All pieces from Shadowhawk Blades are forged of high carbon steel and special attention to their care is recommended.
Care of Your Blade
The blade itself should be kept oiled with a lightweight oil or Vaseline. If you plan to use your blade with food you should use a kitchen oil such as olive or canola oil. Be sure it is a light coating so that it does not become sticky. When the blade has not been used in a while, wipe down the blade before cutting food or applying fresh oil. This will remove the old oil and prevent it from going rancid.
If the blade should rust or become scratched, spray the blade with WD-40 and sand the marks away with a 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper.
The handle has been given some type of protective coating (exact type will vary with handle material.) Additional coatings of Tung or Linseed oil should be applied to wood, bone, or antler handles once every couple of months. Either oil may be purchased at most paint stores, including Wal-Mart. Both oils work well but Tung oil has less smell and is less likely to darken the handle color.
Sharpening
A diamond stone is recommended for sharpening the blade. Other sharpening stones will work but will require more patience. Unless otherwise stated, the blade will come to you sharp but not with a perfect edge, as no one is able to exactly duplicate the hand-sharpened edge of another.
