Introduction: How to Inspect,Clean&Lube a Pocket Knife (Multiple Mechanisms & Fixed Blades)

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About: Volunteer emergency services

In this Instructable, I will be teaching you how to inspect,clean, and lubricate a pocket knife. I will be showing you how to do this on three different knives:
- Benchmade Griptilian 551BK (Axis Lock/ Open locking mechanism)
- Kershaw Scallion 1620GR (Liner Lock/ Closed locking mechanism)
- CRKT Stiff KISS (Fixed Blade)

Step 1: Warning!

Before we start, I am in no way responsible for anything. Knives are dangerous tools. Also, I cannot be held responsible for any damage. Knives are unique, and I cannot explain how to properly clean/inspect/lube knives for every knife. This may or may not void your warranty. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTING.

Step 2: Materials

Here's what you will need:
-Knife
-Work Area
-Lube ( I used Benchmade Blue Lube Lubricant)
-Rubbing Alcohol
-Cleaner/Solvent (I didn't use any)
-Bandana/Rag
- "Q-Tips"
- Cotton pads
- Something thin/narrow
- Screwdriver + Bit kit for your knife (usually Torx)
- LocTite (blue) Only if you are taking it apart
- Bright Light
- Fan/ Hair Dryer on cold


A lot of these things are optional, but that's what I used. 

Step 3: Visual Inspection

I like to start with a visual inspection. I turn on my lamp and look to see what I need to do. I like to clean my knives at least once a month. I work in Emergency Services, and my knives can get pretty gunked up and nasty with icky stuff. Although I do sterilize them after a shift, I still like to clean them thoroughly.
Start by looking at your knife closely when it's closed. Although the handle isn't something I care much about, I like to look at it and end up wiping it down AT THE END of my cleaning. 
Check for any cracks, rust, chips, or any other 'irrepairable' physical damage. In this case, I like to document it and send/take it to the manufacturer. 
Do the same thing, this time with the knife fully open in the locked position. 
If it's a fixed blade, check the sheath with the knife it it, and outside of it. Slide it in and out a few times and listen close for any rubbing sounds (like sand being inside,etc)
Then inspect the knife in several positions with it open, but not locked. BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL.
Check the pivot area.
I like to also check the blade to see if it needs sharpening. Hold the cutting edge towards you, and look down on it. You need a trained eye, but you can usually tell if it's extremely dull/worn or not. Also, try shaving your arm hair. My usual test of sharpness, since I can feel how easy/hard it is to shave off the hair.

Step 4: Cleaning

I'm going to start by passing the scrap of paracord soaked in rubbing alcohol through the internal liner of my knife. I'm going to get it in there with the back end of a floss stick. You could also use the back of another knife, a small flathead screwdriver, or anything that's small and fits in there.
Then, I'm going to shove in a cotton square to absorb any alcohol and wipe any grime out. I like to cycle the blade open and closed a few times to get the crap out of the pivot area as well.
Then, I clean off the blade with a cotton square soaked in rubbing alcohol. Again, I wipe it clean with a paper towel or another cotton square.
Make sure to get as much lube off of the pivot as you can.
If there's still grime you can't get off, run the knife through warm water under the sink for a while, while cycling the blade open and closed several times. 
Hold the knife in front of a fan/cold hair dryer for a few minutes for all the water /rubbing alcohol to dry out. You can use the heat on the hair dryer at the end, but make sure it isn't too hot, and also, let the knife completely cool before continuing.

Step 5: Lubing

After making sure it's completely dry, take your knife and get the lube ready.
There's three different lube methods I use:
-Olive/Food grade mineral oil
-Petroleum jelly 
-Blue Lube.

The Blue Lube/oil methods work the same, but the petroleum jelly one doesn't. It's not a good method at all, except if you've really got major problems.
I'll be demonstrating it with Blue lube, but again, it works the same with any liquid lubricant.

Open the knife, and apply a dab of lube to the locking mechanism and both sides of the pivot point. Then, cycle the knife open and closed several times with the tip up. After doing so for a minute, point the tip down and cycle it open and closed again a few times. Then hold it tip down for a few minutes. This will get all the excess lube out. Use a rag or microfiber cloth (anything without lint) to gather all of the excess lube.
The reason behind doing this is that if you have a lot of oil or lube left over, it will attract more dust and create grime, even if it's simply riding in your pocket. 
I like to put my knife in front of a fan after doing this to make sure any extra lube gets out and wiped clean. 

Step 6: Conclusion

Ultimately, I've showed you how to check your knife for damage,remove any debris from it, and keep it running smoothly. I hope this instructable helped.

I have some questions to ask you. Please reply in the comments section:
What is a good 'field sharpener' to use. Something where you just run the knife through it. I have a Benchmade Griptilian, and it's the first 'expensive' quality knife I've bought. I really want to take good care of it, and I was debating just sending it into Benchmade for them to sharpen each time, but I can't tolerate not being without my Griptilian for even a few days. I don't want to use the wetstone method, since I'm not skilled and I'm afraid I will damage or change my knife.

Thanks for reading, and happy cutting.