Knife Sharpness
 

Just wondering how others test to see if their knife is sharp, really sharp,

I think it's sharp when I can shave the hairs off my arm, others have said that that isn't really sharp,

Just looking to see what others do.

RE: Knife Sharpness
 

I usually just take a thin piece of paper (such as notebook paper) and cut through it with the knife. If it's sharp, I can tell - just get a feel for it....

It's worked for me I guess.

RE: Knife Sharpness
 

When you see blood.. [&:]

I use a 3 sided wet stone. I get it where I like and give the knife a few passes with a leather strap or belt. I can shave my arm hair, I have used it to cut 1/4" conveyor belt like butter where normally a utility knife is required. This all on my Kershaw Blackout pocket knife I carry and use everyday.

I have a Buck Zipper knife the wife gave me for Xmas one year while we were still dating as my field dress knife. Now that stays super razor sharp to split frog hair 3 ways. ;)

RE: Knife Sharpness
 

i compare mine to a surgeons scapel. if it dont shave, without any effort, it aint sharp enough. can always tell when i been sharpenin knives...my thighs are bald:D

using a dull knife is plain foolish. if you dont know how to sharpen one, buy a utility knife with replacable razors and use it. i know lots of guys that do. when im digging for my second knife after deer 2 or 3, the other guys just swap blades. a dull knife is a good way to get hurt. and im not making that up. takes more effort and force to get a dull knife to cut. good way to ruin your own day...youll never see me sawing with my knife. split the skin to the breast bone in one pass. knife between my 2 fingers and just easing them and the knife forward..

i just hate knowing how to get a super sharp knife! dad has me do all his periodically...and a couple months ago he brought home his buddies...i didnt mind...except they took me a good hour+ each. looked like he took a grinder to them[:@] or something...they were nasty lookin. i had to set an edge and clean up the nicks and burrs and then sharpen them. not to mention they were big bladed knives...

RE: Knife Sharpness
 

I use my thumbnail and make sure the entire knife tracks along it, doesn't slide. I then give it a few passes on a leather sash and consider ready for duty.

RE: Knife Sharpness
 

Mauser I watched a buddy actually use the bench grinder at workto his leatherman. I gringed as I watched him do this, I also get stuck sharpening other knives, axes, even lawn mower blades.. ;)

RE: Knife Sharpness
 

The first thing you need is a good knife. There is no need to polish a turd. Good steel makes a big difference. The next thing to consider is what the knife will be used for. What the knife will be used for determines the angle I sharpen my blades at. On stones the angle is determined by how you hold your blade while on the lansky(sp?) type system it is determined by which slot the guide rod is in. For fine work like skinning deer or fine woodworking I like a low or shallow angle that I am able to get super sharp. The problem with a low angle blade is that it dulls quicker. My utilitarian knifes generally have a 25 degree angle that does not dull as quickly, but is not as fine of an edge as my skinning knifes. I have stones (natural and diamond), ceramic rods, and a diamond and ceramic lansky(sp?) which all have their uses. If you want a really sharp edge you will usually haft to buy more than what is in any one kit. My knives are not finished until I use a 1000 grit stone or better and they have been stropped on leather. I use fine jewelers rouge on one side of my leather strop. When I get finished I should be able to let the blade slide down the side of my leg leaving a long bare spot without putting any pressure on the blade. Another good test is to gently rest the blade across your fingernail and try to gently slide it toward the end. It should grab into the nail if it is sharp.

RE: Knife Sharpness
 

The sharper it is the quicker it will dull. Take a person with a heavy beard......how many times can he use that razor blade?

The only time you sharpen a knife is when the edge is completely gone other wise you hone it........Does the Barber stop to sharpen his razor while you are on the chair or does he hone it on the strap?........Does a Butcher stop to sharpen his knife while butchering or does he use the Honing Iron?

RE: Knife Sharpness
 

Thunb nail is the best method to check out your knife.

RE: Knife Sharpness
 

How quickly a blade dulls has more to do with the properties of the metal and the angle of the cutting edge.

RE: Knife Sharpness
 

Dobber, I do the same thing as you, If it shaves hair then its good enough for me!! Walt

RE: Knife Sharpness
 

I usually run it on my thumbnail and or try and shave some hair. I dont pay no attention to knife quality ,all my knifes are turds by some standards but are sharp as a razor, expensive knifes are like sunglasses to me, waste of money and I will eventually lose them anyway.
I have used every contraption known to man to sharpen knifes, the way I do it now is so simple and I can have one shaving in less than 15 seconds.
I use the cheapo hand held plastic jobers with tungsten steel that you stroke across the blade, then a couple of strokes on a steel hone, I keep the steel hone with me as I am skinning or gutting and do a few strokes on it now and then, eventually I will fubar the angle and just start over with a few strokes of hand held thingy majig, I dont even know what you call it, then a few strokes on the steel.
I can sharpen any knife to a razor edge in 15 seconds this way.

RE: Knife Sharpness
 

couple of strokes with one of these









then a couple of strokes on this.




It will shave hair in seconds, any knife, I guarantee it.

RE: Knife Sharpness
 

A knife with good steel will not need to be sharpened as often. I have two that I cherish. The first is an Anza and the other is a Carbon V master hunter by Cold Steel. Both of these are high carbon normal steel that will discolor and rust if you don’t take care of them. They are not hard to sharpen, but it does take time since the steel is harder than most. I take care of these knives and they take care of me. I can usually clean and skin three deer with either one and it will still shave. It will not shave as well as before, but several strokes on the strop will get the honed edge back. Cheap knives can’t do that. Remember a knife is a tool and in some instances you get what you pay for. A knife that will not shave after half a deer is danger to the user.

mello

RE: Knife Sharpness
 

Very true statements!..........



My wife bought me a CutCo Skinner in 1970 and all I have had to do is Hone it. The one on the Left!

RE: Knife Sharpness
 

Funny seeing a picture of that Schrade Reb. I have one and couldn't get a decent edge on it. While hunting with guides in Newfoundland they all used that same knife or the sharp finger. They used a small steel, put a couple of passes on it and it would shave, skin or cut through bone. I guess it is all technique. That is why they are guides and I was the client. Last year I got an old Randall in perfect condition out of Florida given to me. Great knife but too large to carry in the field.

RE: Knife Sharpness
 

I am in the seafood business fileting fish, turtles and yes during the hunting season deer and other game. Any knife (With the rare exception
of complete junk) can be sharpened to a razor edge. BUT...... how long
they can hold a sharp edge depends on the QUALITY (Hardness) of the steal you are working with to start off.Good quality knives like Bucks and Gerbers and many others can hold thier edge for a long time. For example one complete cleaning of a Whitetail. If you have a cheaper quality steal, you just have to have a sharpening stick handy to hit it on every now and then to finish the same job. Point is sharp is being able to shave and keep shaving till your done.