I don't have much call for a utility/outdoors FB, but intend to buy one at some stage as a knife for very occasional outdoor persuits and stuff around the house. Because of the steel and convex grind, Marbles is at the top of my list. Also i like the traditional designs. Sorry to hear of your experience Buzzbait, nice to know you got the sheath issue sorted.
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Blackjack Small
- Thread starter mikemck
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2001
- Messages
- 6,675
Sharpening a convex grind is very easy. You strop along the entire side of the blade for light touchups. You should feel a small amount of resistance as you get to the edge of the blade. A charged leather strop works really well. So does cardboard.
If the knife gets too dull, I use a hard Arkansas stone, using the same technique as I did for stropping. You pretty much always sharpen in the opposite direction that you would for a normal V-grind edge bevel. You do not normally push a convex ground knife into a stone. You pull it away. If the stone marks up the side of the blade a bit, stropping should remove most of the marks.
I find that sharpening a convex ground blade is much easier than the more popular grinds. Because youre simply running the side of the knife along a stone or strop, the blade controls the angle for you. You dont need some mechanical gizmo like a Lansky or SharpMaker. This is VERY handy when youre in the field, where youre less likely to be carrying a sharpening miracle gizmo.
Oh yah. I tried, for the first time, stropping with some 3M 2000 grit wet/dry paper. It worked beautifully. I think I like it better than an Arkansas stone for restoring the edge. It doesnt mark up the blade as badly, and seems to sharpen just as quickly. A small piece of sandpaper is also very small and lightweight for carrying in a backpack, as opposed to a benchstone or strop. Its definitely worth a try.
I jsut got my BJ small. My initial impressions are favorable. The fit and finish of the knife is good, it came popping sharp and it fits my hand well.
I got the pocket sheath, to be honest I am dissapointed. I have other sheaths made by Sherry Lott, and they are of higher quality than this one.
The leather is seperating, the exterior should have been stitchedc not glued. The design is fine for pocket carry and draw, but nneds to be taken out of the pocket for insertion into the sheath.
This knife has many similarities to Marble's knives. I think it was produced by them and markketed by BJ, thoughthis is soley my statement of opinion based on impressions of its build quality, materials and design and is not an assertion of fact based on any undisclosed facts.
I used it to cut up an apple. A little thick in the spins, but cuts well. I'll put it to more use this weekend.
Chad
I got the pocket sheath, to be honest I am dissapointed. I have other sheaths made by Sherry Lott, and they are of higher quality than this one.
The leather is seperating, the exterior should have been stitchedc not glued. The design is fine for pocket carry and draw, but nneds to be taken out of the pocket for insertion into the sheath.
This knife has many similarities to Marble's knives. I think it was produced by them and markketed by BJ, thoughthis is soley my statement of opinion based on impressions of its build quality, materials and design and is not an assertion of fact based on any undisclosed facts.
I used it to cut up an apple. A little thick in the spins, but cuts well. I'll put it to more use this weekend.
Chad
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2001
- Messages
- 6,675
I have a little more input on the Blackjack Small. I got my new sheath on Friday, and carried the knife all weekend. I had no problems with the sheath whatsoever.
I did take the time to disassemble the old sheath though, to see what went wrong. It appears that the knife cut out a small piece of leather from the inside of the sheath, when putting the knife away. Ill be more careful with the new sheath, to use a straight vertical motion when sheathing the knife.
Oh yah. The pocket sheath goes great with my Levi 501 jeans. The height of the sheath is just a hair above the top of the pocket; making it easy to resheath the knife without having to pull the sheath from my pocket. I also tried some Wrangler jeans with the pocket sheath. The sheath disappeared in the Wranglers, making it hard to put the knife away.
I did take the time to disassemble the old sheath though, to see what went wrong. It appears that the knife cut out a small piece of leather from the inside of the sheath, when putting the knife away. Ill be more careful with the new sheath, to use a straight vertical motion when sheathing the knife.
Oh yah. The pocket sheath goes great with my Levi 501 jeans. The height of the sheath is just a hair above the top of the pocket; making it easy to resheath the knife without having to pull the sheath from my pocket. I also tried some Wrangler jeans with the pocket sheath. The sheath disappeared in the Wranglers, making it hard to put the knife away.
I have been carrying mine for a few days, carved a walking stick, cut up some veggies, took down some carboard boxes. I'm not real happy with the sheath, it is splitting at the edges. I'll have to reglue them. It is suprising because I have other sheaths by Sherry Lott and they are of much higher quality.
Here are some quick picks of my small and a GB mini (a nice light combo) and with my Pioneer SAK for size comparison:
Here are some quick picks of my small and a GB mini (a nice light combo) and with my Pioneer SAK for size comparison:
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2001
- Messages
- 1,157
I bought a Blackjack Small approx. 21/2 months ago and I am very satisfied with the fit and finish of the knife and the sheath. No complaints. I have carried it just about every day during the week on the belt sheath and no problems at all. I will agree with everything everyone has had to say about how good the knife cuts and holds an edge. On the sharpening issue, all I do is use a leather strop with the Veritas green compound. I have not had to use a stone so far. It takes quite a bit of cutting to notice a difference in the edge, when I do I just strop. I think this is a great knife for the price.
Buzz, as someone else said, Ed Caffrey makes a mean knife in 52100. Give him some consideration.
Edited to correct some spelling.
Buzz, as someone else said, Ed Caffrey makes a mean knife in 52100. Give him some consideration.
Edited to correct some spelling.