So I got my first ever Swiss Army Knife 2 months ago. It’s a Victorinox Huntsman with 14 tools (the one with the saw). I have not used it extensively yet, but I wipe it clean every time I use it.

I’m not aware of when and how often I should oil the moving parts and things like that. I would like to keep this knife in working condition for as long as I can.

  • @eating3645@lemmy.world
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    81 year ago

    One of the big advantages of a victorinox is that they’re designed to be essentially maintenance free. As far as I can tell, the intention is that if you leave it in a bag, drawer, car, or just lose it under the couch for a decade, it will be ready to perform when you need it.

    Another great benefit is that you can play around with different maintenance routines and find a system that works for you without worrying about corrosion or excessive wear. Try different oils, try it dry, see how it responds.

    Clean it with water, compressed air, alcohol, or whatever else you feel like trying. Keep in mind that naturally derived oils will go rancid over time and if you’re too thick, it’ll go sticky.

    A similar design philosophy is used with the blade, they are super easy to resharpen. It’s a great blade to learn how to repair and sharpen. It also doesn’t require oiling, but nothing is stopping you from trying it. Just stick to something food-grade so you can use it worry-free on meal prep if you have to.

    Lastly, the most important thing you can do to prolong the life of your tool is to learn the limits of the tool set. No matter how well you generally maintain it, using it abusively once will break it.

    You’ve got yourself a fine little knife, I hope it serves you well for years to come.