Equipment Care

Knives

  • Always put your knife back into its sheath when you are not using it.  Never push your knife blade into the ground - this will damage the edge.
  • Never place a wet knife into a sheath as it will go rusty.  Always clean and dry your knife before putting it in its sheath.  Lightly oil the blade from time to time.  
  • Do not use your knife as a prying or levering tool, or to open cans.
  • If you use your knife for batoning wood, strike only the exposed part of the blade's spine and not the handle.  Use only wood to hit the spine, do not use anything metal.
  • Keep your knife in a cool, dry place.  If it is too hot, the handle may dry out and shrink.
  • After use, strop the knife on a piece of leather to help to maintain the edge.

Axes

  • Always replace the head/blade cover when the axe is not in use.  Dry the axe head before placing it in the cover.  Never put a wet axe into a sheath as it will go rusty.  Lightly oil the head from time to time.
  • Never bury the axe head into the ground - this will damage the edge.
  • Never use the back of your axe as a hammer; this will damage or break the eye and may result in the handle becoming dangerously loose.
  • Keep your axe in a cool, dry place.  If it is too hot, the handle may dry out and shrink.
  • After use, strop the axe on a piece of leather to help to maintain the edge.

 Leather

  • If it gets wet, let leather dry out naturally.  Do not be tempted to put it on a radiator or near a fire, as this can cause it to harden and crack.
  • Wipe the leather clean with a damp cloth, but do not soak it, or immerse it in water.
  • Do not use any petroleum-based products on leather.
  • I recommend using neatsfoot oil, beeswax or carnauba cream to condition your leather and help to make it water-resistant.  On embossed leather, you can use supershene, tan-kote, beeswax or clear shoe polish.