Recommendation? Automatic Knife Sharpening

I thought I'd add some visuals so people who are not familiar with the knives in question know what types of grinds we're talking about.

The image below represents the grind of a Frank Beltrame stiletto with either a bayonet blade or a dagger blade. It's a 32.2 degree angle. The thickness of the blade is 4mm, the grinds are 7mm wide (4mm x 7mm x 7mm).

A Latama stiletto is 5mm thick, with 7mm grinds, so it's an even steeper angle.

Picture below of an actual Frank Beltrame bayonet stiletto showing the angle of the grind.

And just to make things a little more difficult, they make a token attempt to sharpen them by grinding the very edge even steeper. So you don't get the acute point of the diagram image.

Like I said, they weren't made for cutting.



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killgar said:
Those are perfect examples of switchblades that are not meant to be sharpened. Modern Latama stilettos have narrow 5mm thick blades with even narrower grinds ( dagger and bayonet blades). No one is going to be able to put any kind of actual cutting edge on them, not unless they regrind the blades a lot thinner.

Same goes with the current Frank Beltrame brand stilettos with bayonet and dagger blades. Although they have slightly thinner blades, 4mm, again, they are very narrow with even narrower grinds.

Those switchblades were never meant for cutting and are more novelties than knives. I call them "novelties" because I doubt that either Frank Beltrame (maker), or Walt Halucha (owner of Latama) actually intend the knives to ever be used as weapons.

If however you have a Frank Beltrame stiletto with a full flat ground blade, those can be sharpened and used to cut stuff to some degree.
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So you don't think it's worth it to get one of those?
 
Not automatic (?) but another recommendation here for a Spyderco Sharpmaker.
 
Legendary_Jarl said:
So you don't think it's worth it to get one of those?
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I'd say it's entirely subjective.

I have a lot of opinions on both Frank Beltrame brand stiletto switchblades, as well as Latama brand switchblades (also made by Frank Beltrame). Bottom line for me is- I have no interest in owning any of them. Not anymore anyways.

I've owned 16 Frank Beltrame brand stiletto switchblades, purchased most of them for parts to make other switchblades, and from the 16 that have passed through my hands I don't have a very high opinion of the finished knives.

But I've often said that if a person wants the best chance of getting a "classic"-style Italian stiletto switchblade with decent fit and finish, then a Latama is their best bet (the owner of Latama has higher standards than what you get with Frank Beltrame brand knives).

But these knives are what they are, and it's important to recognize their limitations. Like I said, with the exception of the full flat ground bladed Frank Beltrames, these knives are not designed for cutting. Nor do I believe they are truly designed for stabbing. Although a person could certainly do a lot of damage with one (same could be said about a sharpened pencil), I consider them "novelties", and not actual weapons.

Do I think it's worth it? Not to me. And as a general rule I don't recommend them. But if someone wants a genuine Italian-made stiletto switchblade, and they are ok with how they're made and the materials involved, then that's up to them. But their choices are pretty limited when it comes to how the knives are made, and what they're made of.
 
killgar said:
I'd say it's entirely subjective.

I have a lot of opinions on both Frank Beltrame brand stiletto switchblades, as well as Latama brand switchblades (also made by Frank Beltrame). Bottom line for me is- I have no interest in owning any of them. Not anymore anyways.

I've owned 16 Frank Beltrame brand stiletto switchblades, purchased most of them for parts to make other switchblades, and from the 16 that have passed through my hands I don't have a very high opinion of the finished knives.

But I've often said that if a person wants the best chance of getting a "classic"-style Italian stiletto switchblade with decent fit and finish, then a Latama is their best bet (the owner of Latama has higher standards than what you get with Frank Beltrame brand knives).

But these knives are what they are, and it's important to recognize their limitations. Like I said, with the exception of the full flat ground bladed Frank Beltrames, these knives are not designed for cutting. Nor do I believe they are truly designed for stabbing. Although a person could certainly do a lot of damage with one (same could be said about a sharpened pencil), I consider them "novelties", and not actual weapons.

Do I think it's worth it? Not to me. And as a general rule I don't recommend them. But if someone wants a genuine Italian-made stiletto switchblade, and they are ok with how they're made and the materials involved, then that's up to them. But their choices are pretty limited when it comes to how the knives are made, and what they're made of.
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So what is in your opinion worth it? 😁
 
Dr. Dingus said:
Hello all! I'm new here, and I have been struggling with one thing recently: Where to send automatic knives to be sharpened. Every place that sharpens blades around me (Pittsburgh, PA) won't touch automatic knives, despite them being legal since 2023. The same goes for swords. Does anyone know of any service (near or far) that would accommodate my needs? Thanks in advance, everyone!

~ D.D.
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What part of PGH? Im near fox chapel, harmarville, oakmont. I can help you out.
 
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