Fallkniven F1 - Field Maintainance

[Dave568]

I'm thinking about getting a Fallkniven F1 as a hiking/backpacking knife, and I was wondering how everyone here maintains the edge on this knife while in the field. Since it is a convex grind, it seems like carrying a small sharpening rod might not be ideal for maintaining the grind. For those of you who do sharpen this knife in the field, how do you do it?

 

[tarmix101]

I'm thinking about getting a Fallkniven F1 as a hiking/backpacking knife, and I was wondering how everyone here maintains the edge on this knife while in the field. Since it is a convex grind, it seems like carrying a small sharpening rod might not be ideal for maintaining the grind. For those of you who do sharpen this knife in the field, how do you do it?

I do not have a F1, but I do carry a BRKT Highland with a convex grind. I carry some sand paper (150 grit for re profiling and 220 for touch up.) I lay the sandpaper accost my leg and let my leg mussel fit the convex profile. Odiously you need to be careful with this method. You can also make a easy to use mouse pad block that doesn't take up much room. If you do a search here there is all kinds on info on the subject. Hope this helps.

 

[Thomas Linton]

I have a 1" x 4" piece of thin plywood with 300 grit sandpaper attached with contact cement. I use it on my convex knives, including an F-1, when stropping on my leather belt isn't enough.

 

[Moine]

I always have some foam pad with me, as a backing for the backpack and to sit on and avoid heat transfers from my noble butt to the cold wet ground. Add a simple 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper sheet to that, and you have the perfect convex edge sharpener

Cheers,

David

 

[joedirt]

I've skinned two deer in one day with it and didn't need to sharpen it. So unless your out for more than several days I wouldn't worry about it. A smooth natural stone is always a good idea though. Plus you can find these in most places.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

You can maintain the curvature with a flat stone by arcing the blade on a draw. However there is nothing stopping you from putting a small micro-bevel on the edge with the rod either and later bringing it back into the primary with a coarse hone.

-Cliff

 

[dantzk8]

I'm thinking about getting a Fallkniven F1 as a hiking/backpacking knife, and I was wondering how everyone here maintains the edge on this knife while in the field. Since it is a convex grind, it seems like carrying a small sharpening rod might not be ideal for maintaining the grind. For those of you who do sharpen this knife in the field, how do you do it?

I use the DC4 Fallkniven diamond-ceramic whetstone. Easy to carry (32x100 mm) and very efficient.

dantzk.

 

[LikeHike]

You can maintain the curvature with a flat stone by arcing the blade on a draw.
-Cliff

Cliff, could you explain more what you mean by "arcing the blade on a draw".
Thanks
Richard

 

[Dave568]

Cliff, could you explain more what you mean by "arcing the blade on a draw".
Thanks
Richard

I think he is referring to this:

The idea here is that you slowly rotate the blade as you draw it towards you so that the flat stone is "forming" to your convex edge.

 

[longbow50]

I always have some foam pad with me, as a backing for the backpack and to sit on and avoid heat transfers from my noble butt to the cold wet ground. Add a simple 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper sheet to that, and you have the perfect convex edge sharpener

Cheers,

David

Usually I don't need to touch the Northstar after a couple days use, but I still carry a piece of foam and 600grit W/D myself, plus a leather belt.

 

[Alberta Ed]

VG-10 responds well to diamond hones; I use my DMT folding hone (red/regular and green/extra fine) to maintain my field edges. The sketch above shows how to maintain a convex edge on a flat hone. Your F-1 should hold up through an entire moose if you don't try cutting the coarse, grit-impregnated hair, which will dull any kind of steel.

 

[Ready]

An F1 would make a great backpacking/camping knife. I have one and use it as my main blade while backpacking and hicking with my family. The edge will stay sharp for a long time and is very easy to maintain with a strip of rubber from a mouse pad and some wet/dry sand paper. I use a strip about 1.5" x 6" and use 600 grit and 1000 grit. Works great. The knife is just a pleasure to use always.

Ready

 

[LikeHike]

I think he is referring to this:

The idea here is that you slowly rotate the blade as you draw it towards you so that the flat stone is "forming" to your convex edge.

Thanks Dave, that is very helpful.

Richard