Buying used- prefer original edges or good sharpening?

Do you prefer a factory edge or a well-done "professionally sharpened" edge on "like new" knives?

  • factory edge

    Votes: 35 81.4%

  • sharpened edge

    Votes: 4 9.3%

  • I would consider an edge sharpened to my preferences to add value to a "like new" purchase.

    Votes: 4 9.3%
  • Total voters
    43
Motega

Motega

Joined
Jun 20, 2006
Messages
456
When you are looking to buy a knife, what are your thoughts about having a factory edge vs. one that has been properly sharpened? Even some pretty decent brands don't put really great edges on their knives out of the box. I have to sell a bunch and am capable of putting a mirror polished edge, but wondering if most people would just prefer the way it comes from the maker.
For me at least, a really great edge still takes me about an hour to do. I have a bunch of Spydercos and similar that are pretty much brand new, and I'm wondering whether I ought to take the time to put a "professional" quality edge on them or sell them as is. Some of them haven't even been taken out, but in my mind once you even try the edge on a piece of paper you can't call it "new" anymore.
Another option would be to offer a buyer the option to sharpen a knife to the exact angle they prefer. I'm considering this because I have a dozen or so knives that are like new and thinking about the best way to offer them.
I haven't seen this come up before, so vote if you have an opinion.
 
I prefer, and have seen on many fbk groups that buyers want as much as little to no wear on a knife, some people want to put their own edge on them others prefer factory edge, if someone is looking for a user I dont think this will be the issue, but if they have been out of the box and have cut at most one piece of paper its a used knife, list it as LNIB, or be more specific on how you used it or carried it with clear good lighting pics. My advice is offer them as they came from factory
 
Depends. I've had to reprofile almost all of my ZTs, and if someone had one with a 30 degree inclusive edge on one I'd be happy with it. A spyderco? I'd probably want the factory edge because they've always been good for me.
 
I have very little use for a mirror polished edge and for my general uses consider it inferior performance wise. I'd prefer factory edge so I can put my own on it but a well done edge wouldn't necessarily prevent me from buying.
 
Unless it was sharpened by a professional (someone like Josh at Razor Edge), or has a Tom Krein regrind (or someone of that caliber), there is no added value to buying a knife that someone has sharpened. It wouldn't necessarily hurt the value on a knife intended to be a user, but it definitely doesn't increase the knife's worth.
 
If the operative term is "well-done, professional edge," that's the way I would go. However, I know that a factory edge is better for retaining value if and when you decide to sell the knife.

I don't use mirrored edges, but I think that a collection piece -- not a user -- is much nicer with a super keen, mirrored edge. Most factory edges have irregular, semi-sharpened edges that work well for ordinary purposes. But factory edges are way below optimal. Why would I prefer a collection piece with a poor edge?
 
Factory edge for me. Altogether too many people who buy a Wicked Edge or whatever and suddenly think they're professional knife-sharpeners now. About the only way I'm good with buying a knife that's been resharpened is if it's from someone like Josh at REK (an actual professional), or the knife is going to be a beater anyway, so it doesn't matter what edge is on it, because I'll be changing it to suit my uses anyway.
 
Looks like this is a no-brainer. For the dozen or so I have that have only been out of the box to verify contents, I will leave them that way.
 
I prefer a factory edge, but if its a knife I'm after for a good deal that has been sharpened it wouldnt hold me back. I buy knives to use them as cutting instruments and willing to take the risk the edge may dull over time and need touched up. Not buying a $250-300 auto knife to stare at it in a box just in case I decide to sell it down the road, I am going to use it as intended and when the time comes touch it up on my wicked edge
 
For me personally, “factory edge” is not so much an indicator of superior sharpness, but more so of use, or, rather, a lack thereof. I tend too look for knives on the secondary market to save a few bucks. I prefer lightly used or LNIB knives that have a factory edge because that means I can reasonably say they probably haven’t been messed with too much or beaten on, which helps to indicate overall care and condition.

Like others have said, many people fancy themselves as excellent knife sharpeners, and maybe they are, but I prefer to eliminate the guesswork because fixing a poorly sharpened knife, or dealing with return shipping and online communication is more hassle than I want to invest. That’s not to say I haven’t purchased or traded for previously sharpened knives, but only when the pictures reflect that it’s going to likely be worth the gamble for me. I just prefer not to.
 
Factory Edge.

It's not a big issue either way, but a bad job from the factory is generally easier for me to fix than a bad one from a hobbyist.

Too often they'll backbevel to some absurdly low angle for the stock thickness used and I'll either have to live with a secondary bevel half as tall as the blade or lose a ton of steel to correct it.
 
If your plan is to sell them as new, or like new, don't sharpen them. Sharpened, even "professionally" is used.
I'm not necessarily opposed to buying a knife that has been sharpened, and may consider it value added (assuming good used price)
 
I haven't had a factory edge yet that didn't need at least some tuning to get it where I wanted it so buying used it doesn't really make all that much difference unless it's been messed up from an amateur sharpener.
At that point concessions need to be made on the price.
Otherwise a sharpening job adds no value, only full regrinds, and that regrind needs to have been professionally done with respect to blade material, thickness, heat treat, etc.
In other words that ZDP blade at 63+ hardness that was reground to some impossible thin edge is likely to just chip out under harder use.
I've taken a hit on quite a few over the years, most were able to be brought back to a serviceable edge though.
 
I prefer a sharp knife. To me, factory edge means the knife is as intended by the maker, so it's OK in my book. If it isn't sharp, I don't buy from the maker again. For used, I definitely prefer someone else's edge, and I will try to check their posts out to see if they have shown they are good sharpeners.
 
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