Hair-shaving sharp on a 1213

[darkdomino]

So I've got the standard Kabar fixed blade and I've been working on it with a diamond sharpener for about an hour now... and no matter how long I work on this blade, I can't get it hair shaving sharp.

The blade edge is very sharp and I can feel it has "bite" like it could cut my skin open very easily. .. however it tears and mangles paper on a cut test and cannot shave hair off my arm. I've inspected the edge and it's not rolled, dull, or damaged so it's clearly an issue with my sharpener.

What's the trick to getting a Kabar to be hair shaving sharp?

 

[Psyop]

Try a strop

 

[El Bandit0]

Almost....
First, thin the edge bevel out on a coarse benchstone, then hone on ceramic rods, THEN strop with a loaded strop, then strop on bare leather. Or you can use a powered leather wheel loaded with green compound, had a friend who got my beat-to-crap Ka-Bar back to hair-poppin in about three minutes that way.

 

[bigghoss]

I use a leather belt and rubbing compound as a strop. Works pretty good. After you get it where you want it, strop it as you use it to keep it there instead of letting it get dull and having to resharpen.

 

[cjr7]

Strop. I learned by watching virtuovice on youtube. He strops in many of his knife videos. I got some of the white compound like he uses and I have to say that stuff is the best. Good Luck.