Care & Maintenance for Automatic Knives

Out-the-front (OTF) automatic knives rely on tight tolerances, internal springs, and track mechanisms. Dust, lint, and debris can interfere with the firing action, while lack of lubrication can increase wear. Proper upkeep improves deployment speed and consistency, prevents corrosion and premature wear, and keeps your knife looking and functioning like new.

Lubricating the Mechanism
Lubrication keeps the blade sliding smoothly in its track and reduces wear on moving parts. Use a lightweight synthetic knife oil (we use Nano Oil 10) to avoid attracting excess dust.

• Apply 1–2 drops into the blade opening and deployment track.
• Deploy and retract the blade several times to distribute the lubricant.
• Wipe away any excess oil from the exterior.
• Avoid heavy greases - they can slow down deployment and gum up over time.

Cleaning
After cutting materials that are wet, oily, or adhesive in nature, it is essential to thoroughly wipe down the blade prior to retraction. Introducing moisture or residue into the handle channel can impede the firing mechanism and lead to deployment failure. To clear debris from the interior, use a can of compressed air to blow out dust or particles.

Resetting your OTF
Automatic knives incorporate built-in safety mechanisms to prevent accidental deployment. If the blade disengages or fails to deploy fully, it's not a malfunction. This intentional failure helps avoid unintended openings, especially when the knife is carried or stored. When you encounter a misfire, where the blade is completely disengaged, follow these steps:

Push and hold the slider button in the forward (open) position.

For the Large Lucent - While keeping pressure on the slider, flick the knife downward with a quick motion.

For the Mini Lucent - pinch, hold, and pull outward on the blade until it reengages. Use caution and grip the blade from the top, never along the bottom blade edge.

This should re-engage the internal spring and reset the blade mechanism.

Always exercise caution when deploying or resetting your automatic knife. Always keep your fingers clear of the blade's path when deploying or resetting. Wear gloves and use caution to avoid contact with the blade when resetting. Ensure the blade is fully retracted before stowing.

Disassembling your OTF
If you choose to disassemble your knife to clean it more thoroughly, please do so with caution as this can void your warranty. 

1. You’ll need a light lubricant (such as WD-40), a soft lint-free cloth, and a small precision screwdriver.
2. Fire the blade into a safe surface, like a piece of cardboard or a wooden cutting board. This takes tension off the spring and makes the knife safer to handle.
3. Use your screwdriver to remove the screws and lift off the top plate. Keep the screws in place or in a safe spot so they don’t get lost. Use a manual screwdriver instead of a power tool to avoid damaging them.
4. Carefully take out the spring, the metal plate, and the blade. The blade should be loose after discharging, but you may need to hold back the hinge to slide it out.
5. Wipe down the handle, blade, and all parts with your cloth. Make sure to remove lint, dirt, and debris.
6. Spray a light coat of WD-40 inside the handle, then wipe away any extra oil.
7. First, slide the blade back into the handle while holding the front hinge. Next, reinstall the spring and metal plate, making sure they’re properly seated. Add the thumb switch, then replace the top plate. Before tightening the screws, test the thumb switch to confirm smooth movement. Finally, hand-tighten the screws.

We're happy to help if you would like to send your Lucent Automatic to us for an inspection or full disassembly and cleaning, or if you have any questions about maintenance or a warranty issue.