Final edge - When?

I can't really add much here, you guys said it all except that I like sharpen before final fitting in leather sheaths to insure the blade does not "bite" into it upon resheathing, otherwise always dead last, i've sliced myself enough times to know better, and of course ALWAYS test blades before putting handles on or your wasting time and steel!!:D have a good holiday...:)
 
If you come into my store you will find that all the knives on display have never been sharpened, I have cut myself too often while showing knives to customers and do not display a sharp knife.

In the case of a knife being shipped the knife is sharpened after final inspection for cosmetics then put into the box.
 
Sean, sorry for not answering sooner, been in the woods chasing those elusive whitetails.

Anyway, here's a picture. pretty simple but effective. The best way I've found for holding a blade to sand and work on. I have a knife vise but its pretty useless, this works better by far. I made the bench to where the little bench vise extends out and this really makes it a lot handier. The angle iron is just tightened down in the vise, I glued a piece of heavy leather on the iron just to add a little protection from the steel and then I put a piece of masking tape over that, I sand 1 side, remove the tape along with the sanding grit and then apply another piece of tape and start in on the other side. The vise grips do all the holding. Just leave the cutting edge inside the angle iron edge. Hope this helps.

Bill
 
I have a similar setup to Bill's. I've let the edge slip over a bit and sliced my fingertips more than once... What was that about learning from one's mistakes? :rolleyes:

Anyway, I sharpen and test my blades right out of HT before I spend any finishing time on them, and when they pass I dull the edge on a 220 belt and get to work. I figure taking a bit of steel off helps remove any accidental decarb too. I give the "real" edge right before it's packed up. I never try to make a sheath to fit a sharp knife!

Once I was putting the Ren wax on a knife about to go out and it slipped out of my hands...blessed with superfast reflexes I caught it before it hit the floor. Of course, blood went everywhere. I'd have been time ahead letting the knife smack the pavement... :D
 
Thanks Bill, I got it now!

Ya I figured we all have cut ourselves more than once. I used to put the final edge on my knives before making the sheath, once when making a fillet knife the blade slipped and sliced my finger wide open for a good long ways down my finger. Was not a good day! After that I got the bright idea to put the edge on last. I know I know "this guys must have lots of brain cells to come up that one so quickly". :eek:

Bill - I envy you and the other people who can go Whitetail hunting. We don't have any deer up where I live, we do have caribou though which is a cool option. I never got the chance to go deer hunting though. Maybe when I finally move back to civilization.

Sean
 
I'd have bet a million that no one was ever going to use this little knife for rescue. But it happened.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=374682

Granted seat belt nylon is no big deal to cut but who'd-a-thunkit?? You have to ask: what else could happen I've not considered.

Additionally, I have to say that every day, people walk out in front of oncoming cars, hit their thumbs with hammers, turn the wrong valves in nuclear reactors and misspell common words.... these are the same people who make knives.

m
 
I put my edge on before the handle/bolsters so if any accidental scratches or other mistakes happen while doing so, I can still fix the finish like new. I do the final touch up after it's completed though.
Mike
 
George makes an interesting statment about not displaying a sharp knife.
I find it disturbing to pick up new knives at shows to find they are not sharp.
I wont buy it....bottom line.:thumbdn: This is right up there with the maker or dealer not saying hello.
Next table.
Mace
 
Sean O'Hare said:
Bill - I envy you and the other people who can go Whitetail hunting. We don't have any deer up where I live, we do have caribou though which is a cool option. I never got the chance to go deer hunting though. Maybe when I finally move back to civilization.

Sean
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Sean you don't know what you're missing. Next to knifemaking, hunting whitetails is a passion for me. Saturday is the opener of the firearms season and it's like Christmas day for me.:D If you ever get a chance to do it you'll be hooked.;)
Scott
 
Dang Mitch, that's a hell of a story! I'm glad everyone but the drunk came out okay. Too bad about your property, and I'd be proud of my kids too. I gotta say, you make a beautiful little knife. Hope you don't mind, but whenever I get around to making that little worker my wife keeps saying she wants, I will undoubtedly be influenced by that beauty.
 
Mace said:
I put an edge on after my final grind(after heat treat)...Then test my blades.
If everything is to my satisfaction I go ahead and do my hand finnishing.---keeping in mind I have a sharp blade. Some times I dull the edge before sanding, but not always.
I will dress the edge before it goes out.
Mace
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Mace and I must have gone to the same school...:D

Craig
 
Mace
Don't get me wrong, at shows the knives must be displayed razor sharp ready to take home and use. In the shop however I have all the facilities at hand to sharpen the knife in a few minutes and provide entertainment for the customer at the same time because the sharpening equipment is behind glass where the customer can observe the proceedure.

With the store however there is no time or incentive to attend shows.
 
Thats cool George. I hope I didnt sound like I was comming down on you.
That was not my intent. I'm glad you make sure they are sharp for shows and before they go out.:D
All I'm sayin is...if I order a cold beer it better be cold, and if I buy a "new" knife...it better be sharp.;)

Hey Craig, I think I remember you from some class somplace.:D
Mace
 
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