Best edge type and angle for a RMD?

A

Alacrity

Joined
Aug 25, 2013
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I took the RMD out this weekend on a camping trip ( I'm an 11 year old scout troop scoutmaster) and loved how it performed. Made some hotdog roasting sticks, 4 tent stakes( forever losing those..) and chopped some small wood for the fire. I loved everything about it, except it is a very obtuse angle when trying to strip bark or make finer cuts. I can deal with that, I'm just wondering if anyone else has found the perfect edge type and angle for their do it all RMD. I'm open to ideas and suggestions! I'm also open to leaving it as is! Just thought I'd throw out some feelers:P

Thanks all!
Alacrity
 
I sharpen most of my medium sized blades(4" to 7") at 22 degrees on each side with a 24 degree bevel and find them pretty good for doing fine work, as well as chopping and batoning with it. Not sure what angle they come at, but it can take a while to reprofile the edge to make it thinner.

What sharpening system are you using? If your going to reprofile it, I recommend something with diamonds, such as a Wicked Edge(what I use and love).
 
I do 20 degrees each side, or 40 degrees inclusive on a sharpmaker. And yeah, 52100 is a beast to reprofile without diamond stones!
 
Sent mine back for reprofiling at the custom shop, will see how it does once I get it back.
 
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El Bandit0 said:
Sent mine back for e\reprofiling at the custom shop, will see how it does once I get it back.
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Please let us know :thumbup:

I've brought all of my rats down to 15-dps, but I used a coarse strop for the Rodent 9 and the sweep of the RMD to leave them thicker (convex). If I order again direct from the swamp, I'll be sure to specify an angle preference.
 
Yeah, it was stock. I just asked Trissy to have the edge thinned, along with a full regrind to FFG w/bowie clip, black G10, black coating, and something else I cannot remember. When I got it it was shaving-sharp but not a good slicer. I wanted it for all-around use as winter EDC under a coat, go-to hunting/skinning blade, and whatever else I need it for. I don't pry or baton with my knives so I don't mind having a little bit thinner edge. SR 101 should still be hell-for-leather tough even with the thinning.
 
Yes i believe even thinned out some it will be plenty tough. My drop point RMD is crazy thin and it still seems strong enough for anything id use it for. But that one i dont use to baton or chop with, its my fancy slicer :D But my RMD CG i use it to baton and chop all the time.
 
Just got word this morning its shipping to a friend of mine who will be making the kydex. Probably get it back in about 2.5 weeks or so!
 
Nutsforknives on youtube (Erik Loreno on Gearbastion) thinned his RMD way down to 0.013" at the shoulder and can still use it thus:

[video=youtube;pH2xKkAMi6w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH2xKkAMi6w[/video][video=youtube;KaHR9GJe2e4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaHR9GJe2e4[/video]

0.013 might be a bit thin for a lot of folks, but he shows what it can take :thumbup:
 
Mine is thinned down to somewhere around 18* convexed. I appologize for the poor pic, but it is what I have on hand. Edge is polished, but has a beeswax mix on it to protect it. I have had no problems with it.

RMD006M3_zps2406adf2.jpg
 
chiral.grolim said:
Nutsforknives on youtube (Erik Loreno on Gearbastion) thinned his RMD way down to 0.013" at the shoulder and can still use it thus:

0.013 might be a bit thin for a lot of folks, but he shows what it can take :thumbup:
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Im going to have to get a caliper to see what my drop point rmd is sitting at behind the edge. its a real thin one. Thinner then the other FFG SE's i have had.
 
Did ask Trissy at the Custom Shop about which grinds they offer; "full flat height grind and saber grind was the words".

Now sending my M9, two RMD and two RS to the Custom Shop for that treatment, in addition to satin finish on all of them. One of the RMD and one of the RS will get a false edge/penetrator tip too.
Will try to post pics when i they are back home again.
 
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Yes FFG and Saber grind is what they offer, but i think he is looking more for the edge angle its sharpened to and v-grind VS convexed.

I look forward to seeing the pictures with the false edge and penetrator tips, sounds cool man!
 
I've yet to encounter an edge from Swamprat that couldn't handle the edge thickness to be about halved. Not angle so much as the thickness just behind the edge. The edges are way too thick. That's really my only complaint about knives from the Swamp. Good designs, great heat treat and great steel but the edges really suck at pretty much every job I need a knife for out of the box.
 
I've thinned mine down a lot, reprofiled on 400 and 1200 grit diamond stones, then stropped on wet/dry sandpaper on a mouse pad up to 3000 grit.




I've been really impressed with the edge holding of the fine edge RMD. I've completed long carving tasks with no need to resharpen, where 1095 blades with the same edge have required about three resharpenings.
 
Shotgun said:
I've yet to encounter an edge from Swamprat that couldn't handle the edge thickness to be about halved. Not angle so much as the thickness just behind the edge. The edges are way too thick. That's really my only complaint about knives from the Swamp. Good designs, great heat treat and great steel but the edges really suck at pretty much every job I need a knife for out of the box.
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Simple Man said:
BUT, it is a LOT easier to thin it down than to put steel back...;)
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^Both quoted for truth ;)
 
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