Cleaning
Properly maintaining your Axial knife will help ensure a lifetime of reliable performance. Follow the recommended instructions below for cleaning and caring for your OTF knife.We recommend using Axial Knife Oil to clean, protect, and lubricate your OTF knives. You can also use a very light gun oil such as REM Oil.
ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
1. Tilt your OTF knife upside down and blow compressed air into the opening to remove any dirt, buildup, and/or debris.
2. Spray a generous amount of Axial Knife Oil into the opening of your knife. Deploy and retract the blade several times to ensure that all of the internal components are well lubricated.
3. Tilt your knife upside down again and blow compressed air into the opening to remove any excess oil. It is important to keep your knife well lubricated, but too much lubrication can attract dirt and build-up and hinder the performance of your knife.
4. Finally, place a drop of Axial Knife Oil on each side of the trigger and in the choil area of your blade to keep the action of your knife functioning smoothly and efficiently.
TO PREVENT RUST from building up on your blade, keep your knife well lubricated and clean from debris. If you are using your knife to cut through tape, we recommend removing any tape residue from the blade before retracting it back into the handle.
Disassembly
We take a different approach then traditional knife manufacturers, recognizing that many of you prefer to maintain your own knives. We don't use proprietary screws on our knives. We don't void your warranty if you disassemble your knife. We advise against excessive disassembly of your knife because it can put unnecessary wear and tear on parts, but periodic disassembly may be required in order to keep your knife running at the highest level.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS: If you do choose to disassembly your knife, keep in mind that the handle is machined from 6061-T6 aluminum. It's possible to strip the threading on the handle, which will require a handle replacement that isn't covered under our warranty. We do not warranty lost parts, but if you happen to lose a part you can request replacement parts by submitting the Parts Request Form found on our knife warranty page. If you aren't confident in your ability to disassembly your knife and perform necessary maintenance, we recommend that you take advantage of our Premier Edge warranty service. At zero cost to you, our professional team will disassembly, clean, lubricate, and adjust your OTF to perform at the highest level. All that you are responsible for is the costs associated with shipping to and from our facility.
The video below demonstrates proper disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly of an Axial OTF.