Free Style sharpening, a dying art?

[eloreno]

That busse ak looks awesome.
I also freehand sharpen using DMT diamond stones, spyderco ceramic and 1x30 belts.

 

[The Government]

I like how you made a point about everyone sharpening differently.

I was teaching my friend how to freehand sharpen his Buck 110, and when I first came over to his house, I noticed he had done some practicing beforehand. His style was developing into his own, and I realized that there was not very much I could show him with my own style -because he would have to change everything he was doing. Even though his style was much different from mine, I could tell it was working. I taught him the marker removal trick and told him to mind the burr, but that was about it. When it comes down to it, you just have to teach yourself.

What I really like about learning freehand is that there is an endless amount of knowledge to gain. The more you learn, the more free you are to sharpen your knives, and to never worry about dullness.

In that sense, it improves the value of your entire knife collection. Not in monetary terms, but in terms of utility and usefulness. All of the sudden, a knife that would have gone dull in the field, is now a knife that will always be sharp in the field, because you have the skills to back it up.

 

[Carney C]

I like how you made a point about everyone sharpening differently.

I was teaching my friend how to freehand sharpen his Buck 110, and when I first came over to his house, I noticed he had done some practicing beforehand. His style was developing into his own, and I realized that there was not very much I could show him with my own style -because he would have to change everything he was doing. Even though his style was much different from mine, I could tell it was working. I taught him the marker removal trick and told him to mind the burr, but that was about it. When it comes down to it, you just have to teach yourself.

What I really like about learning freehand is that there is an endless amount of knowledge to gain. The more you learn, the more free you are to sharpen your knives, and to never worry about dullness.

In that sense, it improves the value of your entire knife collection. Not in monetary terms, but in terms of utility and usefulness. All of the sudden, a knife that would have gone dull in the field, is now a knife that will always be sharp in the field, because you have the skills to back it up.

Man of my own heart!

 

[peeintheshower]

freehanding is just something you just have to have a nag for. its a perfectionist thing, but we enjoy watching ourselves doing the work. not a jig. its generally being replaced just like all other technology which is normal but sad.

 

[Carney C]

I have a very cheap , some would say outdated sharpening set up, but works for Me

what i keep on me in the wood

 

[jwolf90]

Same here freehand, I find my edges last longer this way plus I don't have to rely on anything but my own 2 hands so if I'm in the field I can bring a spyderco doublestuff and be good to go:thumbup: I will say I've been thinking of an edge pro just for kicks

 

[bsmith_shoot]

I've never owned one of those gizmos that hold a knife to be sharpened. Never will. Stone in left hand and knife in the right. Strop on the back of an old work belt. I'm too damm old to change now.

Carl.

My feelings exactly. I dont feel comfortable any other way.

 

[Nickelsig229]

I Freehand, it's how I learned and have been doing it for a while now.
I also use my uncles grinder when I have to.
I do have a sharpmaker and a wicked edge is on its way to me know.

While for the most part I free hand, I don't see any negative aspects of using tools and "gizmo's." One isn't a holy ritual and the other isn't the dark side. For me all together they give you more options and allow you to employ the right technique for all jobs.

 

[Carney C]

I Freehand, it's how I learned and have been doing it for a while now.
I also use my uncles grinder when I have to.
I do have a sharpmaker and a wicked edge is on its way to me know.

While for the most part I free hand, I don't see any negative aspects of using tools and "gizmo's." One isn't a holy ritual and the other isn't the dark side. For me all together they give you more options and allow you to employ the right technique for all jobs.

I agree, use whatever means, but it is a fading art, & some of us do use it for therapy, plus I love the uniqueness of folks "Free Style " grins & bevels .
I love knives, but not drawer knives. Using my knives is seriously one of the most therapeutic rewarding things I do besides playing.music.
Sharpening, stropping , even reprofilng is as rewarding to me.
So this thread is not saying it's the only way, but I knew there had to be at least a few that find there "Free styling " to be part of their knife passion

 

[Carney C]

freehanding is just something you just have to have a nag for. its a perfectionist thing, but we enjoy watching ourselves doing the work. not a jig. its generally being replaced just like all other technology which is normal but sad.

Well said

 

[Battle Creek Knives]

I worked my japanese waterstone down to a nub and threw it out about 1 1/2 yrs ago, I'm happy to say I finally ordered another one a week ago and I'm anxiously waiting its arrival.. I've tried other 'gadgets' out their made by various company's but I like stones, and particularly water stones..I have a small collection of folders that haven't been sharpened since then, so I bought the bullet... All my knives I make have been mechanically sharpened, but from now on my scandi grinds will pass over the stone also before being shipped out..

manually sharpening freehand is very therapeutic, at least for me.. I enjoy it.. and have missed it dearly...

 

[Carney C]

I worked my japanese waterstone down to a nub and threw it out about 1 1/2 yrs ago, I'm happy to say I finally ordered another one a week ago and I'm anxiously waiting its arrival.. I've tried other 'gadgets' out their made by various company's but I like stones, and particularly water stones..I have a small collection of folders that haven't been sharpened since then, so I bought the bullet... All my knives I make have been mechanically sharpened, but from now on my scandi grinds will pass over the stone also before being shipped out..

manually sharpening freehand is very therapeutic, at least for me.. I enjoy it.. and have missed it dearly...

Awesome testimony bro !
I want a 100,000 grit Japanese waterstone , but no work with leg & arm injury has put that on the backburner .
Would love to see your blades ,site?

 

[tew3006]

I learned how to freehand from my father when I was still very young. I've never had a problem with getting my knives very sharp, but lately I've taken an interest in some of these gizmos. Not that I'm trying to get away from freehand, but because I'm just curious. I like these most of these systems and I've gotten good results with them, but I can't get them any sharper than I can freehand. I just like having the option of sharpening my knives different ways.

 

[Battle Creek Knives]

Awesome testimony bro !
I want a 100,000 grit Japanese waterstone , but no work with leg & arm injury has put that on the backburner .
Would love to see your blades ,site?

Yeah physical disabilitys put many things on the backburner, can you believe i still havent received my stone?? Unreal, i had a package come in the other day that i had placed way after the stone, im starting to think its being shipped from Japan, i bast check on that..
I have a site underconstruction with links also in my sig line..

 

[Carney C]

Awesome testimony bro ! <br />
I want a 100,000 grit Japanese waterstone , but no work with leg & arm injury has put that on the backburner .<br />
Would love to see your blades ,site?

<br />
Yeah physical disabilitys put many things on the backburner, can you believe i still havent received my stone?? Unreal, i had a package come in the other day that i had placed way after the stone, im starting to think its being shipped from Japan, i bast check on that..<br />
I have a site underconstruction with links also in my sig line..

Cool bro

 

[Grease]

I'm happily learning the art of sharpening on oil/water stones and diamond hones. It's a lot of fun

 

[Carney C]

I'm happily learning the art of sharpening on oil/water stones and diamond hones. It's a lot of fun

I would have lost my mind laid up for for 2 months healing from a wreck that destroyed my rt femur & gave me a titanium femur.....
You could hear me at three in the morning ......schick.......schick......schick.....
Therapy, trying to keep my mind off the pain & worry of not being able to walk or work

 

[OldCABear]

Most folks nowadays just take their cutlery down to their local knife shops and have them sharpen them or like my kids, use a Chef's Choice or the like. Me, I've about every kind of stone imaginable and use them all for different steels. For quick and dirty, I use two grades of diamond laps followed by my strop or side of my boot, whichever is handy at the moment. Very effective on stainless and it takes but a couple of minutes to put on a shaving sharp edge. But then I've been sharpening just about anything that is supposed to cut by hand for decades. Yup, I'm older 'n dirt.

 

[HoosierQ]

I freehand all my edges. I may touch them up on a sharpmaker once in a while, but the primary edge bevel is always freehand. Freehand sharpening is a much more rewarding experience and I happen to really like the slight natural convex freehand sharpening puts on an edge. You are not alone my friend, you are not alone.

This is me right here. A Sharpmaker is a good addition but you really can't do much with it beside touch ups and micro beveling on already profiled edges.

 

[Hans17]

I think freehand is a great skill to have and everyone should learn how to do it as well BUT I do feel that the set angle systems are much more accurate and provide the best possible edge along with stropping that one can possibly achieve.