Sharpness score of your hunting knife

[Thegman]

I'm always trying something new, and try to "keep it simple".

Lately I've been using this semi-coarse ceramic rod sharpener I bought off ebay, and following with two chop sticks, one coated in black compound (lower) and one coated in white compound (upper - the black is metal, not compound).

I loose-hand strop with all of them, putting on a convex edge. Could probably just stop with the ceramic rod and use the coarser edge.

This system seems to be working well, and is small and lightweight enough to carry in the field, and it's pretty fast.



If you're not using a hand lens to check your work, start. It greatly accelerates the learning curve for getting a good edge. I had never been very good using an Arkansas stone, but this winter needed to fix up some knives of family members, and that's what was available. Found a hand lens and went to work. Got a great edge on the knives. The hand lens told me what I was doing poorly and what I was doing well.

 

[pattimusprime22]

I'm always trying something new, and try to "keep it simple".

Lately I've been using this semi-course ceramic rod sharpener I bought off ebay, and following with two chop sticks, one coated in black compound (lower) and one coated in white compound (upper - the black is metal, not compound).

I loose-hand strop with all of them, putting on a convex edge. Could probably just stop with the ceramic rod and use the coarser edge.

This system seems to be working well, and is small and lightweight enough to carry in the field, and it's pretty fast.

View attachment 1043915

If you're not using a hand lens to check your work, start. It greatly accelerates the learning curve for getting a good edge. I had never been very good using an Arkansas stone, but this winter needed to fix up some knives of family members, and that's what was available. Found a hand lens and went to work. Got a great edge on the knives. The hand lens told me what I was doing poorly and what I was doing well.

What are you looking for with the hand lens? Are you looking for remaining burr? Evenness of the secondary bevel?

 

[Thegman]

What are you looking for with the hand lens? Are you looking for remaining burr? Evenness of the secondary bevel?

Those and everything else. Sharpness is a physical thing can be seen under a lens. The more you look at cutting edges and see how they cut for you, the easier it is to get what you're after.

The main thing I'm looking at with the things I pictured are:

Edge shape - reasonably even and the shape I'm looking for.

Bevel status - is my current sharpening actually reaching the cutting edge or do I need to keep removing material? This is mostly when starting with more obtuse edges. I remember years ago failing to get a knife's sharpness to change. Finally thought of actually looking closely at what was going on and realized how much further I actually needed to go to reach the cutting edge.

Edge burr and roughness: How straight and polished is the cutting edge, and how does that affect cutting? Finishing with very light strokes from the ceramic rod above can remove a burr if there, but leaves a toothy edge. The "polishing sticks" can smooth and polish that cutting edge. Looking at the cutting edge with the hand lens and testing cutting performance at these different stages really helps teach you what you're looking for in the particular kind of sharpness you're after.

 

[WBT]

I'm historically terrible at sharpening knives, but I broke down and bought a TSPROF K03 on Black Friday. Now I can get my hunting knives razor sharp within just a couple of minutes. It's so easy to use.

 

[UnckleBob]

I’ve never been good at sharpening my knives and have always admired guys who can do it well. Mine is slightly better than a butter knife.

Same for me.

Previously, I used Havalons to get around the need to sharpen my hunting knife (SharpFinger). I had the Sharpfinger professionally sharpened before every hunt.

This year I bought a Benchmade knife. Benchmade will sharpen the knife for a nominal fee. It was a big reason I bought that knife.

 

[Lawnboi]

Same for me.

Previously, I used Havalons to get around the need to sharpen my hunting knife (SharpFinger). I had the Sharpfinger professionally sharpened before every hunt.

This year I bought a Benchmade knife. Benchmade will sharpen the knife for a nominal fee. It was a big reason I bought that knife.

You’re not getting the most from your knife then. Iv never seen a production company put out or sharpen a knife like I can at home.

They would go out of business putting mirror edges on every knife they sold.

It’s reasonable to consider their services if you don’t like sharpening and want to send it in when the edge is gone gone, but minimal tools are necessary to keep a decent edge workable through a few animals.

 

[6mm Remington]

Be thankful. Buddies line up w hunting and filet knives. Wives bring kitchen knives.

True dat! I sharpen knives on the side for a few extra dollars for my play money, and I enjoy doing it. I enjoy folks being the happiest with their knives that they have ever been, and they have never been that sharp before, never! That being said I do it for friends and family and word spreads pretty quickly. I had a gentlemen a couple months ago brought me 24 kitchen knives of various lengths and sizes, yes 24. That kept me busy for a few days.

My wife is the worst. I have turned her into a sharpness snob! She has no problem letting me know that our knives sure could use some work as they are no longer as sharp as she has been getting accustomed to. That after she has cut herself a couple of times in the learning process about just how sharp they are and how to use them now that they actually cut. I think it would be neat to have a sharpness meter to see exactly how sharp they are when I finish with them, but just something else to buy.

I include a Liability Waiver with knives I sharpen when they go back to their owners it is on a small piece of paper and attached is a Band-Aid with a small piece of tape holding it. It looks like this.


IN ACCEPTANCE OF THIS BAND-AID I AM NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE FOR NICKS, CUTS, OR LOST DIGITS.

(Band-Aid attached)

SHARP KNIVES MATTER!