Bark River Fox River questions

D

delphidoc

Joined
Sep 2, 2013
Messages
86
I'm giving my son a Bark River Fox River knife (with cocobolo handle- very handsome knife) for Christmas. He has taken up deer hunting, which I don't do. I've also never succeeded in keeping a convex edge on one of my own knives. I tried using sandpaper and a mouse pad on my Griptilian with mixed results before I bought an EP Apex, so I'm not a good resource for or fan of convex sharpening for him. It sounds like he doesn't have any sharpening equipment at the moment. I've got some DMT Diasharp plates (C-F and F-EF) that I can donate to his cause.

He asked me two questions tonight that I don't have answers for:
1) Is a convex or a "normal" beveled edge better for dressing and skinning deer?
2) Is it possible to use diamond plates on a factory convex edge, essentially reprofiling it?

Thanks for your replies, opinions, advice.
 
Convex work great and they are super easy to keep razor sharp, but you need the right equipment.. which isn't much at all.
Get a double sided leather strop from one of the quality knifeshops in your area or online. Black and Green compound.. that's it.
Once you have that it's just learning how to hold the angle, rotate the blade and your wrist.

Here are some good links.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsV9RVRpkIM
- He has lots of great BRKT videos

How to strop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uunAbAWmSX4
 
Thanks for those links. Any experience dressing deer? If he decides to go the diamond plate direction, is it just a matter of putting a bevel edge on it or does the knife have to be thinned first?
 
I've not dressed a deer myself with one but my buddy uses a knife I made him with a convex edge and he loves it. I wouldn't spend the money on a Bark River and then change the edge b/c you don't want to get a strop and compound. Just my .02. If you want a conventional edge I'd find another knife with the edge geometry you want or contact BRKT directly and see if they can put the edge geo you want on the knife you want.
 
delphidoc said:
Thanks for those links. Any experience dressing deer? If he decides to go the diamond plate direction, is it just a matter of putting a bevel edge on it or does the knife have to be thinned first?
Click to expand...

Flat works quite well for dressing deer, as does hollow and convex. I prefer a flat-grind to the apex, then knock off the edge-shoulders (convex) and finely strop the apex to finish.

Bevelling the edge shouldn't take very long on diamond plates, depending on what angle you wish the final edge to be set at. Most BRKTs are ground rather thin. Simply 'paint' ~1/16" along the edge with marker (I prefer red Sharpie), abrade the blade at the desired angle, and see where the marker has been removed. If the marker has been abraded away at the apex, then the edge is currently more acute than your chosen angle and will require minimal sharpening to remove metal to your chosen angle. If marker remains at the apex, then you have some work to do to remove the 'shoulder' metal and bring the edge down to your chosen angle (i.e. thinner). Whether sharpening flat or hollow or convex, the concept is always the same - choosing an angle of incidence and applying appropriate pressure against the hone.
 
Thanks. Never saw an explanation of converting convex to flat before. I'll let my son decide which way he wants to go with it.
 
Look up virtuovice on youtube, he has great videos about sharpening and stropping. I finally got some waterstones myself, a king 1000 and 6000 just like murray carter recommends and I used those to sharpen out the shoulders of the blade and even reprofile my griptilian and it came out great! I don't recommend sandpaper if you know how to use stones. Stones and loaded strops and you're good!
 
Thanks for the input. Coincidentally I watched some of his videos last night for the first time. He was having a time flattening a green water stone- dished so bad you could clearly see it without a straight edge against it. He seems to be an avid deer hunter.

Like your tagline.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. (Isa 9:6-7)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top