Camillus BSA Sharpening

C

chrishl

Joined
Apr 24, 2006
Messages
15
A couple of years ago I found a Camillus Boy Scout knife while backpacking. Given the remote location, I figured no one would be coming back for it, so I appropriated it. Anyhow, it was dull enough to be essentially useless and it has sat in a drawer in the garage for a while.

It's most likely this model:
bsa046.jpg


I just purchased a Sharpmaker and so am madly sharpening everything in sight. When I got to the CBSA, I was really disappointed. I have "sharpened" it 3 times and it's still not remotely sharp. I haven't had trouble sharpening anything else, and the stones aren't saturated.

Thanks for any words of wisdom.

Krishl
 
I've always had luck in a case like that by starting first with an oil stone. Put the blade almost flat on the stone--coarse side- and sharpen it. But don't put it so flat that you scratch the blade. Circular motions usually work best. Then switch to the fine side. When you have a decent edge on it, clean the blade and then use the sharpmaker.
 
Although I do not own a Sharpmaker, I have heard that "reprofiling" a bevel on a blade is quite tough with this unit.

So I would agree with pickupman, take a coarse stone to it, and get that rough bevel back, and the Sharpmaker should be able to take it from there.

BTW, as a side note, I own a Lansky. While it is not as quick to set up and use, it is great for reprofiling pretty precise angles back on blades.

Good luck.

Glenn
 
Thanks, Glenn. The sharpmaker does have a set of 30 deg back bevel slots, and I did run through a few dozen strokes using them, but still have a dull knife. I'll get out old stone this weekend and grind away.

Chrish
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When you go looking for something specific, your chances of finding it are very bad, because of all the things in the world, you’re only looking for one of them.
When you go looking for anything at all, your chances of finding it are very good, because of all the things in the world, you’re sure to find some of them.
Daryl Zero in Zero Effect
 
I've found the Sharpmaker to be great for touchups and reconstituting an edge that isn't too far gone. Granted the Sharpmaker tones will cut just about anything, there are much faster and more efficient ways of bringing away dull edge back to life.

The Sharpmaker is good when you have an edge in the hospital and it is still alive, but doesn't do well when you dig up an edge from the cemetary and try to bring it back to life.
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I got out the old Sears & Roebuck stone and the army surplus oil and went to work on 'er on Saturday. Made a good bit of progress, but still needs some work. I'm wondering if maybe this is not a Cub Scout knife!

Chrish
 
That's odd, most of the CS or BS knives I have come into contact with take an edge pretty easily. Unless this one was in bad shape, you know how some kids treat their knives...

Glenn
 
My somewhat limited experience with these knives have been that the steel, while a little soft, is very forgiving. Camillus seems to understand the abuse they will take. The steel won't hold a great edge for long under hard use but it should touch up pretty easy. I agree that a basic whetstone is the place to start.
 
After another round of whetstone work, I finally got most of the blade to easy paper-cutting sharpness. The innermost inch or so still needs some work, but we're getting there. There was essentially zero bevel on the entire blade when I started. Maybe the unlucky scout who lost it had used it to carve his pinewood derby cars.
 
chrishl said:
After another round of whetstone work, I finally got most of the blade to easy paper-cutting sharpness. The innermost inch or so still needs some work, but we're getting there. There was essentially zero bevel on the entire blade when I started. Maybe the unlucky scout who lost it had used it to carve his pinewood derby cars.
Click to expand...

Ha! The dad's typically make the PD cars, not the Cubs. :rolleyes:
 
Thomas Linton said:
Ha! The dad's typically make the PD cars, not the Cubs. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Ain't that the truth. I always "made" my boys make their own. I think one of them came in second one year, but that's about the best they ever did. Still, they had fun, and learned a little about how to use wood clamps and saws and files and sandpaper and varnish. I miss those days, a little.
 
I did the work on mine back in the day, and didn't do half bad. ;) District Champion, two years running. :D Loads of polish was the key.
 
Eyegor said:
My somewhat limited experience with these knives have been that the steel, while a little soft, is very forgiving. Camillus seems to understand the abuse they will take. The steel won't hold a great edge for long under hard use but it should touch up pretty easy. I agree that a basic whetstone is the place to start.
Click to expand...

Of course, I can't recall how many young Scouts would toast a piece of bread over the campfire with their scout knives- drawing the temper out of the steel!
 
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