Convex grind: AMAZING!

Hi everyone,
I just want to share my experience with convex grind, although not as lucky as Brian's... Two weeks ago I accidentally tapped my thumb with my Fallkniven F1 and now I'm recovering from a tendon repair surgery. I'm still amazed by what these blades are capable of...
 
SpookyPistolero said:
I've tried every trick in the book and am still only able to keep a moderate edge on my convex blades. I've been patient without too much success.

One thing that has worked, however, is to dump the mousepad. The mousepad made it worse usually (I know, 'I'm pressing too hard and rounding the edge'. It still does it with a feather touch.). I just take some X grit sandpaper and lay it on a hardback book, then drag spine-first with the weight of the blade, at an angle where the edge is just *barely* touching, if at all.
Click to expand...

I had the same problem when I still had my opinel. lost it when I let someone borrow it :rolleyes:

I'd really love to get this down though, I may try to convex my mora. Is this a bad idea?
 
SpookyPistolero said:
I've tried every trick in the book and am still only able to keep a moderate edge on my convex blades. I've been patient without too much success.

One thing that has worked, however, is to dump the mousepad. The mousepad made it worse usually (I know, 'I'm pressing too hard and rounding the edge'. It still does it with a feather touch.). I just take some X grit sandpaper and lay it on a hardback book, then drag spine-first with the weight of the blade, at an angle where the edge is just *barely* touching, if at all.
Click to expand...

No offense, but I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one. Everybody makes it sound so easy!
 
Hey Brian,

I had Bark River convex a 7-1/2" Leuku and my 10" Alan Blade Combat Patrol Bowie. All I can say is unbelievable. The Alan Blade weighs 22 oz and with a thin convex severs good size limbs like nothing. The Leuku only weighs 8 oz. but chops like a really big blade but can be used like a small blade. The Leuku is my backpacking knife.

I also have a 12" Ontario Machete that is convexed and out of all my knives and axes, it is by far the best all around tool I have. It will almost cut on par with My GB Small Forrest Axe, but it only weighs 15 oz.

Geoff
 
SpookyPistolero said:
I just take some X grit sandpaper and lay it on a hardback book, then drag spine-first with the weight of the blade, at an angle where the edge is just *barely* touching, if at all.
Click to expand...
That's the trick: less is more. To sharpen in the field? Every time I use any knife, I strop it on my sleeve or my pants leg. This keeps it going for a while. It also reduces corrosion on high carbon blades by cleaning the gunk off. If you need more, take a leather belt or boot and strop it on that.

One advantage of a good convex edge is that both chipping and rolling are reduced, compared to a thin hollow or flat grind. But nothing will save you from damaging the edge while chopping when you hit hard inclusions or rock nearby. Stropping will fix up the edge near the damaged portion and let you keep on working.
 
Convex is the ONLY way to go especially if youre spending lots of time in the woods. Strop to sharpen and get back to work. No real equipment required. Got my first Bark River a couple weeks ago. Its a Bravo 1 and it blew me away. I doubt it will be my last and will probably last a lifetime.
 
I am still waiting to experience a good convex edge. So far I have a Blackjack Quick that had major edge problems that I am still trying to get better. I have not had such good luck with Barkies yet. My Lil' Bird and Trout came with micro chipping along the edge. Recently I got a new Mini and Micro Canadian and both had crap edges, with the Micro having 4mm of grinder marks along the base of the edge. I sent them back to BRKT for resharpening and have a Northstar coming in in June or so, so hopefully I will be able to experience the Barkie edge that everybody talks so highly about.

Although I did just convex the edge of a tomahawk I hafted and it seems to do OK.
 
You Bastards! It is almost 1am and you just made me order a FOX RIVER from knivesshipfree. It will be my first convex grind. I guess I'll find out how sharp it is when my wife finds out I baught another knife.
 
I prefer full flat. :D

Convex is good, I find full flat easier to touch up for me, and carves better IMO. Scandi is good too.

Either of those three are fine with me, but if I had to choose a grind for a 3-5" knife I would go with a full flat. Convex chops better though.
 
I have a couple BRKT Northwind swords. They are 17" fully convexed blades with NO guard. They are the only blades that I own that I actually get chills when I unsheath them. They outchop everything else I have in that size range.

I just got the BRKT Clax and it kinda makes me worry also being double edged and all.:eek:
 
Cuts Like a Kris,
Too bad to hear about your experiences looking for a great convex knife, I hope that everything works out for you and that you'll be taking chunks outta yourself real soon! ;)

As for me, if I hold both my thumbs together the scar on each together forms a perfect "\/". Left thumb was made with a scandi knife and right thumb was with a convexed blade. Luckily hitting bone kept both blades from going deeper. (It is a weird sensation pulling a knife out of your own bone.)
 
tedwca said:
I have a couple BRKT Northwind swords. They are 17" fully convexed blades with NO guard. They are the only blades that I own that I actually get chills when I unsheath them.
Click to expand...
I've handled their Golok and gotten the same feeling. Definitely need to watch where you swing one of them, just like a khukuri, it can do serious damage if you're careless.
 
I'm too nervous. I have trouble sharpening a v-grind with regular stones. I don't know how I will fair with my Fallkniven S1...

I don't want to f it up too much.
 
I never had a convex ground knife before a few weeks ago but now I don't think I want to go back ... convex for everything. Once you get the hang of sharpening its not hard at all.
 
If it make you feel any better i was getting rid of rust/touching up i large knife by holding sand paper folded so i was hiting both side of the blade at the same time. Moving as fast as i could, and on the return stroke i put the blade through my finger in one side out the other, missed the bone. 6 stitches and a tetnes shot later i felt real bright.:D
 
I've got 5 knives that just don't seem like they'll ever get done....

because I started doing convex grinds after the forging and profile grinding and.... man. such nice and strong edges.

One thing. It's *hard* to slack belt a perfectly straight wharnie ... still working on that. anyone have a 6 inch by whatever slack belt?
 
Liam Ryan said:
Yep, I will be getting set up to convex all my blades soon, lots of sandpaper and all that.
I wonder if I can use my lansky system at the right angle to get that initial shoulder off.
Then I guess it will be only bark rivers to buy!:D
Click to expand...

I am with you on this one Liam Ryan... I thought about convexing every single blade I own. I got setup as soon as I got my F1. Got some pieces of plywood and being in lack of suitable mousepads I found some high density foam at home I use as a backing. I think it has as little give as using leather as a backing (I don't have to worry about rounding edges at all). I found some polishing compound (green chromiun and the red one) but I am having trouble finding a suitable piece of leather to make a strop.

I thought about convexing every blade I own but so far I just did it on a beat up Solingen stag handle knife I found cheap on ebay. I wanted to convex my RAT-7 (I even started a new thread HERE) but I am doing some testing with my kitchen knives first. I don't want to screw up my RAT-7. Being D2 is going to take a while.

Sketchbag suggested me knocking the shoulders off with a stone first, so I don't take two years convexing it with sandpaper. Your Lansky system will surely help here.

I have two BRKT knives on the way, they should be here anytime soon (Aurora and Canadian Camp) so I will tell you about it when I get to used them.

Mikel
 
Back in 1992 I was turned on to the convex grind with a Blackjack model 1-5. Sharpest knife I ever bought. Convex edges are not that hard to sharpen. I do it with a flat or rod type sharpener. A convex grind on a large camp knife, IMO, is better then a hatchet.
Scott
 
I love my BRK&T Bravo1 & PSK /Northstar & Mikro Canadian(My sons)
IMG_1464.jpg

IMG_1463.jpg

IMG_1401.jpg

IMG_1351.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top