How are CRKs sharpened from the factory?

[OLd_gUY]

Hi Lenny,
My short answer is yes, that is how I use the Sharpmaker. Saying that, I'm sure others may have a different opinion.
The slightly longer answer is again to contact CRK with any questions as that way you will be sure to get the straight scoop.
I have found their Customer Service always pleasant and anxious to help.

 

[brownshoe]

I use the sharpmaker as intended by Sal Glesser and am happy with a 30 degree edge and a few last swipes at 40 degrees.

 

[expidia1]

The CRK factory grind is pretty poor in my opinion. Most think their factory edges are razor sharp, far from it. They just have probably never experienced what a truly sharp razor sharp edge is!

Here are two large Sebenza 21's that both came back from the CKR factory last week. Both blades were re-etched by CRK. The light brown Box Elder Damascus was bought new by me, but the blade area 1/3rd behind the tip arrived defective.
So they re-etched it under warranty.
The white Mammoth was bought by me (used) and the Damascus blade area below the thumbstud had a wide washed out streak. CRK said one of the previous owners had an acidic thumb which can washout the blade area that it rubs against when opening it up.

Look at the before and after readings on this device I bought on Edgeonup which uses the Bess sharpeness scale. The lower the numbers the sharper the edge. Look at a new single edge razor blade which comes in at a 70.
Then look at the factory grind on the Box Elder coming in at a 270 (untouched from the factory).
Then look at the number 115 on the Mammoth that I did with my Wicked Edge setup at an angle of 18 degrees ( I don't bother convexing the edge).
Its not only very close to the sharpness of a razor blade, the mirror edge makes it into a show piece too

Re-etching can give a Damascus blade more contrast (see last pic) but both Chad Nichols and the Devin Thomas versions tend to blur when rotated. Please bring on the Damasteel for the Seb 21's . . . CRK!

 

[expidia1]

BUT . . . I've also found that a real sharp blade is also prone to micro chipping as the edge is so thin. And it doesn't stay at that sharpness level for very long. Just slicing a piece of white paper a few times is already deteriorating a super sharp edge. So I'm sure CRK has figured out the perfect trade off for their edges as to their factory grind angle which is probably more appropriate for 90% of the owners "that actually use" their CRK's.

The only thing my knives ever cut is using them as very expensive letter openers .

I've even given up using them on say opening up boxes from Amazon. Now I opt for a single edge razor blade because cutting through the Amazon tape leaves a sticky residual along the mirrored edge thats a pain to have to now clean off everytime.

I just mirrored another keeper last night. Another Damascus blade factory grind from 2 weeks ago back from CRK. This time I went with a 20 degree angle rather than the 18 degrees I used on the last Damascus I mirrored. I'm hoping 20 degrees will allow me to use it more as a user and the edge's level of sharpness might last a little longer than the CRK's factory ground convex edge. I don't convex them. I've found running a black marker on the edge and then removing it with a very fine stone to make sure the angle of the stone is hitting the apex of the edge, then checking the angle with a digital angle gauge before starting my reprofiling of the edge . . . my Sebenza 21's appear to me that they come from the factory with a 17 degree grind.

I'd be interested in hearing from others what degree of an angle that you measured with an angle device and what you have found a Seb 21 comes from the factory with?

I think I read some members on the Wicked Edge forum opt to reprofile most of their knives at a 20-22 degree angle. The lower the anlge number, the wider the mirrored bevel area for show purposes.

 

[BellaBlades]

I use my sharpmaker for touch ups too.

This new CF model I got still has the factory edge. Came pretty sharp compared to some others I had. Hit the corners up the whites on 40 and my strop to get a nice razor edge again. When she dulls up real good I will do my thing and reprofile then.