Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting So how's the trusty 'ol huntin' knife?

[MKinner]

So with all the hunting and gun talk there is one item that seems to be missed over, most used, abused or neglected, is the good 'ol knife. I've been working on getting mine sharpened up so I thought I would post a pic of one that I've been working on. It's not a great pic, since I don't have a macro lens, but you can see the razor sharp mirror reflection on the edge. I actually just pulled a hair from my beard and could shave off the side of the hair like you would carving wooden stick, just to give you an idea of the sharpness. I can change the edge angle, put on a double edge(for strength), polish to a mirror finish, put on a fillet edge or utility edge. SO, I thought I would go on limb and offer my hobby/service to any member that might be interested. It's something that I enjoy doing and get a kick when I show someone a knife that I've just sharpened and their jaw hits the floor in disbelief. Now there are different levels of sharpness... depending on the use that the knife will see. The only edge that I hate are serrated edges. If you have a properly sharpened knife, there is no reason to have a serrated blade. Some people like them, I prefer the straight edge. SO, do you think this is a good idea, or no? Not trying to make money, just like to share something if I can. It WILL be the sharpest knife you've ever had or I'll buy you a beer...

 

[Forrest Nearing]

my favorite everyday knife I've ever owned... not looking forward to my new job... once I get trained up and start traveling overseas, it won't be allowed to make the flight with me



Benchmade mini-reflex auto:



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[LRosi]

Mike I wouldn't waste my time sharpening a kershaw, that edge will roll over faster than a 2. 99 barlow. which has better steel.

 

[MKinner]

Mike I wouldn't waste my time sharpening a kershaw, that edge will roll over faster than a 2. 99 barlow. which has better steel.

Enlightening, very, very enlightening. Post was actually geared more toward the sharpening concept, but thanks for letting me know my kershaw is junk, lol.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I like the Cold Steel Master Hunter in Carbon 5.

 

[mcsinfl]

Nice job MKinner. Several years ago I purchased this book on sharpening:

The Complete Guide to Sharpening - Lee Valley Tools



great book. nice to know I can sharpen a knife to be sharper than a razor blade.

 

[MKinner]

That looks like an excellent book. What sharpening setup do you use? This is the one I've got. . Edge Pro, Inc.
It uses water stones that wear with use. You need to use a lot of water to flush the stone and metal particles away as you use it. The polish tapes that I use with it go up to 3000 grit so it puts a pretty good shine on the edge. Not very practical for everyday use, but looks nice.

 

[dclassens]

Snap-On Stock#: KER1440 ~ This is the knife I keep in my pocket 98% of the time.



Here is a funny story about this knife. As a diesel mechanic I do service/road calls. It was late Feb. and I was called out to get a log skidder started. I had a high school apprentice with me and I had determined that the cause was bad battery cables. I was going with no gloves for about an hour and my hands were cold in the Michigan 1 above 0 weather. I was in the process of showing the student how to strip a 00 gauge wire and nicely opened the back of my hand. In stead of learning about battery cables, he learned how to super glue skin back together. Made for a good story for his classmates he said. The moral of the story is I dont keep my knife razor sharp any more. :-laf



dclassens

 

[GHarman]

Hey Mike, I'll try this again. Lost the reply, last time. I have a Kershaw skinner and a 7" fillet knife. With these two knives I have field dressed, boned out and butchered Elk, Deer, Antelope. Gutted many a trout. They are not perfect but they work, for now. I did try a custom knife made from M-2 tool steel. I really like this material as opposed to the 440 Stainless alloys. There is supposed to be a better steel available? I dont remember the material. Cabellas advertises it in their catalog.

Technique is important as well as your abrasives. However, the blade material must have the proper metallurgy to hold an edge. Ceramic blades are also interesting but I have no experience with this blade material. I would think ceramics would be brittle. Speaking of ceramics, I use a Spyderco ceramic angle fixture for sharpening.

In addition to my two Kershaws, I have a Spyderco Police folding knife with the serrated edge and a Stanley field knife kit. They work but I'd rather make a special knife out of M-2. Greg

 

[mcsinfl]

Kinner, it's a great book, from a company with great products. It's been awhile since I read it, but if I remember, they start the book with good coverage of metalurgy, and then cover sharpening techniques for all kinds of tools.



My setup is pretty simple, I have a good monochrystaline diamond stone with 600/1200 grit that I use to true other stones/blade edges as well as to get the edge close (Monocrystalline Diamond Bench Stones - Lee Valley Tools). I move on to a 6000 grit Japanese water stone to get final honed edge.



I mostly sharpen my woodworking tools, I use this guide: Veritas® Sharpening System - Lee Valley Tools.



Knife blades I do by hand, I don't have a guide, yet

 

[MKinner]

I also have a couple spydercos with the VG-10 blades that seem to do pretty good. My benchmade (9050) with the 154 CM stainless is one of my favorites,(military issue) although i haven't put it to the test yet.

 

[Kissfan113]

Most of my hunting knives are Case but I also have some older USA made Schrade/Old Timer/Uncle Henry knives I use on occaision. My favorite at the moment is a double set of Case knives I picked up a year or so back that has a 2 sheaths sewn together holding a small caping knife and a larger knife for heavy work, hold an edge forever, still USA all the way, and the sheath fits well on my pistol belt so its a win win in all directions.