Buck sharpness

[rlewpolar]

I recently bought an edge sharpness tester and started throwing on some knives I own onto it . Holy hell, a standard Buck 119 came out at 125. This is literally as sharp as a utility razor. So far, this is the sharpest factory edge I’ve tested. Good job Buck! The lowly Mora Companion came out at a very respectable 165. I’m impressed. Other knives, not so much.

For those of you who use a BESS scale to test your edges, what’s been the sharpest, factory, out of the box knife you’ve tested?

 

[tiguy7]

Added Tungsten Carbide blades to my utility knives. They BESSed at 120.View attachment 2286283View attachment 2286285

 

[rlewpolar]

Been testing out a lot of my knives. I’m impressed with how consistent Spydercos, Cold Steel and Bucks are. All around 150 BESS, model after model. These companies have their sharpening down.

 

[Corton93]

Don't have one of my own, but a close friend tested a freshly unboxed QC Waypoint and it was around 110-120 iirc..

Added Tungsten Carbide blades to my utility knives. They BESSed at 120.View attachment 2286283View attachment 2286285

On that note, how do you like the Utilizer? Been thinking about picking one up for a minute now..

 

[Greggy]

My Mora Companion was the sharpest new blade for me. My Cold Steel Voyager was a close second.

 

[tiguy7]

Don't have one of my own, but a close friend tested a freshly unboxed QC Waypoint and it was around 110-120 iirc..


On that note, how do you like the Utilizer? Been thinking about picking one up for a minute now..

The Utilizer is easier to find and works well. The blade changes are slow.

 

[Another Shepherd]

Sharpest

Sharpness measurements (BESS scores in grams) using an Edge-On-Up PT50A.
The blades had previously cut nothing more than a piece of computer paper
The column labeled Sharp is the average of 5 or more measurements.

Sharp Steel         Make             Model                                      Edge Angles

_ 97  Elmax         Kunwu            Pulsar (Red Gmascus)                        17:17                       
_ 98  154CM         Benchmade        Pardue Spearpoint Auto                                                   
_104  CPM-S90V      Spyderco         Paramilitary 2 (Teal)                       19:15-3:3                   
_105  AUS-10A       Cold Steel       XL Voyager Clip Point                                                   
_108  CPM-S30V      Spyderco         Kelly McCann Canis (Wharncliffe)            17:16-5:4                   
_109  Magnacut      Bradford         Guardian 3 (Orange)                                                     
_112  Carbon        Morakniv         Companion Heavy Duty                                                     
_113  CPM-20CV      WE               Ziffius Flipper Chidori                     20:21-3:3                   
_114  CPM-S30V      Spyderco         Sliverax @B                                 18:16-3:3                   
_116  420HC         Buck             110FG Folding Hunter with Finger Grooves    18:11-(2,4):(2,4)           
_120  N690          Fox              Compso (Orange Neck Combo Smooth)                                       
_122  CPM-S35VN     Cold Steel       Ultimate Hunter (Orange) @B                 11:18                       
_122  CPM-S90V      Spyderco         Para 3 LW (Teal) @E                         18:17-3:3                   
_125  CPM-154       Benchmade        Taggedout (Orange)                          17:17                       
_127  14C28N        QSP              Swordfish (Red/Black Wharncliffe)           18:19-4:4                   
_127  Magnacut      James Brand      Kline (Orange)                              (17,24):(19,29)             
_127  CPM-CruWear   Spyderco         Para 3 (Purple) @B                          16:14-3:3                   
_128  14C28N        Civivi           Qubit (Blue)                                21:22-2:2                   
_128  CPM-SPY27     Spyderco         Para 3 LW (Blue) @D                         19:15-3:3                   
_128  CPM-S30V      Benchmade        Osborne Auto 9400 @A                                                     
_129  AUS-8A        Cold Steel       Finn Wolf (Orange)                          11:11-0:0                   
_130  CTS-BD1N      Spyderco         Manix 2 (Blue)                                                           
_132  CPM-S35VN     Cold Steel       Recon 1 (Orange Tanto) @B                   13:18-3:3                   
_132  M390          Bradford         Guardian 3 (Blue)                           15:15                       
_134  LC200N        Spyderco         Pacific Salt 2 (Smooth)                     (14,19):(11,38)-3:3         
_134  CPM-S90V      Spyderco         Paramilitary 2 (Olive)                      18:15-3:3                   
_135  14C28N        Ruike            Hornet F815 (Orange) @B                                                 
_135  AUS-8         CRKT             Nirk Tighe 2 (Blue)                                                     
_136  Elmax         Bradford         G-Necker                                                                 
_137  CPM-S30V      Spyderco         Sliverax @A                                 19:18-3:3                   
_139  CPM-20CV      WE               Exciton Flipper                             23:20-(3,5):(3,5)

 

[Another Shepherd]

Dullest

Sharpness measurements (BESS scores in grams) using an Edge-On-Up PT50A.
The blades had previously cut nothing more than a piece of computer paper
The column labeled Sharp is the average of 5 or more measurements.

Sharp Steel         Make             Model                                      Edge Angles

_304  Cobalt        Boye             Boating and Rescue Sheepsfoot (Smooth)                                   
_304  440?          Tactical         Razor Survival (Rainbow) RT-9036RB                                       
_314  440A          Marbles          Large Lockback MR565 (Orange)               27:15-(3,4):(3,4)            
_317  ?             Chinese          Auto (Rebel) @A                                                          
_321  440           Chinese          Flipper (Bear Combo Smooth)                 40:20                        
_330  Tru-Sharp     Case             Tribal Lock (Orange)                        (26,40+):(19:22)-(3,23):(3,9)
_336  AUS-8         Camillus         Mountaineer (Combo Smooth)                                               
_346  8Cr13MoV      CRKT             Folts S.P.I.T. Neck Knife Reverse Tanto     16:26-3:3                    
_348  3Cr13         Mossy Oak        Mini Folding Pocket Knife (Pink Camo)       21:21                        
_353  7Cr17MoV      Boker            Magnum Air Force Rescue Flipper (Smooth)    (21,40+):(35:40+)-(2,5):(2,5)
_358  ?             Chinese          Auto (Rebel) @B                                                          
_359  AUS-8A        Spartan Blades   Enyo Field Grade (Neck) @B                  20:20                        
_359  8Cr13MoV      CRKT             Ryan Johnson RMJ Owlet (Neck)                                            
_398  D2            Benchmade        McHenry Mini Infidel OTF @X                                              
_403  ?             Chinese          Auto (Aircraft Carrier)                                                  
_413  440           Sarge            SK-916 Gut Hook (Orange)                    27:26 26:29 32:26            
_416  ?             Frost            Fire Fighter (Red)                          26:33                        
_433  CPM-S35VN     Spartan Blades   Enyo Elite Gold Grade (Neck)                28:28                        
_440  VG-10         Spyderco         Endura Thin Red Line (Combo Smooth)         (19,35):(27:45)-3:2          
_449  ?             Milwaukee        48-22-1500 Utility                                                       
_471  H1            Spyderco         ARK (Neck)                                                               
_474  440           Hunter Outdoor   RT-9014OC (Guthook Orange)                                               
_553  12C27         Opinel           #8 Outdoor Folder(Combo Smooth)             17:21-(3,5):(3,11)           
_784  ?             Chinese          Auto (Eagle)                                                             
1374  ?             Blackhills       Trapper BKH-108BRMJ @Q (Short Blade)                                     
1400  ?             Blackhills       Trapper BKH-108BRMJ @P (Long Blade)

 

[rlewpolar]

Great data

 

[Deino]

The sharpness sometimes depends on the steel, too. Generally speaking, finer grain steels will give better results.

The best D2 might not get as low Bess as others, but in endurance test, it will last long. Plain carbon can give super sharp edge, but the oxidation and lack of hard particles means less sharp in long run.

Many people don't like this video. Nevertheless, different steels and brands, same testing procedures, both factory edges and resharpened edges.

 

[rlewpolar]

The sharpness sometimes depends on the steel, too. Generally speaking, finer grain steels will give better results.

The best D2 might not get as low Bess as others, but in endurance test, it will last long. Plain carbon can give super sharp edge, but the oxidation and lack of hard particles means less sharp in long run.

Many people don't like this video. Nevertheless, different steels and brands, same testing procedures, both factory edges and resharpened edges.

How could any knife geek not love that video? I’ve seen it before, good one.

I recently tested a knife that would blow every one of those out of the water save for the fact that it’s a fixed blade. A lowly Mora Craftline Pro S came in at a Bess score of 95 with the factory edge. I didn’t do any edge retention testing like this guy did so no data on that but it’s one of the lighter knives in the test at 80 grams, more robust (it’s a fixed blade), sharper, cheaper and it’s stainless. Oh, and it’s $10

Which makes this guy’s point . There are some great knives out there that don’t cost much at all and punch way above their weight.

 

[jackknife]

I wonder what an Opinel or a SAK would show on testing?

 

[Alberta Ed]

My sharpest knife is a Scandi grind in 1070 by Ivan Campos. It holds a terrific edge, as well.

 

[Wild Willie]

I wonder what an Opinel or a SAK would show on testing?

Given my limited experience I'd give victorinox the nod. As much as I like opinels, every one I've had has wanted a bit of work to bring the edge up to snuff. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but vic definitely does a better job at the factory with their edges.

 

[rlewpolar]

I wonder what an Opinel or a SAK would show on testing?

I’ll test both today and post the results

 

[Deino]

I would like to see your results.

I read several tests on the Opinels. They are not that sharp on Bess, but the way they factory grind it leaves some tiny serration, helping it to slice very well, though push down cut like Bess not as good.

 

[rlewpolar]

I would like to see your results.

I read several tests on the Opinels. They are not that sharp on Bess, but the way they factory grind it leaves some tiny serration, helping it to slice very well, though push down cut like Bess not as good

Ok, here are a few results . The SAK Farmer X and Opinel 8 did about the same. 250-350 is considered sharp enough but nothing mind blowing. Here is the insanely sharp Mora as a comparison. Deino makes a good point. Just because a blade won’t be great in a push cut test, doesn’t mean it won’t slice. My Opinels are mean slicers and the SAKs are no slouches either.