How To Give Your Knife An Inspection Before Use.

Step 1. Make sure its clean!

Make sure that your knife is clean before getting any further. Remove any of the debris thats clinging to the blade, handle, or inside the sheath for fixed blades and inside the handle for folding knives.

Mud, tape and other debris can cover up problems like rust, deep scratches, and missing pieces. By cleaning them away we can get a full picture of how the knife is doing.

Step 2. Check the Handle.

How is the handle of your knife doing? Are there any pieces that need to be replaced? Do any of the screws need tightening?

If your handle isn't sturdy then it might not be safe to use. Make sure you're confident in the handle before moving on!

Step 3. Hows the blade doing?

Before you go grab a sheet of paper to test the edge, start by looking over the blade itself. Do you see any rust or deep scratches? Are there any cracks or divots in the edge?

If there is damage, some knife shops can help you get it back in shape or tell you it needs to be replaced.

Is your knife dull? The paper test is a great way to see if your knife needs a little whetstone work or a quick honing session with a strop.

Step 4. (if applicable) Does the sheath have problems?

An often forgotten step in knife care is to check your sheath.

You trust your sheath to protect your knife and prevent accident so its worth checking in to see if its till up to the task.

Is there anything in the sheath that will damage the knife that needs to be removed? Is the stitching still holding the sheath together?