All About Pocket Knives

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.

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.

I have several out in the open, doesn't seem to be a problem.

I wouldn’t use your leaf blower on high speed when dusting, other than that I see no problem

edge213 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 17, 2025 3:41 pm

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.

I have several out in the open, doesn't seem to be a problem.

Same here.

bestgear wrote: ↑Wed Sep 17, 2025 5:14 pm I wouldn’t use your leaf blower on high speed when dusting, other than that I see no problem

bestgear, that silly. I wouldn't use a leaf blower. Just a high powered warehouse fan!

Thanks for the responses, guys.

MissouriGuerrilla wrote: ↑Wed Sep 17, 2025 6:31 pm Thanks for the responses, guys.

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.

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

Thanks Sharp and Mumbley. Both duly noted.