Displaying knives in open air
- MissouriGuerrilla
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Displaying knives in open air
I was thinking about displaying a few of my knives in the open and didn't know if that was safe or not. I dont have any cases or display boxes and would be sitting them out on a shelf. Is that ok as long as they stay dusted like everything else? Or will too much dust still settle within the mechanisms?
Thanks.
Thanks.
- edge213
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Re: Displaying knives in open air
I have several out in the open, doesn't seem to be a problem.MissouriGuerrilla wrote: ↑Wed Sep 17, 2025 3:15 pm I was thinking about displaying a few of my knives in the open and didn't know if that was safe or not. I dont have any cases or display boxes and would be sitting them out on a shelf. Is that ok as long as they stay dusted like everything else? Or will too much dust still settle within the mechanisms?
Thanks.
David
"Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife" Meat Loaf
"Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife" Meat Loaf
- bestgear
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Re: Displaying knives in open air
I wouldn’t use your leaf blower on high speed when dusting, other than that I see no problem 
- Steve Warden
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Re: Displaying knives in open air
Same here.edge213 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 17, 2025 3:41 pmI have several out in the open, doesn't seem to be a problem.MissouriGuerrilla wrote: ↑Wed Sep 17, 2025 3:15 pm I was thinking about displaying a few of my knives in the open and didn't know if that was safe or not. I dont have any cases or display boxes and would be sitting them out on a shelf. Is that ok as long as they stay dusted like everything else? Or will too much dust still settle within the mechanisms?
Thanks.
Take care and God bless,
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
- MissouriGuerrilla
- Posts: 1078
- Joined: Fri Oct 22, 2021 1:09 am
- Location: A few miles from Pomme De Terre Lake, Missouri
- MissouriGuerrilla
- Posts: 1078
- Joined: Fri Oct 22, 2021 1:09 am
- Location: A few miles from Pomme De Terre Lake, Missouri
Re: Displaying knives in open air
Thanks for the responses, guys.
- Sharpnshinyknives
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Re: Displaying knives in open air
I have a different take on this having purchased a large collection of knives that had been displayed open like this. Airborne grease will land on these from cooking in the kitchen. Then dust will accumulate and stick to the grease. Makes it very difficult to clean. This person had been a member of the Case Collectors Club from the start back in the very early 80’s. For about the first 10 years Case included a plaque with a cut out for the knife to set into and half out. All those knives after 30 years of exposure were a mess to clean up. Some rust caused by that too.
I don’t think you can avoid airborne grease floating through out your house no mater how well made your ventilation system. Just something to consider.
SSk Mark
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Visit my AAPK store here: https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/sharpnshinyknives
- Mumbleypeg
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Re: Displaying knives in open air
My solution is to rotate portions of my collection from inside Sack-Ups to being displayed for about 90 days in the open. Not sure how much that helps or hurts but I’ve not had any problems. The knives are cleaned before being returned to enclosed storage after their time out in the open, so that helps prevent any long term accumulation of dust or any airborne contamination.
One thing that’s not been mentioned is exposure to light. Whatever your decision, be sure the knives are not exposed long term to bright light, especially sunlight.
Ken
One thing that’s not been mentioned is exposure to light. Whatever your decision, be sure the knives are not exposed long term to bright light, especially sunlight.
Ken
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.
If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.
When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.
https://www.akti.org/
If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.
When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.
https://www.akti.org/
- MissouriGuerrilla
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Re: Displaying knives in open air
Thanks Sharp and Mumbley. Both duly noted. 