How Are Factory Knives Ground?

[HilhamHawk]

I am by no means an expert, so please forgive me if I ask a stupid question. How do most of the factory manufacturers grind their blades? Are they all done by machine, by hand, or a combination of the two? I ask simply because I have recently ( within the last 6 months) received a couple of Becker knives that had the tips sharpened off center ( a BK20 and a BK29). I bought another of each, and they were just fine. Is this common, and are some manufacturers worse than others?

Troy

 

[NJBillK]

Tradewater actually uses his teeth like a pull through sharpener. Different models get their corresponding grooves.
He says he likes the "tang" that 1095 cro-van has...

I don't get it, but I don't question him.
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In all seriousness, they use machines. It is entirely possible that some tips have been rounded. Folks are fallable, but I like to think of it as that makes my knife have a "human touch" that makes it individual.

 

[Mo2]

some sharpen with a wheel, some use a belt grinder. most do it by hand, i think some use a jig to get more even grinds (probably not perfect).

edit: do you mean sharpen the edge, or the blade grinds?

 

[HilhamHawk]

Both, I guess. I've seen some that were literally perfect, and others that the blade contours, or the edges, that were just slightly asymetrical.