Routine inspection
Before adjusting anything, inspect the pivots, screws, blade or trainer, handle interiors and stop system. Look for loose hardware, unusual rubbing, chips, cracks or a sudden change in swing. If a knife changed behavior after a drop, diagnose before tightening parts at random.
Cleaning
Remove loose lint and grit from the pivot area with a clean, non-abrasive method. Wipe exposed metal and handle surfaces with a material appropriate for the finish. Deep disassembly is not required for every cleaning and can create new problems if hardware orientation or fitted parts are mixed up.
Lubrication
Use a small amount of lubricant intended for knife pivots. More oil is not automatically better: excess lubricant can attract dirt. Apply sparingly at the pivot interface, work the handles, and wipe away excess.
Hardware and thread retention
If pivot screws repeatedly loosen, first make sure the hardware and threads are clean and undamaged. Some owners use removable threadlocker, but follow the product and knife maker's instructions and avoid permanent compounds on hardware intended to be serviced.
Keep a maintenance record
Record what you changed and when. MyBalisong's collection records are designed to keep maintenance and modification history with the individual knife, which is especially useful when diagnosing a recurring issue or documenting a collector piece.