Getting an old cleaver sharpened...

Daniel Koster

Daniel Koster

www.kosterknives.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2001
Messages
20,978
I have an old cleaver - probably at least 50 years old. It has some pitting, but it's very minor. My father-in-law (Jim - an old tool fanatic) made a wooden handle for it and gave it to me. It now sits in my kitchen drifting amongst the appliance tops waiting to be sharpened.

It has a recognizable edge, but it is not pretty. The blade is very thick and heavy.

Jim put a decent edge on it, but I would still like to have it professionally sharpened, perhaps even have the surface cleaned/polished. It's a good solid old-timer blade, and I don't want to just press it to the grinder.


2 questions:

Does anybody have any experience with refurbishing old cleavers?

Does anyone know of any professional (or at least good amateur) sharpeners or smiths in the Washington, DC area? (preferrably in Northern Virginia, or also near Gaithersburg, MD)


Thanks,

Dan



(moderator - if this is more appropriate in another forum, feel free to move it. thanks)
 
Dan, I would be glad to do it for you. Walla Walla is not very close but USPS or UPS comes here too. Let me know. Bruce B
 
Perhaps I should weigh the knife to see how much it weighs first. I'll do that, and then post the information here later.
 
I'm trying to get some digital photographs to post here.

Hopefully I'll have them soon.

Thanks,

Dan
 
Dan, it's not going to cost much to ship it. Send it to Bruce and he will do an excellent job. I'd be happy to do it for you but everything I make is dull. I was once called to testify in a court case because I am an expert in blunt trauma!
 
Peter,

Thanks for the advice.

Bruce,

Your offer is truly generous. Please email me your information where I can send this old-timer to be sharpened.

Thanks,

Dan
 
Good night, JT. I wondered why Dan was asking about the WA DC area until I saw that this thread was originally from 2001!

But, Dan, ah, Did you ever post pics?
 
peter nap said:
I'd be happy to do it for you but everything I make is dull. I was once called to testify in a court case because I am an expert in blunt trauma!
Click to expand...

ROTFL! A few years ago, when I was first trying to learn to sharpen, I assumed I'd be able to get some good advice from the guys in the tool room at work. I guess it shouldn't be to shocking to learn that a tool and die maker, a mill hand, or a lathe hand would have no significant sharpening skills -- but even the guys classified as cutter grinders were pretty clueless beyond the basics. (Cutter grinders sharpen drills and other cutting tools.)

And lately I find that at least some knifemakers struggle with sharpening. But that's okay. I'm a sharpener who struggles with knifemaking.

Peter, I love your sense of humor in the matter.
 
Boy O Boy, this is an old thread. I wish Peter would pop back in. He is one of the best people I know.

Dan you forgot to post pics!
 
Took me a second to check the date. I was wondering why in world Dan was sending something off to be sharpened. LOL It wasn't until I saw the post by Peter that I stopped to check the date. I miss Peter naps post also...
 
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