Your knife will last a lifetime if properly cared for. Here are some guidelines for care and maintenance.
· Always wipe and dry your knife after use. Wash with warm soapy water, rinse and dry.
· Store your knife in a safe, protective manner (away from children, not in direct sunlight, and not in it's sheath.)
· Like all fine knives, do not put in a dishwasher!
· Do not place your knife in an oven and avoid high heat. This can alter the structure of the steel or weaken the handle bond.
· Do not strike the knife with another metal object.
The handle of your knife is most likely made of natural wood. It is very durable, but not indestructible. Do not subject the handle to excessive heat, direct flame, acidic or caustic solutions or long term submersion in liquid.
If your knife is made of high carbon low-no chromium steel, and you take care of it, it will form a patina over time. This is good rust, and it protects the blade. The type of rust that is bad is red rust, the rust that will form if you let your knife sit wet or in its sheath for a long time.
Keep your knife sharp, and if you can't, send it to me and I will resharpen it. You will have to pay shipping though.
Natural materials like wood and bone will "move" over time, as they see different humidities and such. Obviously this is not good. Try to keep a knife with natural materials protected from harsh weather and conditions, as, just like a fine riflestock, it can crack, swell, or shrink. I am not an expert on this subject, but with most woods you shouldn't have any problems.
Obviously, if you don't want to chip the blade, don't try to cut a rock in half, and if you want the whole blade intact, don't throw your knife.
Oil and wax are good for preventing rust and keeping your knife looking nice. Silicon free paste wax is preferred. I have recently been using mother's paste wax and cleaner, and like it, but if you have a kitchen knife, you may want to use something that is guaranteed food safe like mineral or vegetable oil.
If you have more questions or anything, contact me at aldgracole@outlook.com. Honestly though, I don't think you will have any serious problems if you use common sense, the knives are built very well.
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