DMT Mini-Sharp Very Handy for Pocket Carry

[Modoc ED]

I usually carry a small 1 1/16" x 3 1/16" fine or coarse Arkansas stone in a small leather pouch such as picuted at the top of this picture (used a new one for the picture) for touching up the edge of my blades when away from home. However, it is bulky in the pocket but carry it never-the-less I do.

Last week I was watching "Mountain Men" on TV and in the episode I was watching, a guy named Marty shot a Dahl Ram and before skinning and quartering it, he pulled out a sharpener as pictured above. It was even red like the one pictured. He sharpened his knife quickly and with little effort. I knew it was a DMT sharpener (Mini-Sharp Folder) so I looked it up and bought 1 Extra Coarse (Black); 2 Coarse (Blue); 2 Fine (Red) - pictured; and 2 Extra Fine (Green). They arrived Friday and I've been carrying a red one since then. They are much narrower and thinner than the Arkansas Stone in the pouch and even allow me to carry an extra knife in my pocket along with the DMT sharpener.

I went out to my shop and got a dullish knife out of my tool box and used the Fine (Red) Mini-Sharp and it quickly sharpend the blade to a sharp edge. I was even able to sharpen (touch-up) a Buck 119 with it.

I have other DMT sharpeners - bench stones, dia-sharps, dia-folds, etc. but this is just the ticket to have a sharpener with me always.

Anyway, thought you guys might want a look and a tip for a very portable sharpener.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

That's good to hear, Ed. :thumbup:

I've always been impressed with the mono-crystalline diamond on DMT's hones. It really does seem to work more aggressively, and leaves a more uniform finish than the 'poly-crystalline' diamond usually found on most other brands. That's a huge selling point when using one of these smaller hones. I have two of DMT's 'credit card' hones (Fine/25 micron/red, EF/9 micron/green), and I really like their versatility. Even used the Fine one to re-bevel a Queen Country Cousin in D2, and it's no worse for the wear. For such a small hone, that's impressive.

Do you have a favorite technique for holding & using your sharpener? I find it interesting to see how different people use these small hones most effectively.

 

[KennyB]

That's good to hear, Ed. :thumbup:

I've always been impressed with the mono-crystalline diamond on DMT's hones. It really does seem to work more aggressively, and leaves a more uniform finish than the 'poly-crystalline' diamond usually found on most other brands. That's a huge selling point when using one of these smaller hones. I have two of DMT's 'credit card' hones (Fine/25 micron/red, EF/9 micron/green), and I really like their versatility. Even used the Fine one to re-bevel a Queen Country Cousin in D2, and it's no worse for the wear. For such a small hone, that's impressive.

Do you have a favorite technique for holding & using your sharpener? I find it interesting to see how different people use these small hones most effectively.

Yeah, I got a DMT fine credit-card shaped one recently as well. It's pretty much assumed all of my sharpening duties except for blades that need a lot of work.

I was looking at these ones too though because they have the plastic-sleeve they slide into that looks like it could be used effectively as a paddle to hold on to the hone better, but wasn't sure if there would be problems with the hone sliding back in and out.

I'm thinking about buying two more of the credit-card sized continuous ones. An extra fine and a coarse.

Also I'm a fan of the show as well. I really like that Marty guy. Not so keen on Eustace.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I don't have one, but I think the hone folds (end over end) into the 'handle' on these, as opposed to sliding in. Maybe Ed will confirm?

 

[Modoc ED]

I don't have one, but I think the hone folds (end over end) into the 'handle' on these, as opposed to sliding in. Maybe Ed will confirm?

Yes, the hone folds out of and into the handle. There is no danger of the hone slipping back into the handle unless you want it to.

So far, I have used the hone laying flat on a surface or have held it in one hand angled down drawing the blade toward me in a sweeping fashion and away from me in a sweeping fashion - sort of a curving, stropping, motion if that makes sense.

I do have the credit card type sharpener in red (25-micron) and tried carrying it in my wallet but it is so stiff (no give at all) that it was affecting (or is it effecting) my plastic credit cards and other cards. It works great. I'll have to experiment with more ways to carry it.

Anyway, with this new Mini-Sharp folder, I'm assured of having a sharp knife with me always.

 

[KennyB]

I think I might have to give the MiniSharp a try. The biggest reason I wanted to try the credit card type first is because I liked the idea of the continuous surface versus interrupted.

 

[Modoc ED]

If you have a pointed tool and were pushing that point directly toward a dimple, I can see where the point may get hung up in a dimple; however, I've never had that happen to me. Just be careful and things should be fine.