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Gatco Edgemate Vs. Smiths 3-in-1 field sharpener
- Thread starter chabla
- Start date
Here is my setup:
I have a GATCO Professional. I added the extra fine and ultimate finishing hones. I also added the extra coarse diamond.
I finish with strops loaded with red and white polishing compound.
The pluses of a GATCO.
The GATCO will do 11°, 15°, 16°, 22°, 25°, and 30°.
The GATCO's rods simply pull out from the stone holder and you are ready.
The GATCO with the two finer stones and the stropping provides very sharp edges. I have sharpened every knife I have plus several for the guys at work. I have not had a knife other than a very narrow SAK that I could not sharpen.
I am very pleased with the GATCO. I have a three stone Arkansas set that I have trouble free handing with. I had zero problem with the GATCO right out of the box.
I have read that the Sharpmaker and the VEE stick type sharpeners will not sharpen a dull knife very well. They will maintain a sharp blade but do not excel at going from dull to sharp. They are limited in the angles that you can do.
The Smith's one you linked uses carbide to "set the angle". I d never drag even my cheapest blade through a carbide "sharpener". Nowhere on the Cabela's, Smith's Abrasives, nor in the Smith's catalog I downloaded does it specify what angle you can achieve with it.
I have a GATCO Professional. I added the extra fine and ultimate finishing hones. I also added the extra coarse diamond.
I finish with strops loaded with red and white polishing compound.
The pluses of a GATCO.
The GATCO will do 11°, 15°, 16°, 22°, 25°, and 30°.
The GATCO's rods simply pull out from the stone holder and you are ready.
The GATCO with the two finer stones and the stropping provides very sharp edges. I have sharpened every knife I have plus several for the guys at work. I have not had a knife other than a very narrow SAK that I could not sharpen.
I am very pleased with the GATCO. I have a three stone Arkansas set that I have trouble free handing with. I had zero problem with the GATCO right out of the box.
I have read that the Sharpmaker and the VEE stick type sharpeners will not sharpen a dull knife very well. They will maintain a sharp blade but do not excel at going from dull to sharp. They are limited in the angles that you can do.
The Smith's one you linked uses carbide to "set the angle". I d never drag even my cheapest blade through a carbide "sharpener". Nowhere on the Cabela's, Smith's Abrasives, nor in the Smith's catalog I downloaded does it specify what angle you can achieve with it.
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2007
- Messages
- 1,096
If I were you, I'd spend a few extra dollars and get a Spyderco Sharpmaker. That will definitely put a sharp edge on all your knives.
Although the question concerned just Smiths vs the Gatco, I second the recommendation for the Sharpmaker. It'll put a wicked edge on almost any knife with very, very little difficulty. I gave one to my Dad for Xmas (we open presents on Xmas eve, natch) and within a few minutes he had it down pat. When he & Mom came to town for the holidays he brought a box of knives to use up my waterstones...er, to "try out" my Apex.
I surprised him with the Spyderco. After trying it on a couple of knives he used it to put a superb edge on a knife he'd never been able to get satisfactorily sharp before. It doesn't cut as fast as the real coarse 120 grit Edge Pro stone, but it's a lot faster than you may have been told.
Ooookay, as to the actual question...
Haven't tried the Smiths, sorry. The Gatco will work very well, too. I find the clamp a bit tedious, but you may not. The Lansky and Gatko sharpeners are both good. My ignorance of the Smith would probably lead me to choose the Gatco out of the two. Sorry I can't be more helpful.