The best oil for knives isn’t an oil at all. It’s a knife blade wax.
One of the biggest threats to knives is moisture, but moisture is unavoidable out in the field. While regular oiling helps keep oxidation at bay, it can’t prevent damage 100% of the time.
That’s why we developed our MKC Blade Wax. We designed it to protect better and last longer than any knife oil. It’s the ideal moisture-shedding coating that shields your blade from the elements.
We want our MKC knives to be generational investments. One of the best ways to make that investment last is by applying a knife blade wax now and then. The longer your blade lasts, the longer your children (and your children’s children!) can enjoy it.
Knife Oil or Knife Blade Wax? Why Wax Is Better
When we set out to create the best oil for knives, our goal was to prolong your blade’s life. Even a knife built to last can fail if you don’t take care of it, so creating a better way to maintain your knives just made sense.
Our testing revealed that a well-formulated blade wax was superior to oil by every metric. MKC’s Blade Wax is full of natural ingredients that protect your investment for the long haul. Plus, its natural, flexible formula means it has bonus uses in the field, too.
Top-Tier Ingredients
We craft our knife blade wax with beeswax from American beekeepers and raw flaxseed oil from American farmers. We don’t import our ingredients sight unseen. We interact with our beekeepers, watch how our farmers harvest, and make sure it’s all done ethically and responsibly.
Foreign manufacturers often cut beeswax with paraffin wax, which is odorless, tasteless, and colorless. It’s also a petroleum byproduct, so it’s far from natural. It may be less expensive than beeswax, but it’s not what we’re looking to include in our product. We aim to manufacture high-quality, American-made products instead of increasing our profit margins at the expense of quality.
Beeswax is more than just a fantastic natural material. It’s a solid, durable wax, but it’s soft enough to be warm and pliable at body temperature. This makes it low-mess and easy to carry in the field, but still malleable enough to apply with just your fingers.
We add extra suppleness and hydration with raw flaxseed oil. Raw flaxseed oil, like beeswax, is natural and food-safe, making it perfect for kitchen and campsite tasks alike. It also has incredible hydrating properties. In fact, flaxseed oil is often the oil of choice for wood conditioning.
We only use raw, natural flaxseed oil in our knife blade wax. Boiled linseed oil, another oil that’s extracted from flax, is not food-safe, and it’s often processed using industrial solvents. Our raw flaxseed oil is solvent-free, cold-pressed, and good for you.
The beeswax and raw flaxseed oil mix emits a subtle, natural scent. It’s not overpowering, and it won’t leave a noticeable taste in food if you apply it to a cooking knife. The entire formula is mild and minimally scented. It’s the best combo for remaining stealthy when you’re on the hunt.
Because our ingredients are food-grade and body-safe, you don’t have to clean the wax off your knife before using it for other tasks. That’s how much effort we’ve put into our formula.
Portability
While knife oil can protect your knife for a short time after application, it’s difficult to reapply in the field. You can bring some oil in a portable applicator for field use, but what happens when it pops open in your pack? No one wants to end up with soiled clothes and oily supplies.
Our knife blade wax is a hard, heat-resistant puck. Even if the container opens, it’s unlikely to spill or soil your belongings. Plus, the steel tin it comes in is sturdy and convenient to carry. It won’t crush, break, or shatter during transport.
Friction Reduction
One of the foremost benefits of applying knife blade wax is a noticeable reduction in friction. A waxed knife glides through meat and hide in ways that unwaxed knives just can’t imitate.
A waxed blade is a superior campsite tool, too. Whether you’re whittling, leather crafting, batoning some wood, or preparing a meal, you’ll notice the difference in your blade’s performance. You can use our blade wax to lubricate and condition other tools around your campsite, too.
Bonus Field Uses
Every ultralight backpacker knows that every item in their pack needs to perform at least double duty. Rest assured that our blade wax pulls ten times its duty. We’ve identified at least ten uses for your blade wax out in the field, and that’s just the start.
Here’s a quick list of our favorite non-knife uses for MKC Blade Wax:
- Season cast-iron pans and utensils
- Prevent rust on wood and metal utensils and tools
- Unjam and lubricate zippers and hinges
- Preserve fruits and vegetables
- Hydrate and recondition leather
- Moisturize cracked hands
- Tame and smooth hair and beards
- Protect and revitalize wood
- Condition and waterproof laces
- Start a fire
How to Use MKC Blade Wax
Using MKC’s Blade Wax is even easier than applying knife oil. It takes just three steps: clean, apply, and buff:
- Thoroughly clean your knife. Make sure it’s completely dry before proceeding.
- Apply the wax to your knife with a clean cloth or applicator.
- Buff the wax into your blade’s surface until you’ve achieved a smooth finish.
While you’re waxing your blade, don’t forget to apply some to its handle and sheath. Our knife blade wax hydrates and protects wood, leather, and G10 alike. Reapply the wax as needed to keep your knife lubricated and protected.
Why the Best Oil for Knives Is a Knife Blade Wax
Yes, the best oil for knives is actually a wax: MKC’s Blade Wax. But why is our wax better than any oil?
In creating our blade wax, we prioritized protection and staying power. We wanted it to prolong your blade’s life without upsetting your maintenance routine. MKC’s Blade Wax is cleaner, easier to apply, and in our case, has more uses than oil. Whether you’re out in the field for just one day or for weeks at a time, wax will go the distance.
A good knife oil will provide some protection, but it washes away easily on its own. Wax is a resilient product that creates and maintains a protective layer against moisture. That’s why the best knife oil is actually a knife blade wax.
by Josh Smith, Master Bladesmith and Founder of Montana Knife Company
