Folding Knife Sharpening

Ole Joe Clark · Aug 2, 2017

I recently purchased the knife and really like it. I know how to sharpen a pocket and hunting knife from way back when. This knife was pretty sharp when I received it, but the edge bevel is something I have never had to deal with on a regular pocket knife.

What do you guys and gals use to sharpen them? I have the standard hard Arkansas stone and several India stones.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

holo · Aug 2, 2017

I use the Gatco Co. sharpening system it makes keeping the angle the same every time a breeze. Get he diamond stones they are great.

ContinentalOp · Aug 2, 2017

I use the Spyderco Sharpmaker. It comes with coarse and fine stones, but I also have a set of ultra-fine stones. I also use a stropping block.

Richard Simmons · Aug 2, 2017

Congrats on your new Buck Vantage. I too you a Spyderco Sharpmaker for everything from daily touch up to moderate reprofiling.

k22fan · Aug 2, 2017

I prefer sharpening on old fashioned rectangular stones of various coarseness. If I do not like the manufacture's or previous owners' bevel then I go back to a coarse enough stone to efficiently make a new bevel. I find it easiest to resharpen on a hard Arkansas stone if I'm matching a bevel that I created rather than trying to angle the strokes to match a bevel made on a machine.

growr · Aug 2, 2017

Lansky Sharpening System works VERY well for me....or send it to Buck and they will re-edge to factory edge for either 5 or 7 dollars.

Randy

arjay · Aug 2, 2017

Crock sticks and a strop for touch up.Stones if it needs a little more.

Wishbone · Aug 2, 2017

The Spyerdco is pretty much fool proof and does a good job.

Bozz10mm · Aug 2, 2017

I use a soft Arkansas stone if it's really dull, then a hard Arkansas stone, and finish with ceramic sticks.

snubbyfan · Aug 2, 2017

I don't generally use stones unless the edge really needs help.
For general sharpening, I use a diamond impregnated sharpening rod. Sometimes I'll strop it afterwards if I want a really fine edge.
Keeps my daily carry pocket knife sharp enough to shave with:

ExcitableBoy · Aug 2, 2017

Carborundum stones (whetstones) in various coarseness, depending on the purpose of the knife, with water or a light oil, for me. Different tasks require a different tooth and different angles on the edge for max effectiveness, e.g., choppers should have a more acutely angled edge (think of a small splitting maul) of maybe 10-12 degrees. With slicers and fillet knives I put on about 7 degrees, the same for pocket knives, folding hunters and fixed blade hunters.

I've tried steels, diamond and lots of gadgets owned by other people, just to check out the latest "next best thing". Some work fairly well and other just mangle an edge, but they never have matched the Old School method, at least for me. I always go back to the stones.

SNUBBY:

If I shaved a swatch of arm hair to test sharpness every time I touched up a blade, my arms would look kinda funny all bar' nekkid!

Dennis · Aug 3, 2017

Dry the edge off and use a black sharpy to coat the bevel on the edge. Swipe the stone a coupla times and see where the black is removed.

C J · Aug 3, 2017

I don't mark the blade to see where it's being affected by a stone. I just look at the metal to see where it's shiny from just being contacted by the stones I use or the diamond rod I use.

If I do not like the manufacture's or previous owners' bevel then I go back to a coarse enough stone to efficiently make a new bevel

I've had a hard time with odd angle knives in the past as far as keeping them sharp goes. I also pretty much make a new bevel that I can work with. Some knives can take that. Others can't. My Buck knives have always done well under that procedure.

I have a EDC that is made from S30V steel. That stuff is hard to make sharp and the bevel that came with it was just impossible. I tried so many different methods it wasn't funny and it didn't have as rounded bevel like some knives. It had two angles. That was enough to make it hard as heck to get an edge. I finally just use a diamond rod to put my own bevel on it and that gave it a good edge. It keeps that edge a very long time too because it's just as hard to make it not sharp as it was to make it sharp.

I have several knives and tools I've put my own bevel on and made them sharper. I have a machete that was dull as a 2" X 4" but I made it sharp as a razor blade by ignoring the rounded bevel it had. It's more like a small sword now. It's crazy sharp. And I have a briar axe that is so sharp I won't pick it up. That thing could slice you wide open just getting it down off the hanger it's on.

Double-O-Dave · Aug 3, 2017

I love a really sharp knife blade, but unless I can sharpen a blade on a set of crock sticks, I'm out of luck. That changed when I found this knife sharpener:

Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener : Cabela's

I can get a knife edge shaving sharp pretty quick using this sharpener. I keep one in my blades bag and it gets used a lot come deer season.

Good luck,

Dave

gnystrom · Aug 3, 2017

Sharpmaker all the way. If it is a kitchen knife I go here

gwpercle · Aug 3, 2017

I use stones and a sharpening steel for a quick touch up.

I sharpen them just like a pocket and hunting knife...no difference.
My brother , a butcher , uses a steel and it works well. Use your stones to get the edge angle you prefer and after that it's an easy job.
I usually have to use the soft stone then the hard about three or four times before getting the angle I like fully established . I don't use any system, jigs or fixtures to sharpen....just the hands and do not try and keep the factory bevel , I like a little shallower bevel for maximum sharpness.
Gary

oneounceload · Aug 3, 2017

The main thing is to get the angle correct for whatever stone or method you decide to use.

Ole Joe Clark · Aug 3, 2017

I spent a few more minutes with the knife and some of my finishing stones earlier today and it is shaving sharp now. Thanks for all the input. Looks like all I might need is leather to touch it up.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

rkwood · Aug 4, 2017

growr said:
Lansky Sharpening System works VERY well for me....or send it to Buck and they will re-edge to factory edge for either 5 or 7 dollars.

Randy

^^^ Agreed... i grew up using a set of stones, but the Lansky Blade Medic pocket sharpener is so fast and easy, it feels like I'm cheating. I keep one in my pocket knife drawer, one in my tool chest and one in the kitchen.

Frank46 · Aug 5, 2017

After watching what a buddy did to a nice folder with one of the diamond impregnated stones told him bring it over and I'll see what I can do. That blade had more scratches than a dog with fleas. I have a couple abrasive rubbing blocks that sears used to sell. Taped the knife edge and did manage to polish out all but the most deeper scratches. Started out with a coarse carborundum stone to clean up and redefine the cutting edge, than a Norton india stone. Then progressed to a soft wa****a, hard arkansaw then to a black hard arkansaw all with honing oil. When done had a nice defined bevel on both sides and literally shave the hair off your arm. My wife has an amazing ability to take a knife with a good cutting edge and somehow manages to destroy it. She will buy large pork loins and cut them up to make chops and roasts and even with a cutting board destroys the edge. Same for larger cuts of beef. Just shake my head and start sharpening. Frank

Folding Knife Sharpening

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