Sharpening Knives in the Field

[mtnbound]

Eventually might snag the Worksharp field sharpener but I thought it might work to just take like 800 grit sandpaper instead to save some weight. Is this a dumb idea? Was also considering just bringing one of my diamond plates.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have good luck with this DMT Dia-Folder Sharpener, with extra extra fine grit, I also use the fine file on my Leatherman and carry a small piece of a ceramic sharpening rod.

 

[brancher147]

I have a cheap gerber fixed blade ised for 20 years and carry a rada wheel sharpener that gets it really sharp. It becomes dull after one or two deer and I just sharpen it again. I know there are better knives and better sharpeners but it’s quick and easy and it works. Carry a havalon for skinning also if needed.

 

[sndmn11]

@Marbles who did those?

 

[svivian]

@Marbles who did those?

Hey that’s what I was coming to ask

 

[sndmn11]

Hey that’s what I was coming to ask

@feanor has done a bunch for me; the reblade of the bugout is a unique thing though.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

My Grohman Number 1 fixed blade’s sheath has a slot in it for a small sharpening rod. Works great if you know how to touch up an edge with a rod. I usually also carry a Tyto with replaceable blades.

 

[feanor]

@feanor has done a bunch for me; the reblade of the bugout is a unique thing though.

Yeah I like that reblade on the bugout too.

 

[sndmn11]

Yeah I like that reblade on the bugout too.

What have your magnacut ones come back for Rockwell?

 

[Marbles]

@Marbles who did those?

Hey that’s what I was coming to ask

Greg, Gersh Blades. https://www.gershblades.com/shop

He was great to work with.

 

[Jason Snyder]

I have a KOA alpha wolf with D2. I can work through an elk with a minor touch up in a ceramic rod.

 

[feanor]

What have your magnacut ones come back for Rockwell?

These came back at 62 HRC. I only have one blank left though. This batch is for family.

 

[sndmn11]

@Beendare didn't you get a cruwear Spyderco fixed blade recently?

 

[ahawk116]

Has anyone ever just put stropping compound on their pack? I’ve been pondering that idea for a bit.

 

[coiloil37]

I’ll be the odd man out and disagree with the consensus.
If you have a quality blade, know how to avoid bones and aren’t sticking the knife in the ground AND can’t get through and elk or moose without losing an edge you don’t know how to sharpen it.
What I mean by that is a clean, properly formed and deburred apex of appropriate grit and refinement.
My guess is guys with decent knives are leaving a burr or “wire edge” and losing cutting aggression mid animal. I’m speaking from experience on this too, not just throwing stones at glass houses. I’ve lived that myself.



I’ve written about it before on various forums but in 2015 I gutted and skinned three elk and six deer without touching the edge on my dozier. It still shaved arm hair at the end of the season. I gutted, skinned and deboned my moose in 2018 and gutted/skinned three deer the same year with my dozier and it shaved arm hair after I was done.
I always found bears to be the hardest on an edge but for the last few years I lived in Alberta and the last few bears I skinned I could easily go the distance without losing an edge on my knife and easily shaving my arm after finishing the bear.
We’ve moved over seas but I just skinned eight fallow deer last week with my dozier and didn’t have to touch the edge through it all. The hunt prior (a few weeks ago) I did six fallow with my Sponaugle and didn’t lose an edge.
I’m as demanding as anyone can be about cutting aggression and will not tolerate any loss of cutting performance so I’m not talking about going the distance and the knife being dull by the end.
If your experience is different, you may need to consider your sharpening technique, the media your sharpening on, your finish grit, the quality of your knife or how your using the knife because somewhere in that list your going to find the problem.

I don’t take any sharpening media with me. I know from experience I can go an entire hunt and however many animals I might shoot with one edge.