newness

[Arron]

Hey guys

Im new here, i decided to join after copping shocking service from my local knife sharpner. so ive come on here to learn about how care for and maintain my blades. im into hunting so my knife collection matches that, skinners, gutters and boners.

Cheers

[Antonio_Luiz]

Re: newness

Welcome to ABF Arron - this ain't a bad starting point.

There are very many different techniques for sharpening knives - some are better than others - and some should be avoided altoghether (as you have experienced for yourself). I have seen many knives that have been damaged by so called "professional" sharpeners and to be honest, I have been guilty of damaging blades myself.

Rule 1 - avoid anyone that uses a bench grinder; angle grinder; sanding pad or abrasive flap wheels

Rule 2 - always remember Rule 1

If you are ever unfortunate enough to become as OCD about knife sharpening as I am you will realise that there isn't a system that's the best for everything. Most quality systems will give you more than adequate results - but different knife types; their profiles; steels and heat treat all have a bearing on how effective any system will be.

It is also important to understand that some steels are easier to sharpen than others, and that the average 'budget' knife will never achieve the same level of sharpness or edge holding as is possible when you have a quality blade made from a quality steel, properly heat treated and with the appropriate edge profile. BTW - my criteria of a "quality" steel has changed considerably with experience.

Let us know what the knives are that you are wanting to work on and we'll see what we can do to point you in the right direction

[Warrick Edmonds]

Re: newness

Hey guys

Im new here, i decided to join after copping shocking service from my local knife sharpner. so ive come on here to learn about how care for and maintain my blades. im into hunting so my knife collection matches that, skinners, gutters and boners.

Cheers

Arron

Welcome aboard.

If you want to learn about sharpening get yourself a copy of 'The Razor Edge book of Sharpening' by John Juranitch. There are plenty of copies in the online second hand bookstores. I got mine from a US military closing down sale for around $9. Juranitch has decades of experience sharpening and makes his living from it. He knows what works.

that being said, his company does sell a number of gizmos for testing how sharp an edge is. I got one of them and find it doesn't descriminate very well, you're just as well off using a sheet of A4 of taking hair off your arm for the final analysis of the edge.

yours
Warrick Edmonds

[Arron]

Re: newness

cheers for the reply antonio

i can sharpen a knife to a decent edge, enuff to get my out of strife but making them ultra sharp is a bit beyond me at this stage. this is what i hope to learn. ive have a couple of budget folders, all stainless :0. im in the process of sourcing some high carbon steel replacements. hopefully they will be easier to sharpen and retain a better edge.

im not out for the prettiest or best looking knives at the moment (that will come later) right now i need to contcentrate on getting a decent skinner and survival knife (i dislike that term any knife can be used for survival, i prefer utility) . then when i got what i need ill go for the fancy stuff. Im over folding knives so fixed blades are the go for me.

i hunt manily rabbits,hares and foxes. on occasion pigs and deer, but those trips are few and far between.

in the past ive purchased only gerbers and bucks, but im prepared to accept the fact "just because you dont know it, doesnt mean its any good". plus i have a leatherman fuse for tricky stuff, very happy with that.

ive been steered towards aitor by work friend, but the complete lack of information on these knives is bit worrying to me, plus they seem to be a bit over kill for bunnies. still i like the look of the jungle king 2, ive been considering that as my utility knife and J. nowill and sons Raks rabbiters kit for cutting up the bunnies. i think i may of picked 2 of the most obscure knife brands, but for some reason i like them

[Arron]

Re: newness

hey warrick

thanks heaps for your reply, i will look into that book sound like a good read

[blackdragon21]

Re: newness

Rule 1 - avoid anyone that uses a bench grinder; angle grinder; sanding pad or abrasive flap wheels

Rule 2 - always remember Rule 1

Welcome Arron, lots to learn here and a great bunch of people.

lol Antonio, thats just too scary to think there are people that would butcher a blade with an angle grinder or the likes...loved rule two!

Cheers Alan

[Antonio_Luiz]

Re: newness

ive been steered towards aitor by work friend, but the complete lack of information on these knives is bit worrying to me, plus they seem to be a bit over kill for bunnies. still i like the look of the jungle king 2, ive been considering that as my utility knife and J. nowill and sons Raks rabbiters kit for cutting up the bunnies. i think i may of picked 2 of the most obscure knife brands, but for some reason i like them

OK - the RAK Rabbiter I personally consider to be on the too soft side - which is kinda OK because it is designed to be maintained on a steel - but apart from my Opinels I tend to stay with harder blades these days. IMO a traditional Mora #1 or #2 is a better knife than the RAK. http://www.bensbackwoods.com/servlet/Detail?no=10 - although a decent JRE sheath for it will set you back more than the knife.

No experience on the Aitor but I'm sure they're of high quality

Rather than 2 knives, I suggest you have a look at the BRKT Canadian Special in 3v that Handofcod has for sale - the one with the maroon linen micarta handle for $170 - (that one pictured with the burl scales is just "too purty" for rabbits) viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1936 The original Canadian Belt Knife was designed for hunting/camping - and the BRKT version is also strong enough to double as a utility/survival blade. All BRKT knives are convex ground and I find a convex edge to be the strongest as well as the easiest to maintain - this video explains how to do it - although Iyou will find that 3V keeps its edge for an obscene length of time as well as being tough enough to take a lot of heavy use http://www.knivesshipfree.com/pages.php?pID=4&CDpath=0

Antonio

[Arron]

Re: newness

those videos are very interesting, bit of food for thought. i like the idea of sharpening with a mouse pad seems more forgiving then with a stone

[Arron]

Re: newness

wow ! mora are getting an excellent wrap from just about everyone. its the first knife ive read about that hasnt turned in complete sh:@Tstorm of "this blade is better etc etc" i must admit i was doubting when i saw the price, but after alot of research i think im gonna get one

[Antonio_Luiz]

Re: newness

Welcome to the world of "Scandi grinds".

Just be aware that with some Moras you don't get the "good steel" until it's been sharpened a few times - I believe this could be due to the way the factory edge is ground (= microheating of edge). I like the traditional laminated carbon steel of the basic #1 & #2 even if it makes for a slightly thicker blade

Easiest edge to maintain is a convex edge. Mousepad makes it almost a no-brainer. Just remember that you have to raise the knife a bit more than with a stone and to use light pressure

These days I use a stones only on straight razors; the odd custom knife and chisel (single edge) ground Japanese knives.

[wave man]

Re: newness

gidday Arron, welcome to the forum.

Sharpening is a very personal thing, I use a Spyderco sharpmaker, a Lansky control angle system and crotch stick turnbox, these systems ensure all of my blades have a razor sharp edge always.

[Antonio_Luiz]

Re: newness

I don't have one myself but if you prefer to use a sharpening system, the Edge Pro seems to be the one preferred by most of the knife nuts.

Don't have the Lansky either - but this has been reported to be less useful for larger blades - as I have also discovered is the case for the Sharpmaker

[knives2survive]

Sharpening your knives is a great reason to join a forum like this. You will find much knowledge here. (Most of the time )