806D2 (Spyderco related)

T

thombrogan

Joined
Nov 16, 2002
Messages
9,948
After untold hours of grinding the blade against sandpaper, benchstones, a file, and finishing the microbevel with a Sharpmaker, I finally got my 806D2 to cut as good as a Delica. Woo-hoo! The knife was already great, BTW, but after being spoiled by my Delica and BM921 Switchback, I wanted all of my knives to be good slicers.

That FRN VG-10 PE Delica is a standard by which to judge all other blades. But you Spyderknuts already knew that. ;)
 
The 806 is quite a bit thicker than the Delica, but once I smoothed out the bevel, it seems to slice pretty well. The factory sharpening job wasn't great at all - looks like they took a 150 grit belt sander to it. Of course, my Delica is one of the older ATS-55 models. Maybe I need to get a new VG10 one and see how it stacks up to the D2. Yeah, that's it. I need another one! :D
 
Originally posted by Tohatchi NM
Of course, my Delica is one of the older ATS-55 models. Maybe I need to get a new VG10 one and see how it stacks up to the D2. Yeah, that's it. I need another one! :D
Click to expand...

Of course you do! And maybe a new 806D2 as well since Benchmade is now sharpening knives with a Catra machine.

Actually, the Benchmade that everyone needs to own is the 921 Switchback. Some folks don't like it right off of the bat, but it's very versatile and you get more out of the knife the harder you use it. Kind of like the Spyderco Native. It's not until you use and handle it for a while before its genius sinks in and impresses you.

Sal,

If you make some M2 steel versions of your Delica and Native FRN PE models, I'll write all of the online ad copy you'll ever need for them. If not, I'll just be happy to judge knives by how they stack to the Delica.
 
Thom, you used a FILE to sharpen a quality knife? The horror!!! You need to get some diamond stones for that Sahrpmaker my man!
 
Originally posted by thombrogan
Of course you do! And maybe a new 806D2 as well since Benchmade is now sharpening knives with a Catra machine.
Click to expand...

Hmmm....interesting. My 806D2 shipped from New Graham in May. Have they changed since then? The primary edge bevel was much, much rougher than anything I've seen from Spyderco.
 
ajrand,

I have the diamond hones, but to make the 806D2 perform like a Delica, it needed a back bevel that was narrower than 30 degrees. In fact, its shoulders got pushed back quite a ways.

Tohatchi NM,

Yours is probably fairly new (bronze washers, tip-up/tip-down holes), but I think that the Catra-sharpened knives would be the newest ones (such as their limited editions and knives built within the last six months), while your New Graham knife may have been slightly less new. Benchmade is a great company, but they're only recently putting sharp edges on their knives.

Before too long, that Chinook II is going to be out and it may be just what the doctor ordered.
 
Originally posted by thombrogan
ajrand,

I have the diamond hones, but to make the 806D2 perform like a Delica, it needed a back bevel that was narrower than 30 degrees. In fact, its shoulders got pushed back quite a ways.
Click to expand...

Ah. I better understand your problem now. It would be quite a task to take that much steel off a D2 blade. Belt grinders come to mind. So is BM running standard bevels now?
 
Absolutely! And they're sharp right out of the box these days! Within the past year, they've been using a high-tech sharpener that grinds a great edge on their knives. A 705-02 that was back-ordered finally found its way to my house and its edge impressed me (I was originally scared about how bad it might be what with the blade being D2 and all, but it was almost as sharp as a Spyderco).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top