Lubrication is an essential part of knife maintenance. If you want your knife to last longer, stay clean, and work efficiently, using knife oil is a must.
But what kind of knife lube should you use with so many options on the market?
In this article, we will present you with a list of the 8 best knife oils for any type of knife. After the reviews, you can expand your knowledge by reading our knife oil guide.
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Knife Lube/Oil – Reviews
In the first part of our review section, we will recommend the best overall knife lube models. In the second part, we will review the best food-safe knife lube models for knives that come in contact with food.
Click Here To Skip To Non-Toxic Food-Grade Knife Oil Reviews!
Our Pick
Break-Free CLP-4 Cleaner Lubricant
The CLP-4 Lubricant is without a doubt the best knife lube for folding knives that don’t come in contact with food. It is water and salt-resistant, offers super-reduced friction, and is overall ideal for lubricating knife pivots.
While mostly used for firearms, this lubricant works wonders on folding knives. It offers great lubrication for the pivot and reduces friction significantly. The oil doesn’t harden or break down and easily cleans any residue that was present before.
Its extreme environmental resistance makes it a great choice for outdoor enthusiasts that carry their pocket knives while camping or hiking. This lube resists temperatures from -65 to 475 Fahrenheit! That’s some serious resistance!
The CLP lube also has excellent water and salt resistance properties. It prevents corrosion and is suitable for use in a moist environment. You can safely use this lube if you do a lot of spearfishing or scuba diving.
This lubricant doesn’t have a strong smell and can be used indoors with no issues. It cleans off very easily and doesn’t require excessive scrubbing or a lot of pressure to remove the excess lube.
If you want your knife to be more resistant, work efficiently, and last a long time, CLP-4 lubricant is the way to go!
Benchmade Bluelube Knife Care Lubricant
Benchmade is known as a premium knife manufacturer that focuses on quality. Their knife lubricants are no different. They offer superb lubrication and resistance to the knife.
This lubricant is designed for accurate application. The narrow precision nozzle allows you to get just the right amount of oil to the knife parts. This is a great feature to prevent overapplication and wastage of lubricant.
The knife lube itself is very high-grade. The lubricant formula is specifically designed for knife use and will give your knives very reduced friction.
The oil doesn’t attract dirt and debris over time and will keep your knife lubricated for much longer than most other lubes.
We really like how resistant this lubricant is. It will successfully prevent the steel on your knife from rust and corrosion. It offers great temperature resistance as well, making your knife protected in both hot and cold temperatures.
The Benchmade lube is super-easy and enjoyable to work with and makes your knives perform and look even better than before! It does come with a higher price tag, but if you really love your knives and want them to remain in pristine condition, this is the lube to go for.
WD-40 - Multi-Purpose Lubricant Aerosol Spray
WD-40 is a legendary product that is incredibly versatile and does a phenomenal job of lubricating just about everything. It works excellently on knives and is one of the best knife lubricants on the market.
This spray lubricant not only lubricates your knife but also protects the knife from moisture and cleans all the dirt, making your knife as good as new.
The spray application is easy to apply and doesn’t damage any of the knife parts. You can safely spray any part of the knife you want and achieve great lubrication and protection.
The WD-40 dries quickly and is easy to remove or clean up after application. You can expect the lubricated parts to maintain low friction and be protected for a long, long time with this lube.
Another great feature of this lube is that it’s so versatile. You can use it on so many household items that need corrosion resistance, lubrication, and extra protection. It is a useful tool to have around and is always good to have in hand.
Overall, you can’t go wrong with WD-40 when it comes to knife lubrication. It does everything a knife lube should. It is easy to apply, protects, and lubricates the knife parts excellently.
Slip2000 EWL30
If you want the perfect lubrication and incredible corrosion resistance, this is the lubricant to go for.
The Slip2000 lube is used by the Military for its unbelievable rust and saltwater resistance. It will make your knives waterproof, so to speak.
This has to be the most durable lube we’ve ever tried on our knives. No other lubricant stays nice and wet for this long. When you use this lube, you won’t have to lubricate your knives nearly as frequently as you did before.
The Slip2000 reduces the friction significantly and makes your folding knives open and close smoothly. It doesn’t harden or attract debris.
You can safely use this lubricant on any of the knife parts, no matter the material. It won’t damage or degrade the materials and isn’t toxic, making it great to use indoors.
This high-grade lubricant is a terrific choice for knife lubrication. It offers superb resistance, reduces friction phenomenally, and lasts longer than any other lube! It’s a must for any serious knife owner!
Hoppe's No. 9 Lubricating Oil
The Hoppe’s No.9 lube is a great budget oil for knives. It performs great on all types of knives while being affordable.
This lube has a light or low viscosity, which makes it ideal for delicate part applications like pivot lubing. It doesn’t break down or harden and stays wet for long.
The Hoppe’s no.9 offers reduced friction and solid environmental resistance of your knives. It has excellent corrosion and rust resistance properties while also having great temperature tolerance.
This knife oil cleans easily and doesn’t draw dirt, sand, or debris. It provides clean and long-lasting results.
All in all, this is a proper knife lube that will do the job. While there are better-performing oils on the market, its solid lubrication and affordable price make it a worthwhile purchase!
Hicet Knife Lubricant Bottle
While this isn’t a knife lube, it is a super handy tool for pinpoint lubrication. This knife lube dispenser is a wonderful choice for lubricating folding knives, and especially parts that are hard to reach and require a specific amount of oil.
The main advantage of this bottle is its specially designed stainless steel needle applicator. This type of applicator allows you to lubricate all knife parts precisely, even the ones that are hard to reach without the use of additional tools.
The needle also gives you the possibility to apply the lube drop by drop, so that you don’t waste any oil and place just the right amount of lube on the knife parts, with no excess left.
While this is only a bottle for precise oil lube application, it’s a great choice for accurate application of lube in small knife parts. If you pair this bottle with some of the high-grade knife oils like the ones we reviewed, you will be golden.
Best Food-Safe Knife Lube/Oil
In the second section of the reviews, we will look at the best food-grade knife oil models. All of the models reviewed are intended for knives that come in contact with food, although they themselves are not intended for consumption.
UltraPro Food Grade Mineral Oil
The UltraPro food-grade mineral oil offers a great value for the price. It’s a great lubricant as well as a great cleaning product that eliminates old oil, grease, and dirt.
This oil is NSF-approved as safe for food and doesn’t have an odor or taste. It is a perfect solution for the lubrication of knives that are used for cutting food. It’s very enjoyable to work with and can be used indoors since it isn’t toxic and has no scent.
This lubricant prevents rust and corrosion. Its moisture-resistant properties will protect your knife when exposing to water.
The Ultra pro mineral oil is excellent for lubricating folding knives as it reduces the friction of the locking mechanism and makes it feel smooth.
The economy pack may not be for everyone, but if you have several knives that require regular oiling or have some machinery that should be lubricated as well, this large 1-gallon package is a steal of a deal.
If you prefer a smaller packaging, go for a 4-ounce pack of this same oil that is also available on Amazon here.
There is no other lubricant on the market this affordable and yet suitable for lubricating knives! It’s the best food-safe knife lube you can find.
Super Lube 56104 Silicone Oil
This silicone oil lube is National Science Foundation registered food lubricant that is safe for use on knives that are used on food.
It offers great lubrication and doesn’t harden over time. It will reduce friction tremendously and won’t attract dirt or debris.
This lube has great temperature resistance. It can withstand temperatures from -58 to 392 Fahrenheit! You will have no problem with using this lube for your outdoor knives that are exposed to extreme temperatures, it will tolerate them with ease.
The super lube oil offers tremendous rust and corrosion resistance keeping your knives intact. It will protect your knives from moisture and salt.
You can expect prolonged protection when using this lube. You won’t have to lubricate your knives frequently, and just a little of this oil goes a long way.
We really like the nozzle for easy application. It makes lubing your knife a breeze! You can apply the preferred amount of oil drop by drop and easily reach small and confined parts of your knife.
Overall, this is one of the best food-grade oil for knives you can find! It will protect your knife for a long time and is safe to use on food!
What To Look For When Choosing Knife Oil
In this part of the article, we will look at the most important factors to consider when choosing knife oil. Make sure to read this section before choosing a knife oil to ensure that your money is well spent.
Type of Knife
The first thing you have to consider is the type of knife you’re using. Is it a hunting knife, is it a spearfishing knife, or perhaps a folding pocket knife.
Even more important than the type of knife you’re using is the knife’s application. What are you going to use the knife for should be a number 1 factor to look at when choosing a knife lube.
If you want to buy lubricant for a kitchen knife that will be used indoors and will be in contact with food, a food-grade oil should be your first choice.
If you, however, want lube for an outdoor knife that will be used in extreme conditions, a heavy-duty, highly resistant lube should be your choice.
Folding knives require low viscosity oil that is thin enough to lubricate the pivot. You will want to use a lubricant that reduces friction and doesn’t attract dirt or debris.
So, before analyzing the features and properties of a knife oil, take a look at the knife you’ll be using it for first.
Environmental Resistance
For outdoor hunting or pocket knives, you always want to use highly reliable and resistant lube. Since the knives will be exposed to extreme heat and cold, you want them to have high and low temperature resistance.
Some of the high-grade oils we reviewed can tolerate temperatures from -60 to 300 Fahrenheit. Those are the models that you should be looking for if you want to preserve your knives in snow or melting sun.
If you go scuba diving or spearfishing, you most likely have a knife that you carry on such trips. Those knives are going to be exposed to saltwater and a lot of moist air. If not lubricated properly with the right oil, your knives are going to rust and deteriorate quickly.
You need to make sure to pick a knife that has good corrosion resistance and saltwater tolerance. These properties in a knife lube are also essential if you are going to use your knife in the kitchen a lot.
Toxicity
Toxicity is definitely something to consider when choosing knife oil, especially if you intend to use your knives for cutting and preparing food.
Highly toxic lubricants that have a strong smell and fumes are hard to work with. You will often feel nauseated when working with them indoors. Try to pick a non-toxic lube that isn’t petroleum-based. It is better for the environment and your health.
If a knife lube isn’t toxic, that doesn’t mean that it’s food safe. For the knife that is used for preparing food, you need to carefully examine if the lubricant is food-grade. If you fail to do this and get an oil that isn’t a registered food-grade lubricant, you might put your health and the health of others at risk.
Food grade oil is tasteless and odorless. It doesn’t give you a headache while working with it and is safe if it accidentally comes in contact with food.
Even if the lubricant is food-safe, that doesn’t mean it should be used for food preparation. Food-safe oil means that if accidental food and lubricant contact occurs, no major health complications will happen.
Viscosity
The viscosity of the knife lube should be chosen based on the type of application. If you want to use the lube for folding knives and lubricating pivots, a light knife oil should be your choice.
It’s easier to work with a low viscosity oil since it will run and lubricate small and hard-to-reach parts by itself.
A high viscosity oil is often found on high-end lube models that are intended for heavy-duty outdoor knives that are supposed to be used in mud, rain, snow, salt water, and other intense conditions.
If you find one viscosity to be easier to work with than another, you can base your choice on that.
Application
How easy is the application of the lubricant? Does it come in a bottle with just an ordinary cap to prevent spillage, or does it have a nozzle for precise dripping?
We always like to choose lubes that come in bottles with precision nozzles. Application is so much easier with them, and you can reach any place and lubricate any part of the knife you want with them.
If you find a high-grade knife oil that doesn’t have a good applicator, you can always buy the bottles with thin application nozzles additionally. We have reviewed such a bottle that is an excellent model that works with any type of lubricant.
Quality Of Lubrication
This may be the obvious one, but the quality of lubrication is the most important factor to consider and is what makes or breaks the knife oil.
A high-grade knife lube should be easy to clean up and won’t require excessive rubbing. The best knife lubes last a very long time and doesn’t dry out quickly.
If you pick a high-quality model you won’t have to lubricate your knife too often like with cheap models. The lubricant won’t harden over time and will reduce the friction of the locking mechanism.
How To Lubricate A Knife
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to lubricate your folding knife. You will need acetone or compressed air, knife lubricant, and a wiping cloth.
- Use acetone or compressed air to clean the knife from any old oil, debris, and grease.
- Lubricate the blade with a tiny drop of oil, and then lubricate the pivot with 2-3 drops of oil.
- Wipe down any excess oil, and you’re good to go!
If you’ve done everything right and used a high-grade oil, you should be good for at least a couple of months.
When using acetone, remember to only use 100% acetone since weaker nail polish models won’t remove the debris, oil, and dirt as well.
If you’re having trouble with lubricating knives, here is a video that might help you with the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you oil knives?
If you want to keep your knives in good shape and prevent them from rust and degradation, oiling is a must. It is recommended to oil your knives after every trip if you use them for hiking, camping, or spearfishing.
Is WD-40 good for knives?
WD-40 is a solid choice for lubricating and preserving knives. It will protect them from moisture and won’t attract dirt or debris.
How often should you oil your knife?
It depends on how often and what do you use them for. If you use your knives for scuba diving or spearfishing, you should oil your knives after every use. If you, however, don’t use them often, you can get away with lubricating them once in a couple of months.
Conclusion
No matter how high quality and durable your knife might be, it will never hold its edge or work properly if you don’t oil it often.
The type of oil you use is also a determining factor in the longevity of your knives. That’s why a proper knife lube should be used.
Every model we reviewed is high-grade, lubricates superbly, and has excellent water and temperature resistance. You can’t go wrong with any of them!
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