Sterilizing your knife in the woods

[CWL]

I don't believe anyone here bothers to sterilize their kitchen knives at home beyond washing with dish soap and then wipe drying. What is the real difference when in the outdoors? Unless someone uses the same knife digging septic tanks as well as food prep, basic cleanliness should be enough.
Besides, the inside of your sheaths is where the bacteria is bred.

 

[Chronovore]

As @Insipid Moniker mentioned, 70% isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol) is actually better as a general disinfectant. The 91% is better as a degreaser and that's primarily why I use it. My normal routine for carry knives is to clean with concentrated alcohol and wipe down with a light coat mineral oil. The two work in tandem for quick and easy clean, even on days when you're not processing game.

As others have mentioned, simply cleaning the knife will remove a lot of the questionable biomass. An alcohol wipe, spritz from a small spray bottle, or even a little vodka on a cloth can already accomplish big things on the cleaning front. Consider the antimicrobial effect a nice bonus. Another benefit is that alcohol evaporates quickly and helps to dry the surface.

Of course, you'd need to have it with you. This presents an interesting thought. Ethanol used to be a common thing. Offices might keep a bottle of whiskey on hand. Brandy would be offered medicinally. Camping and hunting trips might bring a flask for the evening. In those situations, you'd have at least 40% ethanol at your disposal. While less effective, it can still clean and help to dry. It's also non-toxic. That's a plus over some of the other solutions. (While isopropanol is relatively toxic, high concentrations can evaporate quickly without leaving a trace.)

 

[Wannabe Rambo Guy]

Right after using one of my knives while camping, I always just dampen part of a cloth w/ water, wipe the blade down, then dry the blade w/ the dry part of the cloth.

 

[dug24]

I've never sterilized my knife after building a fire by batonning and feather sticks! Guess I'm lucky I haven't gotten sick or died!? Kinda makes me wonder what y'all doing with your knives that it requires laboratory level sterilization

 

[upnorth]

As @Insipid Moniker mentioned, 70% isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol) is actually better as a general disinfectant. The 91% is better as a degreaser and that's primarily why I use it. My normal routine for carry knives is to clean with concentrated alcohol and wipe down with a light coat mineral oil.

Ding ! If hygiene is a legitimate concern. I haven't gutted a deer/goose,whatever, in years. "washing" and wiping in snow is more than enough for most of my uses. Uncommon sense should dictate the level of hygiene/maintenance required.

 

[NapalmCheese]

As Camping and hunting trips might bring a flask for the evening. In those situations, you'd have at least 40% ethanol at your disposal. While less effective, it can still clean and help to dry.

Yeah... no.

The Lagavulin goes in my mouth, not on my blade.

The last time I finished cleaning a mess of fish (a few months back) I dunked my blade in the stream, swished it around, wiped it off on my pant legs, and used it later that night to cut potatoes.

The last time I field dressed a deer (a few months back) I wiped the blade off on the deer's fur, folded it up, went home, and washed it with warm water and soap before used it while butchering said deer.

I filleted a trout tonight. Washed the blade and put it away, I might have a ticking time bomb on my hands. I've got some Lagavulin in my glass, but I think I'll sanitize my stomach with it.

Having never become sick from any of those activities, I might need to buy a lottery ticket.

 

[Chronovore]

Yeah... no.

The Lagavulin goes in my mouth, not on my blade.

The last time I finished cleaning a mess of fish (a few months back) I dunked my blade in the stream, swished it around, wiped it off on my pant legs, and used it later that night to cut potatoes.

The last time I field dressed a deer (a few months back) I wiped the blade off on the deer's fur, folded it up, went home, and washed it with warm water and soap before used it while butchering said deer.

I filleted a trout tonight. Washed the blade and put it away, I might have a ticking time bomb on my hands. I've got some Lagavulin in my glass, but I think I'll sanitize my stomach with it.

Having never become sick from any of those activities, I might need to buy a lottery ticket.

That seems like average luck. Like I said, simple cleaning goes a long way. For any remaining pathogens, they'd need to survive long enough to find their way into your body in sufficient quantity to infect you. For anything contagious, we also have to ask what other precautions are being taken while hunting and processing game. We can also compare the risk with here with other risks the woodsman faces, such as tick-borne illness.

If you wanted to follow up your usual routine with a quick alcohol wipe, you only need as much liquid as your average alcohol pad. That's less than a sip. Will it really make you safer? Maybe a little. It can definitely get your steel cleaner. The most expensive scotch I've spot-cleaned with was Johnnie Walker Green Label. It worked in a pinch and it wasn't enough to miss. Vodka is my favorite spirit for cleaning but I'm unlikely to flask it for drinking. I actually keep a small spray bottle of cheap vodka exclusively for cleaning things.