OTF Knife Maintenance – A Guide to OTF Care
Keep your OTF in Top Shape
In this Guide
There are several types of OTF (Out The Front) knives: manuals, autos, double-action, single-action, etc.
In this article, we’re talking about your standard double-action OTF automatic knife—specifically, how to maintain one.
From now on, when I say "OTF," that’s the type of knife I’m talking about.
That’s the type of OTF with a switch that deploys and retracts the blade (like a Microtech Ultratech, Kershaw Livewire, or Hogue Counterstrike).
If you want to understand more about different OTF types, check out our OTF Knives Buyer’s Guide!
How to Fix an OTF Knife
The most common problem people encounter with their OTFs is the blade coming off track.
You know the blade is off track when it moves loosely in and out, and the thumb slide does nothing.
Fear not! The fix is fast and free: Simply pinch the flat of the blade and pull it out of the handle until it clicks into place.
Alternatively, you can give your OTF knife a nice flick, sending the blade out. If done with sufficient force (less than you’d think), the blade will click back into place on its own.
What Causes an OTF to Come Off Track?
Gunk (lint, dust, dirt, tape scum, etc.) in the handle will cause an OTF to misfire, taking the blade off track; additionally, firing the blade into anything remotely firm will cause the deployment to fail, leaving the blade loose in the handle.
If this happens to your OTF knife, don’t panic! It’s supposed to do that!
Having the blade stop when it contacts something solid is a consequence of the mechanics of how double-action OTFs work.
It has the upside of working like a safety: you don’t have to worry about running the blade through your hand.
But don’t be fooled! The blade will cut you before it comes off track. It just won’t cut you horrifically bad. Don’t fire an OTF into your body!
A Tangential Technical Note
With all that safety stuff out of the way, I have to add that calling the blade "off track" is technically inaccurate: the blade never leaves the internal track.
What really happens is the blade gets stuck between the two lock points inside the handle: fully open and fully closed.
An OTF blade needs enough momentum to reach and engage one of those locks. If something slows the blade before it gets there, it may not have enough force to lock into place.
"Off track" is an easy, understandable way to talk about it, though—if you say that, most knife nuts will know what you mean.
It’s just not quite right.
Anyhow…
How to Lubricate an OTF Knife
- Open your OTF knife.
- Apply one or two drops of a thin/dry lubricant to the base of the blade on the edge sides (I also like to add a little to the base of the non-edge sides, too, but it’s probably overkill).
- Open and close your knife a few times.
Bam! Your OTF is lubed.
What Oil You Should and Shouldn’t Use
Don’t use thick blade oils to lubricate your OTFs (e.g., Benchmade’s Blue Lube is a great product for folding knives, but I’ve found that it’s too thick for OTFs).
Do use thin oil or dry lube for your OTFs. I recommend Heretic’s OTF Lube or Tuf-Glide (as seen in our Knife Care Kits).
Lubricating your OTF knife is a great way to reduce blade misfires. But be warned: the wrong type of lubrication and/or too much oil will cause it to misfire more often!
How to Clean an OTF Knife
What’s that saying? Something about preventing a problem is the best solution? That’s true for OTF knives.
Best preventative measures to keep your OTF clean and functioning:
- Never close your OTF if there is water, oil, food residue, or tape scum on your blade. Clean and dry your blade before closing.
- Consider using another knife if you’ll be cutting around dirt or sand, as either can quickly damage your knife.
Clean Without Disassembly (Recommended)
The most popular method is to use a can of air to blow into the knife while the blade is retracted. This will eject any loose dirt and lint.
If you don’t have a can of air, you can also blow forcefully into the handle to achieve a similar (if less potent) result.
If that doesn’t solve the problem and your OTF is consistently failing to fire/retract, your best course of action is probably to contact the manufacturer for warranty service.
Most OTF makers will service the knives they produce for free, including a full cleaning and sharpening. You’ll likely need to foot the bill for shipping, unfortunately.
Clean With Disassembly (Advanced)
Warning! Disassembling your knife is likely to void your warranty!
But for some of us, that doesn’t matter. I prefer the freedom to fully service my own knives over the security of a warranty.
But there are more risks than voiding your warranty. There are many small parts inside OTF knives that can spring out and get lost!
Additionally, improper reassembly may cause your knife to stop functioning altogether and damage parts.
What You’ll Need
But if you’re determined to undergo full self-service on your OTF, you need the right tools:
- A full set of TORX bits and a driver (or a proprietary bit)
- A thin microfiber cloth
- A method to keep track of all the small parts and screws
- Thin OTF oil
- Optional: white lithium grease
The Step By Step Disassembly Guide
I’ve done this countless times on many knives: Heretic OTFs, Microtech OTFs, the Hogue Counterstrike, my beloved Axial Shift Gen III, many Guardian Tactical models, and others.
Here’s my method:
- Intentionally cause your blade to come off track. Two easy methods are:
- While pinching the blade, attempt to retract it by sliding down the switch
- Firing the knife into the sole of your shoe
- Remove all of the body screws and set aside the portion of the chassis that doesn’t have the blade.
- Set aside the spring and internal slide, as well as the thumb slide.
- Remove the pin in the blade tang (or equivalent) and slide the blade all the way out.
- Thoroughly wipe down all parts with a microfiber cloth, tucking the cloth into the blade slot as necessary.
- Apply your OTF oil of choice to the friction points within the knife. Remember that less is more when it comes to lubing an OTF knife.
- Reassemble everything. At this point, I like to apply a bit of white lithium grease to the spring to prevent it from rattling in the handle.
- Fire the blade a few times to make sure everything’s working.
Risk and Reward
The benefits of doing a thorough clean like this are that you can remove caked-on grime, lint buildup, and other particles that a can of air simply can’t dislodge, potentially saving you from needing to ship your knife off for maintenance.
It also sets you up to identify any catastrophic failures (like the main spring breaking or a part deforming, etc.).
The downside of that is it may make you wish you’d kept your warranty.
But even in that worst-case scenario, there are still answers: there are many aftermarket parts you can use to fix your knife, and some manufacturers will offer help despite disassembly.
I can’t emphasize this enough: the safe route is to utilize your warranty and not risk voiding it!
But I did want to include this guide for independent souls like me who may be looking for some tips.
OTF Knives are my Favorite
I love the complexity, the ingenuity, and the "wow" factor of double-action OTF knives.
They’re easy to use one-handed, undeniably cool, and a joy to fidget with.
Yes, OTFs are able to fail in more ways than most knives, but now you’ll be ready to handle whatever they throw at you. You may even make a hobby out of it (as I have).
If you’re trying to pick your first (or next) OTF knife, check our article on the best 15 OTF knives by category. You’re sure to find something you love!
FAQ
Why is my OTF knife stuck halfway open?
Your blade has likely come off track. You can read about how to fix your OTF above (it’s super easy).
How often should you clean an OTF knife?
When your OTF begins to misfire (come off track) with some regularity, it’s time to clean it.
Can you use WD-40 on an OTF knife?
We recommend you use a dedicating knife lube, or, better yet, OTF lube. That will be best for the long-term health of your knife.
Can you use gun oil on an OTF knife?
We recommend you use a dedicating knife lube, or, better yet, OTF lube. That will be best for the long-term health of your knife.
What’s the best lubricant for an OTF knife?
Most things/dry lubricants, in small quantities, are fine for OTFs. Heretic Knives OTF Lube and Tuf-Glide are great options.
Can I stop the spring from ringing inside my OTF?
Yes—but it requires disassembling your knife, which may void your warranty! The recommended method is to apply some white lithium grease along the length of the main internal spring(s).
Why does my OTF knife keep coming off track?
If your OTF keeps coming off track, it’s likely that there’s dirt, dust, or lint increasing the friction inside the handle. Try using a can of air to blow it out. Tape scum is particularly good at gumming up an OTF. Use alcohol to clean it off your blade.
Can too much oil cause an OTF knife to misfire?
Yes. Too much oil, or oil that’s too thick, will actually clog up your knife and stop it from functioning properly.
Is blade play normal on an OTF knife?
Yes. Very few OTF knives have zero blade play. The reason for this is that there needs to be as little friction on the blade as possible for the mechanism to function, and it’s very tricky to lock things up tight without introducing a lot of friction.
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