Dull and duller....sounds like a movie...

[Gary W. Graley]

Dull and duller, sounds like a movie, but it's not a comedy, more a tragedy!

My gripe is getting knives in that need sharpening right from the get go. Now while I can sharpen knives, do it all the time, it is just frustrating to receive a New In Box knife that wouldn't scare the peel off of an apple or the wood off of a pencil without some major sharpening, I'm not talking about those that arrive in less that the Truly Scary Sharp/Hair Poppin' Vorpal edge, but just your at least decent edge!

I received just one like that the other day, again, it was not a reason to return the knife as I can make it sharp, though if the initial blade grind is poor you don't have a good starting area! And those I would return! But it just makes you wonder on what people...knife makers, feel what type of edge they provide to their customers. So I just felt that a Poll was in order to see how many find that at least one knife arrives in a Dull state.

And to keep it easier, I'm restricting this to Customs only, Productions run the scale and while some are GREAT, as of late Benchmade is very impressive! These are more a trait of what the company will invest in edge making machinery... but the Custom maker has to rely on his own skills and while some can create an exceptional piece, when it gets down to the micron of the edge, they are lacking. Belt sharpened blades can vary in their bevel from how the knife is held when being sharpened, one thing I find I have to correct to make the next sharpening contact in all the area of the bevel, shouldn't be...

So make your mark, add comment if you like but lets not Flame anyone in particular...keep it civil if you please
G2

 

[Starfish]

I haven't a whole lot of experience with custom knives...only one knife, actually...so take my comments for what it's worth :footinmou

On the knife in question, it came to me with a burr on the edge, so it wouldn't cut paper. Tore paper is a fitting description of what it could do.

I should also say that it did not come to me straight from the maker, but the person who sold it to me claimed it to be NIB, and I have no reason to doubt his word.

It'd be nice if, after this poll is done, we could get some comments on which custom makers DO know how to put a nice edge on a knife!

Matthew

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Every custom knife that I have received has been at least hair popping sharp. Maybe I have just been lucky, but I have only had to sharpen factory knives upon arrival, never custom ones.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Originally posted by Starfish
...It'd be nice if, after this poll is done, we could get some comments on which custom makers DO know how to put a nice edge on a knife!

Matthew

Good idea, perhaps a listing of those with exception edge qualities would be in order, problem lies in those that are not on the List become suspect and can, by default reasoning, be thought of as Not Sharp...so while those that post on this thread can relate the Custom Makers that they have experience with, in that way we can get a view of some of the makers but not have a list that is not inclusive of those that haven't been mentioned or reviewed...if this makes sense?

For me, Custom knife wise, a Jimmy Fikes Cabin Boy, Tree Top hair poppin sharp!

Definition of Tree Top Hair Poppin' Sharp...imagine you arm hairs a tall stand of trees, and your knife makes a pass just below the tops of the trees and cleanly clips the tops off, a NOT so sharp blade will move the hair out of the way, bend them down, but a TTHPS blade will just provide separation!

G2

 

[the45guy]

Only true custom I have is my Blackwood Henchman. Lemme tell you , Neil knows how to put an edge on his knives !
His knives are as sharp on the edge as they are looking.

Sounds like this Henchman will be visiting Mr Graley soon , though probably not for a sheath.( Remember G2 hates fixed blade sheaths !) Just to let him check it out and evaluate and to let him fondle it , sort of a thank you for the excellent job on my Large Sebenza sheath.

 

[Quiet Storm]

So far I only got one custom (I´ll order my second custom soon), this one came really sharp, shaving was (and still is after a few light cutting chores) no problem whatsoever.

 

[averageguy]

Of all the knives I have purchased only 4 arrived really sharp. All four were factory knives. Marble's Expert II - Marbles 7" Trailmaker and two Edge Design / Blackjack Shining Mountains Bowies. The two worst edges I have seen came on custom knives - are we naming names?

 

[guy g]

Every multi tool I've bought in the last 5 years (6 or so)have needed sharpening. Once in a while a new Buck knife I buy needs it. My new CR Shadow III (born 11-98) was mostly dull. While the Sebenza BG42 bought at the same time was deadly sharp!!!(bought 10-02) I know this is slightly off topic, but I dont take offense at having to touch up a blade.
guy

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Originally posted by guy g
... I know this is slightly off topic, but I dont take offense at having to touch up a blade.
guy

not off topic at all, I don't mind sharpening, enjoy it actually as most every blade will be in need of it if you use your knife, it's the flat out dull blade you get that really bugs me, I had one custom that was mostly sharp, but the person making it just finished testing the knife out and I had taken possesion of it before he had a chance to examine it again, the touch up was QUITE minor...

and Averageguy...open forum, up to you if you want to name names, but on a protocol type deal, I'd inform the maker before posting and maybe you guys/gals can work out any problems before getting into some bad publicity as these forums are read around the world...so caution is a key word. I figured this thread may become controversial but wanted to vent a little...and also confirm that I'm not alone with this problem.

That knife I mentioned in the initial post, just finished sharpening it up and shazzam she be all she could want in a sharp blade, TTHPS!
So all hope is never lost...

G2

 

[guy g]

Gary, you're right on the sharpening part. I've used the Shadow enough since I've had it to sharpen it twice more. And now that I'm the Proud owner of a Sharpmaker it's even more fun to put blade to ceramic.(yes, a bit of fun bragging)
guy

 

[PhilL]

I really prefer to get a handmade knife with a good working edge rather than a razor edge. I can take it from there, depending if it's a user or not. I did buy a knife at a show that I thought was a bit on the dull side, so I went back to the maker's table and asked him to check the edge. He looked at the edge, took out two Spyderco flat stones, a couple of swipes on each and it was fine. Then he gave me the stones, a nice touch. I have bought knives from this maker before and since. BTW, I love to sharpen knives.

Ya know, they say that Sal Glesser can cut paper with the spine of blade. I've never seen him do it, but that would be a neat trick to learn.

 

[OwenM]

I've owned about ten customs, total. Maybe one or two had a "hair popping" edge. Most of them would shave. All of them either got touched up to change the edge finish or angle, regardless. I don't fuss about NIB edges, because a maker can't please everybody, and my mind may change about what kind of edge I want on a knife the first time I use it. Sometimes you have to experiment to find out what works best for a particular knife, based on what you actually use it for. A maker can't do that for you.
That said, I don't believe in what people refer to as a "good working edge", because that's usually just an edge that needs work. It's either even, and sharp, or it's not. Thick, thin, coarse, fine, mirror polished-the finish and the angle don't change whether they're sharp or not. Even knowing the edges on my personal knives are going to get changed, I still think a maker with the skill and talent to make a fine knife should also be able to make it sharp. First impressions make a difference in how you feel about things you own, and who doesn't check the edge on a knife when they get it? I do.

 

[lifter4Him]

The sharpest knives I have ever seen direct from the maker are Fikes and Ed Chavar. Jimmy Fikes knives are always sharp, I dont know if all Chavars come this sharp but the one I got from him a few years ago was scary sharp.
I didnt get my Pronghorn direct from Ed(yet) but I'm betting his knives comes with a great edge also.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Had a few emails regarding the maker of the knife in my initial post, well I'm not saying but one thing, the maker doesn't frequent these forums nor the sister Knifeforums, the maker is also not anyone well known, a search on the internet and you'll not find much if anything about him, BUT the knife in question is a well made folder, just seemed to didn't put the kind of edge that I expected it to have, and that may be what some knife makers do, send out a working type edge and let the user put his or her own sharpening magic as they see fit...so you guys/gals can quit guessing which maker it was on these forums...ain't amongst them!

G2

 

[the45guy]

Thats what I like about you G2 , always a gentleman !!

Now about them fixed sheaths you so despise....

 

[T. Erdelyi]

I have 2 customs one is an early Bud Nealy Aikuchi in Blued O-1 that was scarry sharp, hair poppin' sharp,and the other, was a good quality skinner I got at a gun show, that was made from a file by ANZA.

The ANZA knife came sharp, and the grind lines were a little off, but not bad, far better than I could ever do.

Considering the price difference between the Nealy, and the ANZA about $300 and I can't complain on either end. You get what you pay for, or at least should.

I don't expect a $50 handmade to come with the fit and finish of a $350 custom, but I do expect it to do what the maker says it's able to do.

I don't have a problem with an unfinished edge as I able to put my own edge on, and usually do anyway, but I do expect to get what I pay for.

 

[one2gofst]

I have had 2 customs. One was a D-9 from Duane Dwyer. That had a nice solid working edge on it. The other was a R.W. Clark Mini MAU (Mini-Aikuchi back when I got it). That whink was like a little razor. IMO, each knive was sharpened perfectly for its intended task. With a big knife like the D-9, you are not going to cut paper. Rather you will be chopping or slashing. Combined with the weight of the blade the working edge would be very effective. The Mini MAU is a small utility knife. For such work as cutting string,envelopes, tape, etc the razor blade like edge would be awesome. Horses for courses.

I would be upset if I got a folder and it did not have a hair shaving edge on it. It doesn't need to pop, but a shaving edge is the best edge in general for folders, IMO.

 

[ZENGHOST]

This is my first, and currently my only custom (but not my last). Being my first custom I didn't know what to expect, but I got more than I could have possibly hoped for. One thing's for certain, Charles Marlowe knows how to put an edge on.

 

[Coonskinner]

If you get a knife from Ray Kirk, it will be SHARP.

My Raker neck knife came with the sharpest edge of any knife I have ever bought.

In the production arena, I'd have to give the nod to Marbles.

 

[Win Heger]

I am a complete Kklut when it comes to sharpening, so I just carry the same knife all the time and a friend sharpens it once a year.

I have mainly custom knives and most come reasonably sharp. Last year I got a couple from a maker who seemed to have rushed. The edges sucked!! Since corrected but he could have paid better attention.

Sharpest are the aformentioned Jimmy Fikes. These are just what Dave and Gary said, SCARY SHARP!! Unfortunately most people will never get to see one much less own one. Jimmy is making very few knives these days but remains one of my all time favorites. Look me up at the Chesapeake show, I'll bring along a couple.

Producion I find Spyderco and Emerson to be top shelf in sharpness.

Win