Got the Rodent 3 in today...................

[mobenzowner]

As the title says, just got my nice little rodent 3 in. It's new and has a pretty sharp factory edge. This knife will be a general user. Usages will be hunting, skinning, maybe some very light bush craft type usages(no batoning, maybe feather sticks, etc).

My question is as follows: Those that have this knife and use it, would you recommend keeping the V edge or convexing? I have an edge pro and without bragging am pretty darn capable at the sandpaper convexing method as well. If using the edge pro I will probably thin to about 18 deg per side. Will also thin a decent amount if convexing. Any advice from real world users?

Thanks all.

 

[kenash]

Use it and figure it out. I have a custom shop satin/red-black G-10 blade that I got from the BF exchange from a Swamp Brother. It was catch and release for him. Poor him, but I understand, as i have multiple RMDs, SOB,s etc. I have honing stones and oil, ceramic sticks, leather strops with honing compound, and a sand belt tool sharpener. I use the stones for me Case and Bokers. Yes, I tote at least three knives when I wear britches. I want drawers with pockets. The SR-101, I usually use the sand belt, as it's thick and I like it"s kick ass self. I have slicing knives, but cut my finger nails are short.. No dentures, but my canines are short - human type, you know.

 

[mobenzowner]

Well I have stropped it to razor sharp and beyond. That will work for now. I think I will convex it when it needs the full deal.

 

[chiral.grolim]

Don't have the R3 but an RS and thinned it a down a bit to improve the cutting efficiency on a blade this short, ~15-dps. The only use it didn't withstand too well was batonning through sheet-metal when I was building my livestock-shed. It worked better than the tin-snips but tore up the apex, nothing that couldn't be fixed. For the use you describe, I think you could knock off the edge-shoulders and give it a thin-convex if you decide that it isn't cutting as well as you'd like. Rats tend to be built for substantial abuse, but they function quite well at normal tasks with a slimmer profile.

 

[Lance23]

I fully convexed my Rodent solution.
Makes for a slightly more durable, easier to maintain edge.
Looks better too when stripped...

Just my opinion.

 

[kenash]

Shoot. That looks great. I bought some "stripper" from the local hardware store and tried it on a BKT. Did not work worth squat. what process/stripper did you use. I like the looks of my RS, but the Rodent 3 is awesome.

 

[Lance23]

I used kleen-strip premium In a spray can.
Taped off the handles where I wanted to keep the coating.
Sprayed a thick layer of stripper on the blade and let sit for 15-20minutes.
Then I took rubber gloves and a green scotchbrite pad to take the coating off.
Then hand sanding to desired finish.
I've heard that the becker coating should come off just as easily.

 

[mobenzowner]

Don't have the R3 but an RS and thinned it a down a bit to improve the cutting efficiency on a blade this short, ~15-dps. The only use it didn't withstand too well was batonning through sheet-metal when I was building my livestock-shed. It worked better than the tin-snips but tore up the apex, nothing that couldn't be fixed. For the use you describe, I think you could knock off the edge-shoulders and give it a thin-convex if you decide that it isn't cutting as well as you'd like. Rats tend to be built for substantial abuse, but they function quite well at normal tasks with a slimmer profile.

Now there is a well used RS! Thanks for the pic and response...

 

[mobenzowner]

Lance23 - looks like a real nice job on your RS. You have an approximate idea on the edge angle degree you have after you convexed that baby?

 

[Lance23]

Lance23 - looks like a real nice job on your RS. You have an approximate idea on the edge angle degree you have after you convexed that baby?

Well the edge angle guide on the WorkSharp only went as low as 17, so I had to remove the guide to go lower than that. Not sure exactly how low but if I remember it was right about 16/15.5 dps.
Hope that helps, free handing produces cleaner edges and more consistent results for me.