How do you guys sharpen your large Beckers?

BenLong1018

BenLong1018

Joined
Apr 12, 2012
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I have a big beautiful BK9 and I have a fair amount of use on it and I realized that the only sharpener I own is a Spyderco Sharpmaker which is definitely not gonna cut it(pun intended). I was wondering what you Beckerheads use to keep your large Beckers sharp?

I'm not exactly looking to spend a lot of money mostly because I'm not gonna be sharpening my knife once a week or anything just every couple of months.
 
I put a killer edge on my BK-9 with the DMT Aligner ProKit. I used a Sharpie to blacken the edge, then set the angle to get a clean swipe. Apexed with even grinds on both sides - the 1095 CV steel keeps that edge for a long while!

I did use 2 different positions because of the length, but it worked great.

Eric
 
snippy said:
I put a killer edge on my BK-9 with the DMT Aligner ProKit. I used a Sharpie to blacken the edge, then set the angle to get a clean swipe. Apexed with even grinds on both sides - the 1095 CV steel keeps that edge for a long while!

I did use 2 different positions because of the length, but it worked great.

Eric
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I just glanced at the DMT pro kit and it looks like a poor mans edge pro which may be exactly what I need.
 
Yeah good question, i have one on the way in the mail and often wonder how i'm going to do this. I have the Diamond Lansky set with ceramic hone as well. I dont think its achievable with this system deue to the length?
 
Another vote for DMT. All I use to sharpen is Diasharp coarse/fine stone then do some stropping on black compound and then a little green. Though I've been thinking of getting a KO Worksharp sometime soon.
 
I've been using a mouse pad and sandpaper for many many years now. Been sharpening by hand for nearly 30 years and I'm still not great at it. Ordered a Ken Onion Work sharp last week and should be here tomorrow. Can't wait.
 
India stone, or a Lansky clamp on sharpener system, depending on what type of sharpening needs to be done.
 
Freehand with either a ceramic rod or dmt diasharp then a strop. Rod is for the 4, diasharp in fine/extrafine for the bk5.

A coarse/fine diasharp or ceramic stone/rod would work fine for a 9 if you are accustomed to freehand sharpening.

I recall someone recently posting a pic of a 2x4 with two homes drilled at preset angles for usage with wooden dowels and sandpaper as a scaled up version of the spyderco rod system.
Anyone have a link to that thread?
 
Medium diamond hone, fine Spyderco Slip Stone, 'surgical black' natural stone, and a butcher's steel.

Sometimes in addition, I strop my BK5 and BK15.
 
NJBillK said:
I recall someone recently posting a pic of a 2x4 with two homes drilled at preset angles for usage with wooden dowels and sandpaper as a scaled up version of the spyderco rod system.
Anyone have a link to that thread?
Click to expand...

My rig ;) was called "The TBL"

For V grinds:
WP_001321_zps1c06ac7b.jpg

or for convex:
WP_001323_zps432f3170.jpg

WP_001324_zps850a2416.jpg

WP_001325_zps8ca13135.jpg


I've used it for my 18inch machete :D
 
The cheapest way is sandpaper with a block and/or pad. You can get nice smooth hardwood in poplar or maple for ~$2 per foot and Hobby Lobby sells 12"x18"x.25" mouse-pad like foam pads for $1.25. YT has several vids.

Since you already use a Sharpmaker, TBL's rig above is a great idea.
 
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I use a KO work sharp. Works good on my BK2 and BK7, I use it to sharpen everything from my Ontario Rat 1 to my Kershaw camp 18.
 
Do you have the diamond rods for your Sharpmaker?
If not, go grab some!
They do a great job if the edge needs a small amount of reprofiling.

I use the Sharpmaker on all my Beckers with excellent results!
The diamond rods are a must have for the system IMO.
Like you said, sometimes the medium rods just won't cut it.


On my convexed Beckers I used my 1x30 HF belt sander with no platen. Followed by the 'ol sandpaper and mousepad trick. Scary sharp...
 
Sandpaper over a mousepad and a strop...



I'm not a fan of electronic sharpening devices. You take more steel away than you would freehand.
 
.357 mag said:
Sandpaper over a mousepad and a strop...


I'm not a fan of electronic sharpening devices. You take more steel away than you would freehand.
Click to expand...

Could you give a short list of what grits you use? I'm trying to put together a field kit and have been looking at automotive sandpaper and a mouse pad glued to a small board. Seems like a light, but very effective way of sharpening my BK-17 in the field.

I just like hearing about different grits and experiences people have.
 
I use the Sharpmaker myself. If you need to remove a lot of material, you can turn the medium stones so you are using the corners and they will cut steel faster. The diamond rod upgrade is definitely the faster option.
 
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