Do you need a bragging edge on your EDC?

Jeff Clark

Jeff Clark

Joined
Apr 27, 1999
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I have done a lot of experimenting with different type of edges over the years. A while back I developed a standard utility edge for my EDC. I would thin the edge as much as practical then hone the edge slightly convex with a medium fine grit finish. This was optimized for high slicing/slashing performance with some modest durability. When I was younger and living in a more humid climate my arm hair shaved readily with that edge and all was right with the world.

Now I'm getting older and I live in a semi desert at 7,200 foot elevation. My hair is thin and hard. My utility edge no longer shaves very well. I have discovered that it takes a thinner edge, with nearly a flat edge bevel, and an extra-fine ceramic rod finish to make a good shaver. So eventually I had to ask myself did I want to have an efficient edge on my EDC or a bragging/shaving edge. Yesterday I had to break down and admit that a bragging edge on my EDC was more important to me than a practical edge.

How about you. Is it more important to be able to wow your friends with your edge or to be able to efficiently slice polypropylene rope?
 
As long as I can't see light reflecting off the edge, and the edge grabs my thumbnail when slid across, I'm happy.
 
Without doubt, a "bragging edge" is far more important than mere utility needs.

A fine edge, used roughly for a personal job can easily be repaired and re-sharpened, but the satisfaction of wowing your friends with a demonstration of say, paper thin tomato slices from your EDC is priceless.

The downside is that they will forever be asking you to sharpen their $10 knockoff to the same standard.
:)
 
Hi, Jeff. Never considered the possibility that being a Colorado native meant that I've always been subject to a higher standard of sharpness when it comes to shaving arm hair, but I think I kinda like believing that. <g>

Anyway ... the primary reason I strive for what some might call a bragging-sharp edge on my EDCs is simply because it serves as confirmation that a complete and satisfactory job of sharpening was done. I also favor a thin primary edge profile, with finish sharpening and regular maintenance consisting of applying a small microbevel with ceramic rods. The process is quick and easy, and I've been doing it for so long, a crisp, shaving-sharp edge is usually easy to obtain.

However, when finishing up, I often give my knives a few passes on a leather strop loaded with CrO&#8212;which, if everything else was done properly, of course produces a much finer edge than I need for my EDC blades. But again, I just do this to confirm the rest of the job was done well; if it wasn't, I know right away, and any areas of the edge that need work become obvious.

Of course it's always fun to impress somebody with your blazing sharp knife, so I reluctantly admit that there might be just a *bit* of ego involved.

Dave
 
I go for a pretty-darn-sharp edge, one that's "good enough".
I usually don't try for a super-duper infinity-plus-one sharpness, it's usually too much trouble, although I occasionally will if I'm in the mood. It depends.
 
The only person I'd have any hope of impressing with a super-sharp edge is me. So I'm really the only person I bother trying to impress. :) If, however, whatever knife I'm carrying is sharp enough to make someone else's jaw drop, that's fine with me, too.
 
Jeff: Never thought about in those terms but you've hit the nail squarely on the thumb here. I'll have to put my check mark in the bragging rights column and agree with Colorado Dave that it's something about a job done right. Nothing is 100% but for the most part knife people tend to be more thorough about other things as well. One more thing, it also has something to do with the fact that few people can actually sharpen a knife. Thanks for the post. Kent
 
I carry 2 EDC folders. My BM 805 (which I carry as my "defensive/offensive" folder) has a VERY (razor) sharp edge on it. My BM 721s (which I carry as my "utility" folder) has a sharp "working edge" on it. One is for show (the one that I hope to never have to "use"), and one is for go (when there's work to be done).
 
Utility edge is fine. If it goes dull then I've got 2 or3 backups ready to go.
 
Dave, I have always kept a tight quality control on my edges. What I would often do with my "utility edge" was sharpen it to fine shaving sharpness using an extra-fine ceramic hone and a strop. Then I would go back and lightly roughen the edge with a medium ceramic rod or a medium-fine india stone. I now leave out the roughen it back up step.
 
I usually carry at least two knives. One has a bragging edge and one a more practical edge for things like cutting cardboard.
 
I keep one knife "sharp" sharp and the others "utility" sharp. What's funny is that my knives that pull hair but don't shave it actually slice and cut just as well when it comes to actual use.
 
Jeff&#8212;I've always figured that if BFC ever hosted a spontaneous cutting competition, you'd be one of the odds-on favorites to win with whatever knife you had with you at the time.

One of the many valuable things I've had confirmed from reading these forums is that the degree of edge polish achieved with medium-fine ceramic&#8212;grit about 800 to 1200 mesh&#8212;is probably just about ideal for an EDC blade that sees a variety of general use. At this level of polish you get an edge with both decent push cutting ability and good slicing aggression. No wonder people love Crock Sticks and Sharpmakers.

Perhaps the reason I still give my knives a couple licks on a strop much of the time is just because it took me so darned long to learn how to use one with a knife. How I could get my chisels and planes so sharp, and yet kept making my knives duller ... man, I thought I'd never figure it out. Hence my stubbornness about it now, I suppose.

Dave
 
Dave, that's exactly the kind of figuring that forces me to always keep my EDC bragging sharp. I can just see it. I drop into the Spyderco outlet store to get myself a treat and as I check out the cashier says "thank you mister Clark". And who is standing next to me at the counter, none other than good old Colorado Dave. He asks "You wouldn't be Jeff Clark would you? Now I'm really on the spot. I've been spotted by a Bladeforumite in the center of all sharpness. He's going to ask to see my EDC...it's got to be nucleus-splitting-sharp. It's enough to make me want to grow a beard and only pay cash for purchases. Wait, I already have a beard, I'll have to shave it off with my Calypso Junior Liteweight.
 
For me, it is time-dependent. If there's time, it's fun to lavish on the edge and see where I can bring it with existing skills. otherwise, I live with a working edge.
 
I don't think we want to have a cutting competition at the Spyderco outlet store, Jeff. Sal's daughter works there, and I have a feeling the Calypso Jr. she says she's carried for the past six years might just redefine bragging-sharp.

Hmmm, I think the strop needs recharging....

Dave
 
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