Knife care

Nasus Diaboli knives are specialised tools. They are lovingly and carefully made, fit for purpose and will serve you and your family a lifetime if cared for correctly.

I love working with both stainless and high carbon steels which both have their own character and needs which I will be carefull to dicuss with anyone ordering a custom knife. You will also recieve a letter detailing specific care instuctions for your particular knife. There are, however, some general conciderations that apply universally.

Knives should always be stored dry.

This is important for all knives as even stainless steel knives can be damaged by excessive exposure to water, but it is particularly important for high carbon steel knives. Carbon steel is a reactive material and will interact with its environment. Your carbon steel knives will develop a patina as they are exposed to the food you cook, which will develop as dark grey, blue, or sometimes even rainbow marks on your blade. These can be polished off but many lovers of carbon steel appreciate this patina which not only brings even more character to your knife but also protects from more damaging oxidation in the form of rust.

Never put your knives in the dishwasher.

Dishwashers are extremely hostile environments for Knives! The water and heat can corrode the blade steel. The soap will strip the natural oils from wooden handles leaving them grey or cracked. And finally the micro abrasives in the dishwasher powder can actually remove the fine apex of your knifes edge leaving it slightly less sharp. Please wipe down your knives with a damp soapy cloth or soft sponge the dry thoroughly befor storing.

Avoid storing your knives loose in a drawer.

This one is in both you and your knives’ best interest. Apart from the obvious risk to fingers reaching into a drawer full of sharp knives, banging against other metal utensils will significantly reduce the time your knife will stay sharp. If you dont have a good storage option for your Nasus Diaboli knife I can help by either providing a special saya (sheath or cover) or by suggesting some great knife storage solutions. I personally use and recoment magnetic knife racks.

Avoid pull through sharpeners.

Your Nasus Diaboli knife should stay sharp for a very long time but will eventually need sharpening. I personally use and recomend a leather strop for regular egde maintenance which will also prolong the time before sharpening is required. These are usually available for purchse in the store. I will also provide basic sharpening of your Nasus Diaboli knives for the cost of postage to and from my workshop. If your knife is ever significantly damaged (broken tip or major chip) please get in touch about repairs.