Knife Admirer in Texas

[OnePPeach]

I've stumbled upon an old knife. I want to sharpen it back to an actual blade. It's a letter opener at the moment.

I purchased a S&W Folding Sharpening Stone #360 Diamond Grit surface/ #600 Diamond Grit surface... I want to do this knife justice. Any advice?

 

[coachray]

Welcome to the forum

 

[S&W Oldtimer]

Welcome from Va.

 

[Flattop5]

I've stumbled upon an old knife. I want to sharpen it back to an actual blade. It's a letter opener at the moment.

I purchased a S&W Folding Sharpening Stone #360 Diamond Grit surface/ #600 Diamond Grit surface... I want to do this knife justice. Any advice?

Welcome.

Photos would help. How old is the knife? What type of grind does it have?


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[Richard Simmons]

Welcome from VA. As noted above the style of blade including the profile, grind, steel etc., as well as current condition would be helpful. It it has a harder steel and is extremely dull you might need to reprofile the blade which would be easier/faster with the addition of diamond sharpening stones, rods, etc.

Certain sharpening devices and or methods lend themselves more to one type of grind than the other. Do you have or want a convex edge or a V grind, flat, chisel or hollow grind? Photos would surely help.

Depending on what I have to work with and what I'm looking to achieve I use a Wicked Edge sharpening system, a Lansky system, flat stones, Spyderco Sharp, strops, etc. Different tools for different results.

 

[gwpercle]

Welcome to the forum from another Knife Aficionado from Louisiana !
Need a little more info on knife to help you ... Got Photo's ?
I've been making and sharpening knives for 50+ years ... I'll try and help you .
Gary

 

[C Islander]

Welcome from Ohio!

 

[snubbyfan]

 

[OLDSTER]

Hi from North Dakota

 

[Huski92]

Welcome aboard


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mrsig]

Welcome from Tampa.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Glad to have you. Everything you ever wanted to know about knife stuff can be found here:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/firearms-knives-other-brands/

 

[URIT]

Welcome aboard from coastal North Carolina.

 

[Johnnu2]

I know this will be viewed a heresy, but I keep my life simple and use a plain old kitchen (electric) sharpener. It works on even my medium sized pocket knives. It has three stones and adjustments for blade thickness. It took me 60 years to catch on to these 'modern wonders'.... never going back to a stone or fancy (and very expensive) sharpening devices on the market for those who need only the best and most superb edge.

IMHO,
J.

 

[Flattop5]

I know this will be viewed a heresy, but I keep my life simple and use a plain old kitchen (electric) sharpener. It works on even my medium sized pocket knives. It has three stones and adjustments for blade thickness. It took me 60 years to catch on to these 'modern wonders'.... never going back to a stone or fancy (and very expensive) sharpening devices on the market for those who need only the best and most superb edge.

IMHO,
J.

I had an electric "kitchen" knife sharpener. It did not work on all knives, only some. And it took a LOT of metal off quickly. There's a reason why some people call electric knife sharpeners "handle makers." In a few years, all that's left is the handle. (I have a British pocket knife made circa 1937 that was sharpened by the previous owner using such an electric sharpener. The main blade is missing a large amount of steel. That destroyed what was once a very valuable and rare knife -- it could have been worth $500 or more, but now is worth about $100 due solely to the main blade missing 15% of its steel mid-way up the blade. Killed the value of it! Looks freaky).

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[Johnnu2]

Fortunately, I don't have anything too valuable to worry about when using my electric sharpener. In fact, I remember the days when we sharpened our knives until there was nothing left of the blade. We just dumped them in a 'junk drawer' at that point. Your point should be well taken by those who might have collectible knives.

J.

 

[pmanton]

Hi from Salome, AZ.

 

[lkabug]

Welcome from the Commonwealth of Virginia.

 

[rwsmith]

And a.....

And a Hound Dawg Howdy to you from SC!

I'm the last person you want knife sharpening advice from. To me an oiled stone is the way you can do the least damage to a knife. If it's dull a few swipes with a commercial knife sharpener probably wouldn't hurt, but finish with the stone.

 

[rwt1405]

Welcome to the Forum!