edge on the BK7

A

anewguy

Joined
May 8, 2003
Messages
165
Hi all,

After reading many good reviews of the BK7, I am thinking about picking one up as my camp knife. But before I did that, I wanted to ask a few questions concerning the edge wear/retention. I was wondering how easy it is to get this blade shaving sharp using a sharpmaker? The reason I ask this is that I had previously purchased a Matchax and had the hardest time bringing the edge up to snuff (I know that such an experience may say more about my lack of ability than about the knife), and I don’t want to buy another knife that will force me to rely on other’s abilities (I’ve been able to put a decent edge on my other blades so I am not totally inept). Do any of you know if the matchax has any qualities that would make it more difficult to sharpen than the BK7?

Thanks for your help, and I apologize if I was unclear or didn’t make sense.
 
The steel is excellent on the BK-7 style of knives. Your problem with the sharpmaker is most likely from not matching the grind angle, if too much of the secondary bevel must be removed to sharpen down to the final edge, the sharpmaker will take a very long time.

I suggest you use the sharpie marker technique, mark the edge and visually inspect the area that is in contact with the stone.

Regards,
FK
 
I had heard of the marker method before but wasn't sure what it was. thanks for clearing that up for me.

do you think I will run into the same prob. with a BK7?
 
The steel on the Becker line is simply outstanding. I have no problem whatsoever getting a hair popping edge on my CU/7, and it holds it a good long time. It also responds well to steeling.
 
With the long and heavy blade of the 7, the best method is to lay the blade flat on the table and hold the grey triangles with your hand. Use the marker method on the edge and try to match the angle so all the marked areas gets rubbed out with 3 strokes. Be careful not to get cut.
 
anewguy said:
I had heard of the marker method before but wasn't sure what it was. thanks for clearing that up for me.

do you think I will run into the same prob. with a BK7?
Click to expand...

The marker method, as I understand it, is writing on the sharpened edge with a marker, then sharpening until all the ink is removed evenly. Literally to see where you have removed metal and where you have not.

I have a BK-7 and agree with swede79 that it responds extremely well to steeling between sharpenings. As do all my beckers. I have cut A LOT of cardboard with my BK11 and brought it back to shaving sharp with just some light steeling.

Read up on the sharpenings FAQ here and get that BK-7 to experiment with! Practice makes perfect.
 
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