Maintenance
You've just purchased a Lamoureux & Sons knife that requires minimal maintenance to prolong its efficiency and life. The blade is made of top-of-the-range CPM-S30V stainless steel, which is highly resistant and maintains its sharpness.
Regular maintenance
Blade maintenance
After each use, wash the blade with a soft, damp cloth and wipe dry immediately. Slight oxidation may be noticed, and even slight traces of rust in the event of poor maintenance. In such cases, you can use polishing products available from hardware stores.
Handle maintenance
We work mainly with stable exotic woods such as Ebony and Cocobolo. You can wash the handle with lemon oil soap (e.g. Murphy's) and then use a dry soft cloth to rub vigorously back and forth lengthwise. You can finish off with a nylon stocking using the same movement, but this time widthways. Never use a dishwasher.
Caring for your leather case
We suggest applying mink oil to keep the leather supple and to permeabilize it. Using a soft bristle brush (horsehair or bristle), remove any dirt embedded in the leather. Make sure the leather is dry and apply a coat of mink oil (read the manufacturer's label), working it in with circular movements. Allow to dry. Using a cloth, work back and forth to harden and lighten the grease. Finally, polish with an ultra-soft cloth.
How to sharpen your knife
Step 1: Prepare your equipment
We recommend the use of Japanese sharpening stones in combination with light vegetable sharpening oil. The oil serves to dissipate material deposits, thus keeping the stone clean, reducing heat and facilitating movement.
The Donxote stone set with grades of 400, 1000, 3000 and 8000 grit per inch is particularly effective.
Step 2: The right position
Always hold your knife by the handle with the cutting edge away from you. Always place the blade on the stone with the cutting edge at an angle of between 20 and 25 degrees (as illustrated).
Step 3: If your blade stops cutting
Start with a rough-grained natural stone (between 400 and 600) and finish with a fine-grained natural stone (between 800 and 1,000).
Make forward thrusting movements. At the end of this movement, raise the blade so that it does not touch the stone, and return the blade to its starting position.
For the other side of the blade, push towards you using the same method of movement, always applying medium force to the blade. Too much force will damage the stone and leave a solid deposit of material on the edge of the blade. Approximately a dozen passes will be required for each part of the blade, i.e. the cutting edge, primer and tip.
Then turn your stone 90 degrees and repeat the operation in that direction. Always keep your stone moist with oil, avoiding excessive oil build-up.
Always push evenly and steadily along the entire length of the stone, making sure to keep the entire surface of your blade in contact with the stone.
Move on to the next grade of stone and repeat the same operation to sharpen your blade further and further.
Step 4: For blades requiring fine or touch-up sharpening
Start right away with a fine-grained natural stone (between 1000 and 3000).
Gently push the stone forward. At the end of this movement, raise the blade so that it does not touch the stone, and return the blade to its starting position.
For the other side of the blade; push towards you using the same method of movement, always applying medium force to the blade. Too much force will damage the stone and leave a solid deposit of material on the edge of the blade. Approximately ten passes will be required for each part of the blade, i.e. the cutting edge, tip and root.
Then turn your stone 90 degrees and repeat the operation in that direction. Always keep your stone moist with oil, avoiding excessive oil build-up.
Always push evenly and steadily along the entire length of the stone, making sure to keep the entire surface of your blade in contact with the stone.
Move on to the next grade of stone and repeat the same operation to sharpen your blade further and further.
Step 5: Occasional cleaning
If your blade has lost its luster, is stained or simply needs a thorough cleaning, you can clean it with Stainless Steel Cleaner & Luster and a soft cotton cloth. This will loosen and remove tiny deposits accumulated on your blade.
Spray the cleaner onto your cloth, never directly onto the blade. Then wipe the blade with the cloth in a gentle, even motion along the entire length of the blade.
