Field sharpeners: What do you guys think of this type?

J

jlouis976

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Feb 25, 2008
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These seem like they might be ideal for field use. What do you guys think of these types of sharpeners?

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carbide scrapers are generally frowned upon around bladeforums...but i think they have their place.

the main issues:
they are at a set angle
they scrape metal away instead of abrading it, which arguably can weaken the edge
they don't offer a finishing grit

often, when i am over someone's house, i end up sharpening some of their knives. since i don't usually carry much sharpening gear with me, and it is only really for touchups, i have to improvise. almost everyone has one of those sharpeners in their home. i use that first, to remove all the damaged metal at the edge of the blade, and to set it up to cut. then i remove the burr and stabilize the edge a bit on a fine abrasive, usually the unglazed bottom of a ceramic mug.

i would say it might be worth having, in case you damage your knife edge, but i would suggest carrying a fine abrasive with it. ceramic stick, strop, etc.
 
thanks man


I've just been trying to decide what to carry with me on my key chain. I have a great set up at home, but I want something I keep with me.
 
keychain carry is tough...you might take a look at some of those small folding DMT paddles... i think bensbackwoods.com carries them.

that's only good if you feel confident about your freehand sharpening abilities.

if you want something quick and dirty for quick touchups, i would say a pull through sharpener would probably work fine. you can find sharpeners like that one you pictures, but it also includes small ceramic rods for finishing. that might work well for you for a keychain type of sharpener.
 
The fallkniven diamond/ceramic stones are my favorite pocket stones. I've reprofiled edges and made them hair whittling with them.

Those dog bone ceramic stones dont cut fast enough to sharpen a blunt edge.
 
I carry these in my packs. They are by no means ideal but they will put a reasonably sharp edge back on a SAK, Benchmade Grip, or Buck.

Gerber Pocket Sharpener

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When I learn a bit more, I may get a couple Fallkniven or E-Z-Lap pocket stones or even make up some Altoid kits. As a day hiker though, I'd have to have gotten stuck out for a few days in order to lkiely need to field sharpen one of my knives.
 
When diamonds are so available, cheap and effective for all types of edges I wouldn't give that a second look. I have seen some people destroy good knives with that type of sharpener. If you were starting an edge on something that was already destroyed/mangled then it would be OK, but for a working edge I would stay away.
 
Spyderco double stuff, hands down.

I do want to try one of those fallkniven diamond/ceramics though, sounds like a good combo. Chris
 
I use a 4" piece of ceramic rod. I have an ezLap that fits into a sheath stone pocket on the larger knives I rarely carry.
I buy the ceramic rods by the dozen, I have them everywhere from tackle boxes to glove compartments, it would be fairly easy to make up a sheath for the key chain, I’ll go knock one out now and see, I’m getting rigged up for a 4 day bike, motorcycle, camp/fishing ride with my guitar player, so I’ve been doing a bunch of small leather projects.
 
I find that some wet/dry sandpaper or emery cloth folded up in my pack or pocket will come in handy just about anywhere. I sharpen other guys knives and tools (as well as mine) at work all the time.
 
CSG said:
I carry these in my packs. They are by no means ideal but they will put a reasonably sharp edge back on a SAK, Benchmade Grip, or Buck.

Gerber Pocket Sharpener

yhst-84729437292754_2042_112975986


When I learn a bit more, I may get a couple Fallkniven or E-Z-Lap pocket stones or even make up some Altoid kits. As a day hiker though, I'd have to have gotten stuck out for a few days in order to lkiely need to field sharpen one of my knives.
Click to expand...


I also carry the same thing. It works GREAT for touching up my bait and filet knife as needed when I'm out and about. It'll put a quick, utility edge on a bade that has dulled from use.
 
I used to have one of those type of sharpeners and used it for my inexpensive kitchen knives. A little while ago I used a magnifying loupe and took a look at the blade edge after sharpening. All scratched and jagged! I recently bought a nice pair of kitchen knives and now just sharpen freehand with a japanese water stone. I don't normally take a field stone but if I had to I would just take my Gransfors Bruks axe stone.
 
In my backpack I carry a carbide drag-through just in case I utterly mangle my edge and need to restore it FAST. I also have a coarse, fine, and extra fine DMT credit card and a broken half (on purpose) of a medium and fine sharpmaker stone in a plastic tube. Takes care of all of my field sharpening needs!
 
jlouis976 said:
21vPPE-XJPL._SL500_AA280_.jpg
Click to expand...

To be honest I would rather sharpen one of knives with a rock or sand coated stick then one of those carbide sharpeners. They are OK for cheap machetes and shovel edges but for a quality knife there are much better options. I would agree with the other guys that the DMT daimond and ceramic are good but I also like a good sharpening steel.

Here is one from County Comm.
sharpener3large.jpg


And one from Gerber.
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