I put on him. And he admitted it. So that makes it pretty conclusive in my book.
You have no idea the level of ocd I suffer when caring for my knives, frankly, it's the reason they do what they do. I don't "sharpen after each day or use, but I do make sure the edge is not rolled or damaged. I clean it and oil it but I only break my folders down as needed. I think of it like my truck. I give it all a once over before I get going to make sure it's ready for the day, but I only perform the necessary maintenance as it becomes necessary.
This. Exactly this. Open it before I swap it into tomorrow's pants at night or before I head out the door in the morning. Sharpen as needed. Blow crap out if I see too much fuzz inside. I'll wipe the blade off on my pants or shirt sleeve from time to time.
My work knives never look pretty.i keep the shmoo off of the blade because it bogs down the cutting. If crud gets in the pivot, I pick it out. It's a tool and I'll use it until it's used up.
