Hawkbill blade tip sharpening tips?

G

great_blue

Joined
Oct 31, 2005
Messages
9
Hi all,

I was wondering if I could get some advice concerning the sharpening of the tip of a hawkbill I'm thinking about purchasing? I've got a Sharpmaker and don't usually get down to the tip of my other blades for fear of rounding them off. I use a DMT diafold for that, but generally the points won't get used that much. However, for a hawkbill the point IS the point of the knife and will see lots of use so......?

Thanks.
 
I've found it easier to sharpen hawkbill blades and others with similiar radical (relative) curvature free hand.

Instead of "cutting in," I'll either stroke along the blade (ending off the tip) or use a stropping movement (again, ending off the tip).

I'm sure others have better techniques. These just worked for me.

I use Spyderco slip-stones (704?).
 
Yes, I have a couple of sets of the medium and fine stones. (Work, car, home, etc)

When new, some of them have some "spill" that can be removed by gently rubbing them together.

The curved (elliptical) sides I have found to work well for any curved portions on knife blades (recurves, serrations, etc.).

The Sharpmaker works for curves too, but I prefer to use these. I seem to get more satisfactory results. Currently, I only use the Sharpmaker for any initial sharpening (or reprofiling), then its freehand with these.

To guard against unwanted scrapes, I put that blue (real painters) masking tape on the non-edge surfaces of the knife (yeah, I know I’m a klutz and therefore take precautions).
 
Welcome to Bladeforums!

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I didn't realize there was separate forum for this type of stuff and I've been lurking here for years.....

Thanks again, O1!
 
First of all I am an avid Spyderco collector, user and enthusiast. I have been a user of Spyderco Hawkbills for some time. The recommendations I am going to give you are all Spyderco products. The stone that "GREAT BLUE" is talking about on his link he provided is called the Spyderco 701 Profile. It has 2 different angled radii on them and I find they work rather well for Hawkbills. I use one of those stones on my Spyderco PE Merlin with great success.

I have another great Spyderco sharpening tool to recommend. It is a sharpener that was discontinued quite a while ago. It is called the Galley V sharpening system and it was mainly designed for sharpening big kitchen/chef knives but works on a number of different blades designs. Namely it works well with Hawkbills. The stones on that kit are "Cat's Eye" shaped stones and they follow the contour of a Hawkbill rather well. I do like both of these sharpening tools for Hawkbills better than I do the 204 Sharpmaker. Now the Sharpmaker is an astounding sharpening tool but Hawkbills in my opinion is one of it's weaknesses.

I hope someone besides me has more suggestions because this is a subject I would personally like to know more about.
 
Sharpening the inner edge of a round shape knife require a round stone. Hold the stone against a table top or other safe steady surface. Slide the blade down the stone toward the end. Alternate sides equally.

A chef's steel also works well. Hold he steel in your left hand with the end pointed down at a 70-80 degree angle to the floor or a work table. Pull the knife down from the top of the steel away from your hand and from the middle of the blade toward the tip in a scissor action. Alternate strokes from one side of the blade to the other.
 
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