The easy stuff
Stainless and supersteels — Magnacut, Elmax, Damasteel — are all easy to live with. Wipe them clean, apply a little oil, or don’t.

The fun stuff
Damascus, san mai, copper-layered steel, and other high-carbon steels are far more fun, at least in my book. They're beautiful and they hold a wicked edge — at a price. The high carbon content that makes exotic steels perform and look so pretty also makes them more prone to rust. The fix is simple: clean the blade after use, wipe it dry, and apply a light coat of oil.

If rust shows up, don't panic
On high-carbon steel, rust can form more quickly than you think — especially along a cutting edge. Don't lose hope. If it appears, rub the blade down with a little vinegar or lemon juice, wash with warm soapy water, hand dry, then oil as normal. Over time, depending on your knife's finish, the blade may develop a patina and grow more tolerant of moisture.

High-carbon and Damascus take more care than your grandma's bread knife — but the beauty, the performance, and the way it feels in the hand make it more than worth it.

Do's and Don'ts

Don't store knives in a leather roll for long stretches. Leather traps moisture against the blade, and that's bad news. If you have one of those waterproof cases, a dessicant bag is a great idea.

Do store automatic knives open when you can! Keeping the spring compressed in a switchblade for long periods is — well, stupid. Do you have to keep it locked open at all times? No. But a compressed spring, left that way for months, even weeks, can cause fatigue and sometimes even failure. Do yourself a favor and store them open when possible.

Do treat exotic scales kindly. Extreme heat, cold, and moisture are the enemy. Exotic knives like a cool place to hang out — they love a display case. They don’t like fingerprints or moisture on the steel. You wouldn't enjoy living in a hot garage or a damp shed - neither does a good knife.