Does Sharpness Matter ?

Does sharpness matter? Try a Jerry Halfrich knife, it redifines the idea of sharpness:thumbup::D:thumbup:
 
so far it's 100% for function(sharpness) being as or more important than form and 'art', although i'm sure there are some seasoned collectors who place a lesser value on sharpness than on appearance.
i strongly believe that a knife which commands a 'high' price should have it all:
superior design, materials, assembly, action(folders) and final function, i.e. a superior ability to cut in a manner dictated by blade geometry.
so why is it that some knifemakers whose work is otherwise so close to perfection, do not put the same time and effort into perfecting the final bit of geometry, the edge ? and especially so because ultimately this is the essence of a knife.
i have wondered if acheiving a superior edge is a separate ability from the rest of knifemaking, but i don't really see how this can be, as so much of knifemaking involves manipulating steel to exacting tolerances, which is exactly what sharpening is.
the problem with such a knife is that any improvement of the final edge is tampering with the knifemaker's work. the knife will be 'improved', but the value will plummet.
roland
 
Even if the knife is never to be used, it is important to me that it is sharp. If it isn't sharp, to me it lacks one of the most important features that make it a knife.
 
Not disagreeing with you Keith, just wondering how you are gonna' tell it's sharp,
and how sharp without cutting with it ? :confused:

Doug
 
I regularly stress myself out when I come back from the post office- Did I strop that leuku? Did I hit the variable bevel on the chopper all the way? did I forget to steel that petty and see how it behaves?

Drives me nuts.

Yeah, sharpness matters.
 
Roland,

From a maker's point of view, I would argue that for many (most?) knives, sharpening it isn't really tampering with the knifemaker's work, though you wouldn't be able to call it new - unsharpened.

I suspect that the quick obtuse edge one finds on some knives may reflect that maker's fear of messing up the appearance of an otherwise finished knife. They may rationalize it to themselves by saying the user is going to have to sharpen it in use anyway, so it is the one step they can skip?

I hate how an acute edge always makes a blade look like it must be thick in a picture, so that may explain some obtuse edges. Or the maker hasn't experimented with that steel & HT enough to know the optimum angle and he wants to err on the safe side?

I'm working on an art dagger right now, and when it comes time to sharpen it, I will put more emphasis on the appearance of the edge bevels than the sharpness, and I won't take it to very sharp because I want it to be safe for folks to handle.

But yes, I share the sentiment that most knives should come to the new owner properly sharpened for the intended purpose. You wouldn't buy a new car that came needing a tune up, the exception being a museum piece that doesn't run.
 
To me, if the knife is a display piece, then sharpness is icing on the cake, no more. One of my most beautiful piece isn't sharp, because the maker didn't get the time to finish it before a show. It didn't stop me 0.5 s. My understanding is that Virgil England's pieces are not so sharp when new, and that wouldn't stop me.

On the other hand, I would want a Kramer chef knife to be screaming sharp. More to the point, I would want a user to be sharp and have the right edge geometry, which means a camp or pack knife shouldn't be as sharp as a filet knife (as an example - I don't fish).
 
Sharp does matter. The more sharp, the better.

Sharpknives.jpg


- Joe
 
I have to say that one of the contrators I work for collects folders from some of THE BEST makers out there. They usually come with a 'collectors' edge. I don't think it takes away from the knife. I am sure if he specified they(makers) would give him a workable edge. He knows as well as the makers know these knives are collectors peices.
Paul
 
I'm a nut on sharpness myself. Some knives have shown up sharp as a razor (if I can shave hair from my arm the knife is sharp enough for me), some much less.

I will say I'm very happy with how the multiple Chamblins and Ohtas I've bought, have arrived. I've always had sharp blades on any ABS knife I've bought. I tend to hang onto my knives and use many of them, so I'll generally, at a minimum, strop them to get the most out of the existing edge. If I decide one is going to be an EDC, sooner or later I have to sharpen it and I do.

If I was a real collector I'm sure I would not tamper with the edge. I do strongly prefer that a new knife have a properly sharpened edge when I receive it.

If I have the opportunity to handle a knife before I purchase it, I'd have to think long and hard before I'd buy a dull knife.
 
In the "Knifemakers For Sale: Fixed Blade Knives" sub forum $100 - $150 will get you an excellent working knife (Utility or Hunter) from many different makers. these in my experience almost always arrive with excellent sharp edge. these are NOT the type of knives i am speaking of in this thread.
it's primarily the Traditional Folders in $500 or more range. many of the people who buy and 'trade' in these knives do not, and never plan to, use them. i have used some of my custom folders and others i have not and therefore could 'trade' for reasonable return towards a different knife.
if i sharpen one that has arrived with a somewhat dull edge, then i may as well use it because a lot of resale value is already lost.
if Nathan's explanation re: not wanting to scratch up the finish is correct, why not buff the blade after sharpening ?
are some makers aiming their sites at the "pure" collector and therefore intentionally not putting the best edge possible on the blade ?
still learning, roland
 
all my customs were made to be users and they are all sharp.
If I could own any custom knife I wanted, there would be quite a good number where sharpness would not be a factor.
 
Thickness of the blade (edge geometry) plays a big role on any knife. I would never send one out that wouldnt shave hair and slice paper. I've learned that a thin blade about .005" before sharpening will take a scary sharp edge.
 
I don't get it :confused:
Why would you want a knife less than sharp? Regardless whether it's a user or display piece.
It's not like a knife can look good or be sharp. You can have both. ;)
 
Lorien, you bring up an interesting point here: "If I could own any custom knife I wanted, there would be quite a good number where sharpness would not be a factor."
obviously historical pieces, etc., but sticking with current 'production', i have seen folders by Ron Lake for an asking price of $20,000. for me this would be a never carry, never use knife and the thought of it having a less than really sharp edge doesn't bother me. yet i am miffed at a folder in the $500-$1000 range that is less than screaming sharp and esp. if actually dull.
now that's wierd ! accepting 'less' in the knife that costs 20x the price.
but somewhere between $1000 and $20,000 i stop caring about a really sharp edge.
so i realize that since every knife i buy(rarely over $1000) i think of as a potential user, i want it to be a superior user, just as superior as the 'looks'(materials, F&F).
so i wonder again, do some makers purposely avoid a really sharp edge because they know the majority of their knives never get used ?
is there any maker 'out there' who has this philosophy ?
roland
 
Kevin,

The way I think about it is, is it a deal killer? If I get a great opportunity to get a Virgil England piece, the fact that it isn't sharp wouldn't stop me. Obviously, all things being equal, I'd rather have a knife be sharp. This is not even worth mentioning.

To be meaningful, this question should be phrased differently, as in, what would you be willing to sacrifice in order to get sharpness? Is sharpness more important than blade materials? Than the maker's name? Than handle & fittings materials? Than the design? Etc, etc.

JD
 
in DDD's book on custom fixed blades, there is a photo of a knife by Gay Rocha. The knife has been intentionally left dull so as to facilitate a tactile, sensual experience for the collector.
There is no useful purpose for this blade other than killing something, but since it was made as Art, it's primary purpose becomes a footnote.
 
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