Folding Knives and hygiene

[cjm1066]

I am going to blame @Longstrider as a recent post links to his knife sharpening skills, that got me thinking, did I need his services for my EKA - Swingblade? Perhaps I should have a another go myself with the Spyderco Sharpmaker. The truth is I get a very usable sharp blade, but less so on the curved gralloching blade.

Pleased with my work, the plastic handle is getting tatty, did it need a proper clean? I have always flushed it with plenty of running water after each use, it should be clean internally?



The photo makes it look better than it was as a lot of the “muck” is now on the table cloth.

So are folding knives suitable for gralloching, yes if you can keep them clean, but that’s not any easy task. Perhaps they need to accompany my cases and have time in the ultrasound cleaner?

Has anyone got a source for spares scales?

 

[Steff]

I use a washing up brush with long bristles to clean out the blade channel. Good enough for me.
What the eye doesn't see the heart doesn't grieve over.

 

[Rory]

@cjm1066 this is exactly why I moved away from the swing blade and now use a stainless fixed blade with solid synthetic handle (SOG SEAL Pup).
Even after soaking, scrubbing, brushing - I would still have traces of blood trapped and seeping out (when drying, placing it on the sideboard would see pinky river drain out from the handle).
Much better now with a fixed blade.

 

[Dunwaters]

That crud was doing absolutely no harm where it was until you decided to make an issue of it.
Why did you do that?
If you really wanted to clean it out, give it a rinse under the hot tap and spray it with WD40 when you’re done.
If you’re really determined to make work for yourself get a couple of ear buds and poke them about inside the handle while you’re watching “ Love Island” .
This won’t make the knife any cleaner, but it will force you to look away from the telly now and again.

 

[big ears]

That crud was doing absolutely no harm where it was until you decided to make an issue of it.
Why did you do that?
If you really wanted to clean it out, give it a rinse under the hot tap and spray it with WD40 when you’re done.
If you’re really determined to make work for yourself get a couple of ear buds and poke them about inside the handle while you’re watching “ Love Island” .
This won’t make the knife any cleaner, but it will force you to look away from the telly now and again.

That is a good point. What would be useful if said crud was looked at and seen if it was infective and contaminated.

 

[Dunwaters]

That is a good point. What would be useful if said crud was looked at and seen if it was infective and contaminated.

If theres a problem you’ll smell it.
Blow flies circling your belt are another giveaway.

 

[Tazz]

I am going to blame @Longstrider as a recent post links to his knife sharpening skills, that got me thinking, did I need his services for my EKA - Swingblade? Perhaps I should have a another go myself with the Spyderco Sharpmaker. The truth is I get a very usable sharp blade, but less so on the curved gralloching blade.

Pleased with my work, the plastic handle is getting tatty, did it need a proper clean? I have always flushed it with plenty of running water after each use, it should be clean internally?

View attachment 367473

The photo makes it look better than it was as a lot of the “muck” is now on the table cloth.

So are folding knives suitable for gralloching, yes if you can keep them clean, but that’s not any easy task. Perhaps they need to accompany my cases and have time in the ultrasound cleaner?

Has anyone got a source for spares scales?

Is not the moral of the story, don’t take things apart that are working perfectly well and you are happy with !

 

[Everlong]

The latest version of the EKA swingblade can be completely disassembled for cleaning.

 

[south-nofolk-stalker]

I am going to blame @Longstrider as a recent post links to his knife sharpening skills, that got me thinking, did I need his services for my EKA - Swingblade? Perhaps I should have a another go myself with the Spyderco Sharpmaker. The truth is I get a very usable sharp blade, but less so on the curved gralloching blade.

Pleased with my work, the plastic handle is getting tatty, did it need a proper clean? I have always flushed it with plenty of running water after each use, it should be clean internally?

View attachment 367473

The photo makes it look better than it was as a lot of the “muck” is now on the table cloth.

So are folding knives suitable for gralloching, yes if you can keep them clean, but that’s not any easy task. Perhaps they need to accompany my cases and have time in the ultrasound cleaner?

Has anyone got a source for spares scales?

You worry too much, just get on with it!

If you that worried, get one of the new swing blades you can purposely dismantle for cleaning its spot on

Also 20° angle is what you need for the perfect swing blade edge

 

[Bavarianbrit]

I just looked at mine which is labelled on the sheath as an Outdoor edge item that I bought when they were located opposite my sFa stand at the IWA Nurnberg show back in the 2010s, they had taken on the Schrade name too. I took the knife out of the sheath and it is labelled on the handle as an EKA knife so they must be getting them all made in China and just relabelling them either Outdoor Edge or EKA which the seller on their stand told me at the time was what they were doing.

 

[VSS]

If theres a problem you’ll smell it.
Blow flies circling your belt are another giveaway.

Blow flies circling your belt might be symptomatic of all sorts of things.....

 

[Dunwaters]

 

[25 Sharps]

I am going to blame @Longstrider as a recent post links to his knife sharpening skills, that got me thinking, did I need his services for my EKA - Swingblade? Perhaps I should have a another go myself with the Spyderco Sharpmaker. The truth is I get a very usable sharp blade, but less so on the curved gralloching blade.

Pleased with my work, the plastic handle is getting tatty, did it need a proper clean? I have always flushed it with plenty of running water after each use, it should be clean internally?

View attachment 367473

The photo makes it look better than it was as a lot of the “muck” is now on the table cloth.

So are folding knives suitable for gralloching, yes if you can keep them clean, but that’s not any easy task. Perhaps they need to accompany my cases and have time in the ultrasound cleaner?

Has anyone got a source for spares scales?

No, they aren’t. The unless you are going to fully submerge in disinfectant each time. Too many nooks and crannies for material and bugs to hide.

 

[The Singing Stalker]

I use an EKA and have wondered at the hygiene. As said, apparently the latest generation can be stripped completely. I haven’t seen on yet but look forward to seeing and perhaps buying one as they are so handy.

 

[Rake Aboot]

Germs are only an issue if you can see them .