Good angle for 1095?

B

Buck268

Joined
Nov 5, 2006
Messages
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Well, I was playing around with the good old Ka-Bar USMC knife today while walking the dog in the woods. Decided to make a fuzz stick, and also a pile of shavings (was gonna have a fire, but got hungry!).

Anyways, I think the last profile I put on it is far to step for any type of slicing work like whittling and the like (although it does chop very well for the blade shape! Battons good too), so I'm thinking about bringing the angle down some. I would guess its about 25-30 degrees PER SIDE right now. I was thinking I'd bring it down so its just above flat-ground off the sabre grind, which would put it at 15* or less per side. That shoud be fine for 1095? I'm worried about edge rolling and the like.
 
I have my Ontario TAK-1, 1095 at 18 per side, cut on my Edgepro sharpener. Nice and sharp with no rolling. 1095 is tough stuff.
 
What do you use that TAK-1 for? Chopping? Whittling down a fuzz stick?

Unfortunately I don't have the time on my hands these days to fully test out edge profiles for the balance I want. Primarily cutting (such as wood shavings and fuzz sticks) but able to handle some chopping if need be. Not that I use it much, but when I do it gets used hard.
 
Buck268 said:
Anyways, I think the last profile I put on it is far to step for any type of slicing work like whittling and the like (although it does chop very well for the blade shape! Battons good too), so I'm thinking about bringing the angle down some. I would guess its about 25-30 degrees PER SIDE right now. I was thinking I'd bring it down so its just above flat-ground off the sabre grind, which would put it at 15* or less per side. That shoud be fine for 1095? I'm worried about edge rolling and the like.
Click to expand...

Wow, that's really obtuse for a knife. You should have no problem going 15* or less per side. FWIW, I have a Ontario Economy Machete with a 1/2" 10 degree inclusive primary grind, and the only damage it's ever really had as a result was from batoning through a nasty knot. Even then, the damage wasn't bad, and it keeps on going.
 
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Buck268 said:
What do you use that TAK-1 for? Chopping? Whittling down a fuzz stick?

Unfortunately I don't have the time on my hands these days to fully test out edge profiles for the balance I want. Primarily cutting (such as wood shavings and fuzz sticks) but able to handle some chopping if need be. Not that I use it much, but when I do it gets used hard.
Click to expand...
I leave the chopping chores to my larger blades, the TAK-1 is a bit light for chopping, although I have done some batonning with it. I did some chop testing with it just to test the edge. I use it for general cutting, whittling, trap building, holds a good edge and easy to sharpen.
 
1095 will take a very keen edge nicely. I do mine almost flat to the stone.
 
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