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Follow These 4 Rules to Turn Even the Cheapest Pocket Knife into a Family Heirloom

With proper care, attention and maintenance, any pocket knife — even a cheap one — can outlast you.

how to clean and maintain a pocket knife gear patrol full leadPhoto by Chase Pellerin for Gear Patrol

By Tanner Bowden

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Pocket knives, like quality leather boots and cast iron pans, possess inherent longevity. That goes for cheap knives, too. Even a $15 folder purchased at a hardware store can become a multi-generational hand-me-down, but only if it’s properly cared for. Neglect a blade for too long and it’ll be vulnerable to rust, failing you down the road when you need it most.

Luckily, pocket knife care and maintenance is simple. Ryan Coulter, founder of The James Brand, sums up the methodology best: “Keep it sharp, keep it clean, keep it lubed, keep it tight.” Here’s how to do all four.

Rule 1: Keep It Sharp

There are many different methods and tools for sharpening knives. But you don’t have to get overly scientific about it to achieve a fine blade edge.

Most knife sharpeners come with a variety of surfaces and grits. The general rule here is to start with the coarsest surface, like a diamond plate, and work your way down to finer surfaces like a ceramic rod (or a leather strop to finish).

If the DIY method is too intimidating, professional sharpening services aren’t too difficult to find — some, like Knife Aid, will even do it through the mail.

An All-Purpose Knife Tool

This keychain-sized tool includes a tungsten carbide sharpener and a ceramic honing edge. It also comes with T6 and T8 Torx drivers that work with the most widely-used screws in pocket knives.

The Best Overall Pocket Knife Sharpener

The Work Sharp Field Sharpener includes a coarse diamond plate, a fine diamond plate, a large ceramic rod, a small ceramic rod (which is good for working on serrated blades) and a leather strop, all in a small package.

A Smaller, More Portable Option

Spyderco’s Sharpmaker is one of the most popular small-sized sharpening devices (Sal Glesser, the company’s founder, started with sharpeners before making knives). It uses a base and various sets of ceramic and stone rods.

Rule 2: Keep It Clean

Folding knives inevitably collect small bits of debris on the blade and in the pivot from use and storing in a pocket or elsewhere. This can prevent the knife from opening, closing or locking correctly and make for a potentially dangerous tool.

crkt pilar iii pocket knife
Keeping your knife clean ensures it opens, closes and locks seamlessly.
Photo by Hayley Helms for Gear Patrol

The best way to keep a knife clean is to wipe it down after every use but for the less-diligent, periodic cleanings will suffice. Just think twice before taking it apart — doing so might void the manufacturer’s warranty.


The best way to keep a knife clean is to wipe it down after every use.

Remove Grime

Start by removing any visible bits of dirt or other detritus from the knife’s nooks and crannies, paying particular attention to the pivot and handle. Toothpicks are particularly good at this task.

Wash the Knife

Use warm water and mild dish soap to thoroughly wash the knife. You can submerge your knife but will have to be sure that it dries completely before lubricating and storing it again. Once wet, use a toothpick, Q-tip and toothbrush to collect leftover bits and scrub away dirt.

Dry the Knife

Dry the knife with a rag or better yet, compressed air (like the kind used to clean keyboards). Leave it out to air dry completely before lubing and storing.

Rule 3: Keep It Lubed

Once it’s clean and dry, lubricate the knife. If you use the knife to cut food, make sure the lubricant is food-safe (like mineral oil).

Use lubricant sparingly — put a drop or two on the pivot and blade and wipe it down with a microfiber cloth.

A Knife-Specific Solution

EDCi was explicitly created for knives. It’s non-toxic, non-flammable and guards against corrosion. It also adds a layer that makes your knives easier to clean.

Rule 4: Keep It Tight

Screws might come loose as you use a knife over time, so it’s a good idea to make sure all are secure regularly. And when you are cleaning is an excellent time to do so.

Nearly all pocket knives use Torx 6 and Torx 8 screws.

Nearly all pocket knives use Torx 6 and Torx 8 screws, so you’ll need a driver and bits for those (your local hardware store will have both).

Apply a sealer like Blue Loctite (see below) to any screws that you remove to create a firm seal and prevent corrosion.

A Precision Screwdriver Set

Torx driver sets are widely available and affordable. This one comes with a complete set of bits.

An Upmarket Option

For a tool to match the quality of your blade, look to the Hex Bit Driver from Scout Leather Co. It’s made of solid machined brass or copper and includes a magnet to hold bits in place.

A Removable Sealer

Blue Loctite creates a seal that can be easily broken the next time you need to adjust a screw or replace a part. Other sealants are made to produce a permanent seal, and if you need to adjust a screw you could end up stripping it in the effort.

Stay Sharp

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