first custom...not sharp?!?

O

omnislash

Joined
Feb 16, 2008
Messages
19
Hi, I recently got my first custom knife for my birthday...not expensive, but I waited a looong time and I finally received it.

but its not sharp (at least I think)(the point isnt really that sharp either). The edge seems ground well enough, but I can rub my finger along the edge without worry of cutting myself. I tried a couple other things too; paracord was pretty tough to cut (2 attempts).

I know I can return it to the maker and I know the problem would be resolved, but I don't want to

a) offend
b) be without the knife for more than a moment
c) sharpen it myself-without ever having used it
d) be wrong-

I've heard of people putting "work utility" edges on their knives for durability or something, could this be the case? or maybe was the knife dulled during polishing? does anyone have any thoughts? I guess I'll just contact the maker but I thought I might get some good input here

sorry about the long post-thanks
 
Just sharpen it. My first custom wasn't sharp either but with a little work it is now.
 
but one would think that ANY knife should arrive hair poppin sharp:thumbup:. Am I missing something here ?
 
all my ( 4 ) handmades came very sharp. even my ax from steve at coal creek forge came shaving sharp !!! i'd let the maker know about it.
 
ordawg1 said:
but one would think that ANY knife should arrive hair poppin sharp:thumbup:. Am I missing something here ?
Click to expand...

You gotta think of cost also. If every knife arrived hair popping then cost would be driven up since the amount of time that takes most companies just put the product against a grinder or sander till they're acceptable. Now if the company was told to but hair popping sharp edges on each one then the QC people would be out of hair, and the extra time taken would slow production which decreases supply, and if there is a high enough demand in turn increasing price.
A custom knife is different, but if it's a high demand "semi" production custom then a sharp,but not hair popping edge would be acceptable in my eyes.
Don't bring the Sebbi or Umnum OR CRK knives into this after that paragraph :P.
Either way I'd just sharpen her up nice and hair popping!
 
ordawg1 said:
but one would think that ANY knife should arrive hair poppin sharp:thumbup:. Am I missing something here ?
Click to expand...

right?

plus I'm not really that comfortable with a stone right now, and while i was going to get a DMTaligner, I wasn't really looking to get one right ATM
 
Try slicing paper to test sharpness.
Is this a knife you were planning to use? If so you would need to learn to sharpen anyway. Practice on a cheap kitchen knife.
 
My customs all came very sharp but I always put a "scary" sharp edge on to my satisfaction. I think its just personal whats sharp enough for one person may not be for another I say just sharpen it to your preferences.
 
No, you are not missing anything at all... it should have come to you sharp..... simple as that.

Do not worry about "offending" the maker....... if it isn't sharp, it isn't sharp.
Ask him to get it right, if this offends him...... mark him on your list of those to never deal with again.

Then, if you are not comfortable with sharpening it yourself....... find someone to do it for you and /or maybe show you how.

Heck, send it to me, I'll do it for you .......... as probably would many others on this forum.
 
I tried the paper test, and maybe it passed...I was able to slice approx. 20 degree angles into paper...

I also did that test with my spydie, which is flatground...and that can slice straight down into the paper with ease...and if i were to run my finger down the edge of it i definitely would cut myself bad.

I suppose I was expecting scary sharp, but it is kinda sharp. am I just spoiled with flatgrinds?
 
any knife can get scary sharp. steels grinds etc only prolong it. i judge sharpness if the knife can bite fingernail.
 
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