Caring for my Tod Cutler knife, dagger or sword.

General information

Thank you for buying a Tod Cutler knife or dagger. It is made in very similar ways to those from the medieval period. The blade is made from a non stainless carbon steel, the handle is made from natural wood, horn or bone which is not stabilised and the sheath is made from vegetable tanned leather.

This means that your knife will wear and age just like the original ones did, but it also means you should look after it a bit more than you would with a modern made knife, so here is some information to help.

How should I look after my knife?

Occasionally oil the blade with a mineral oil. The wood can be oiled with boiled linseed oil or waxed with a natural wood wax. The sheath can be polished with shoe polish. However these are suggestions not requirements. It is best to use a gun oil for the blade; I use Ballistol and think it is rather smelly but excellent.

Where should I keep my knife?

Your knife is made from natural materials and these will change over time. Temperature and humidity. Mostly this won’t matter, but can cause you problems.  Don’t leave the knife in very hot or cold places or places that are very damp or very dry; basically don’t leave it on your car dashboard in the desert or in your basement. It should be fine left in the sheath, but if you are going to leave it for long periods undisturbed, it is best to store it out of the sheath.

Why does my knife blade discolour?

If you remember your Grandparents’ kitchen knives, they were grey and mottled.  This is caused by oxide and happens more with acidic foods, but whatever you use your knife for, it will just happen over time and is a characteristic of non-stainless, carbon steel. It is not a problem, it just is. 

Can I clean my knife if it discolours?

Yes you can, but remember it will keep happening, just like it did with Grandmother's knives. Your local hardware shop will sell you ‘1500 grit, wet and dry’ sand paper. Place the knife flat on a surface and wipe with a little vegetable oil or mineral oil and then scrub the paper back and forth along the long dimension of the blade trying to keep the direction constant. This will remove the oxide and discolouration and then wipe the oil away. If the steel is not bright then repeat.  Note: Placing the knife flat on a surface and sanding it whilst held flat will help prevent you getting cut. In the UK there is also an excellent product called ‘Bar keepers friend’. Just follow the instructions.

What should I do if my knife gets wet?

Remove the knife and dry it down with some tissue and wipe over with oil. Leave the sheath in a regular room of your house, but not on a radiator or in the airing cupboard. It will take 3-4 days to dry fully and then repolish with shoe polish.

Should I oil or ‘feed’ the leather?

No. There is no need to treat the leather in any way other than with shoe polish.

How should I sharpen my knife?

It is best to keep your knife sharp so try to learn how to sharpen it properly and buy a suitable stone and use it. Your local hardware store can sell you a fine ‘carborundum stone’. Stones usually come with a coarse and a fine side. Use the coarse side if the knife is very blunt, but after that just use the fine side and try to give your knife a sharpen every few times you use it. This video shows the process well, but it is for modern kitchen knives and so the angle he shows is very fine at 15 degrees, so increase this. 

https://youtu.be/h6faatE8b9Q?si=jb4QOTn9OmQS1ivw

Unfortunately I cannot tell you exactly what angle to sharpen at because I sharpen by hand so just work on each knife in a way that feels correct, but it will be around 22-25 degrees.