Factory microbevel on Spyderco ?

B

bgentry

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Aug 3, 2009
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About a week ago I got a Spyderco Delica FFG in ZDP-189. I've cut some paper with it and shaved a little hair. It cuts paper with very little resistance. Hair it seems to pull more, but does shave, so I suspect it was finished at like 300 grit or so, but obviously has a very consistent bevel because it cuts so well.

Anyway, I was examining the bevel. It appears to be something like 3/32" wide and not super consistent in terms of bevel width. Moving it back and forth in the light, I can see the primary bevel reflecting light, but at a steeper angle I see a very, very thin strip at the edge that reflects light just the same. It looks like another edge face. I'd guess it's 1/64 " or less; maybe 1/128" ? It's along the entire edge on both sides of the blade.

Am I observing a factory microbevel? I didn't think any manufacturers used one.

Brian.
 
It may or may not be a 'deliberate' factory microbevel. Could've been just one, inadvertant sharpening pass at a slightly elevated angle. Still functionally a microbevel, but whether it's by design or not, is hard to say. Would have to compare to other knives of the same make/model, to see if it's a common trait on those blades. There's always some variation in edge bevels on factory knives, especially any that were sharpened & finished by individual human beings (which is almost all factory knives).

Depending where or how you obtained the knife, it's also possible it might've previously been purchased & returned to a dealer, after the buyer had handled it a bit. I've bought a few knives that were supposedly 'Brand New in Box', that had obviously been handled and/or tinkered with, perhaps even touched up on a strop or fine hone.

You might ask this question in the Spyderco sub-forum, and see if Sal Glesser can shed some light on it.
 
All mine appear to have a very coarse ground bevel with a much finer polish on the edge that seems to indicate a "refined" coarse edge. I get very similar results by grinding a coarse bevel then stropping on a "micro bevel" with a much higher grit.

There are several factories producing Spyderco knives, each with perhaps several people putting the final edges on the knives by hand. It seems logical that there will be a decent amount of variability in the edges on Spyderco knives depending on who actually put the edge on.
 
unit said:
All mine appear to have a very coarse ground bevel with a much finer polish on the edge that seems to indicate a "refined" coarse edge. I get very similar results by grinding a coarse bevel then stropping on a "micro bevel" with a much higher grit.

There are several factories producing Spyderco knives, each with perhaps several people putting the final edges on the knives by hand. It seems logical that there will be a decent amount of variability in the edges on Spyderco knives depending on who actually put the edge on.
Click to expand...

This. What happens is when they're buffing the edge after grinding, they will elevate the angle to get rid of the burr.
 
Thanks. The collective explanation makes good sense.

Soon, time to reprofile this ZDP-189 beast. :)

Brian..
 
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