Damascus Knife Blade

[Stepmac]

The thing that tickles my fancy about knives is not what the blade looks like but how it holds an edge. I've got about fifty knives of all kinds and enjoy sitting in front of the TV sharpening them. Knives are very different when it comes to sharpening and holding an edge. By far, btw: my sharpest knives are old Cub and Boy Scout folders. Camulus blades. An old K-Bar is good and made by the same company. Other old folders are capable of taking and holding a good edge. Swiss Army knives, both companies, take an edge and then lose it. I carry one tho, and freshen the edge daily. A few strokes on a steel does the trick. Case knives are okay, but I can't get a good edge on the small ones.

IMHO, if one wants to carry a sharp blade for little money, then go to a gun show and buy an old, cheap pocket knife that has a dirty, stained, made in the US, steel blade. Forget stainless. You'll be able to get an edge on it that you can shave with.

I have not been able to get a razor sharp edge on a damascus blade, but I only have two and one is a cheap kit blade. The other is a hand made blade. It is small and takes a pretty good edge. It is a totally hand made knife.

[Double Lab]

Steve;
What method do you use to sharpen your blades?

[Stepmac]

Originally Posted by Daryl Corona

Steve;
What method do you use to sharpen your blades?

Good question. My grandfather was a dentist and he told me that the first thing they did in dental college was learn to sharpen a knife. I have one of his right here in front of me on my desk. It is a good luck charm. It is razor sharp. He spit on a whetstone and moved the blade in little circles working in the spit. My dad used the same technique.

My favorite method, however; is to use a flat steel and work the blade on one side across the steel until it makes a bead on the opposite side. You can feel it with your finger nail. Then I turn the blade over and run the blade on the steel which works off the bead. This leaves a sharp edge. Then I hone the blade with a ceramic stick, running one side and then the other, one stroke each. This removes any remaining burrs and buffs the edge. When the blade is this sharp it is easy to ding the edge, so I run them lightly over a steel every now and then to straighten the edge. A knife like this, if it is a good one, will easily slice paper and shave the hair on your arm.

My most popular usage of my knife is to dice limes for my gin and tonic, so you see I'm pretty serious about this.

This baby is a hand made skinner. The stocks are horn of some kind. It is forged and very sharp. Someone screwed up the edge working the blade on a grind stone. That is not my work. A $15 flea market find. I think it's neat. The steal is very hard. This knife is sharp. (Picture was taken before I really worked on it.)