Can my Gerber get ESEE sharp ?

I

iyyob

Joined
Dec 27, 2010
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133
i have a Gerber Prodigy that i have been working on to try to get it as sharp as my ESEEs.

- right out of the box w/ my izzy i can shave some arm hair and it looks like i hit it with a razorblade

- out of the box the gerber felt like some one went ripping thru a warehouse full of cardboard boxes when they finished they packed it up and sent it out. i changed the blade angle to about 44* now when i scrape my arm i can see a few hairs but it just lays over most.

Im using a Gatco Professional edge maker 22* on both sides

Stropping with cardboard
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could the blades metal have somthing to do with my problem ?
is it just my skills for making it sharp are lacking ?
Is the Gatco garbage ?
All of the above ?


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Info from Gerber's website

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Gerber Prodigy Survival Combat Knife

Key Features

* Based from the ever-popular Gerber LMF
* MOLLE compatible
* MIRS compliant

Product Description:

Built from a full tang piece of 420HC stainless steel, the Gerber Prodigy model 22-01121 is modeled from the ever-popular LMF knife. MOLLE compatible and MIRS compliant, the Gerber Prodigy has non-dection features like silence when removed from the sheath and non-reflective in light. This knife is a basically a smaller version of the Gerber LMF. The sheath has straps so that you can attach it to your leg.
Technical Specs:

* Overall Length: 9.75 inches
* Blade Length: 4.75 inches
* Blade Material: U.S. 420HC Stainless Steel
 
You can get almost anything razor sharp it is just how long it will stay that way.

1095 is easier to sharpen than a lot of steels, especially some SS.
 
low96hb said:
No, well yes but it won't hold a edge as long!, so no!
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I agree. The 420 stainless I have found to be my favorite stainless steel to resharpen for people (I only do freehand, btw). It seems to take an edge quicker for me. You might get it ESEE sharp, but it is doubtful whether it will hold the edge as long as the 1095 does treated by Rowen.
 
I have a $35 Gerber Icon Tanto 4.25" blade that I've had for over a year. It was pretty dull. I used my Spyderco Sharpmaker on it and it shaves hair now. Didn't take much to get it there either.

We'll see how long it holds.
 
AKC75 said:
I have a $35 Gerber Icon Tanto 4.25" blade that I've had for over a year. It was pretty dull. I used my Spyderco Sharpmaker on it and it shaves hair now. Didn't take much to get it there either.

We'll see how long it holds.
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Strop it on leather or anything afterwards?
 
Router said:
Strop it on leather or anything afterwards?
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Nope. Just the stock ceramic stones that it came with. I usually end by going light and lighter strokes on the fine white stones. I got my ESEE 4 back to hair popping sharp as well. same with my Kershaw Blackout.
 
AKC75 said:
Nope. Just the stock ceramic stones that it came with. I usually end by going light and lighter strokes on the fine white stones. I got my ESEE 4 back to hair popping sharp as well. same with my Kershaw Blackout.
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I use a fine white croc stick to touch up my 3 and 4 freehand (if at home) like that. Same with Kershaw and Spyderco folders. I still strop about 25-50 times to a side and it always seems to smooth it a little more with a little more edge-holding for me. Always come out hair-poppin. Good to see your ESEE-4 and other knives are users!
 
Who did the heat treat on the 420HC? I only know of Buck's and would put it up against Rowen's 1095 for sharpness and edge retention any day.

Do you have a pair of calipers to measure edge thickness? Could be that the Gerber doesn't have as good of an edge relief ground in, and it might be hard to beat the Izula's full flat grind in terms of slicability.

Otherwise I think you should be able to refine both edges to get shaving sharp.
 
Router said:
I use a fine white croc stick to touch up my 3 and 4 freehand (if at home) like that. Same with Kershaw and Spyderco folders. I still strop about 25-50 times to a side and it always seems to smooth it a little more with a little more edge-holding for me. Always come out hair-poppin. Good to see your ESEE-4 and other knives are users!
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Oh yea! Any excuse to cut something and I'm all over it. I've put some pretty good wear on my ESEE 4 as far as the coating goes. And it's not but maybe 2 months old.

At this point I don't see my need to invest in a strop yet.
 
I would definitely knock the shoulders off the edge and then sharpen it at twenty degrees wich makes for a very smooth transition of angles for better cutting without sacrificing strength. Strop it and you are set to go. 1095 heat treated properly is hard to beat for getting and keeping a razor sharp edge, thats why it is used for so many working knives that need a super sharp edge. If stainless compared in edge holding people would just use that and forget about rust. You would have to go way up in price in stainless to compare in toughness and edge holding ability to compete with rowen 1095.
 
AKC75 said:
Oh yea! Any excuse to cut something and I'm all over it. I've put some pretty good wear on my ESEE 4 as far as the coating goes. And it's not but maybe 2 months old.

At this point I don't see my need to invest in a strop yet.
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No need to invest much in a strop really...you can make your own easily out of the reverse side of a real cowhide belt-even a used one. I have before and they have worked fine for me. Matter of fact the one I wear I take off and strop knives with...if my pants are not too loose at the waist.:eek:
 
Router said:
No need to invest much in a strop really...you can make your own easily out of the reverse side of a real cowhide belt-even a used one. I have before and they have worked fine for me. Matter of fact the one I wear I take off and strop knives with...if my pants are not too loose at the waist.:eek:
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I've heard of this and the thought has crossed my mind. I've heard of people using denim as well.
 
Are you actually hitting the edge with the Gatco? Take a Sharpie to the edge to see if you are. I've also found that the Gatco will differ from side to side as far as the actual angle goes. Even though the knife is clamped in, the angle varies for some reason.
 
The Spyderco SHarpmaker has always worked well for about anything I have sharpened with it. Some things take longer but sharp is the result if you stick with it.
 
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