How do you sharpen your CRK Tanto (Umnumzaan or Sebenza)?

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Biginboca

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I'm just curious how other Tanto owners have been maintaining their edges. I've been stropping mine on a leather strop with green compound, but I'm wondering what to do if/when the edge needs a serious touch up? Does anyone have an at home method for repairing a damaged edge on a CRK Tanto?

I've got an edge pro but the tip of the Tanto is a convex edge so the edge pro won't work because it only does flat edge bevels. I guess I will have to keep stropping and then send it in to CRK for a new edge grind when it needs a serious touch up.

One of the knives I'm looking to maintain...

photo-18.jpg
 
I am not a sharpener! I've only tried once on some old Arkansas stones my Grandfather left me and it was a disaster (I used a crappy old knife thank goodness). I took my tanto Umnum to Blade this year to get it sharpened. The Wicked Edge guy (I wish I could remember his name...Gary?) said they were tough to sharpen without messing with the edge geometry. What he did was only sharpen the very edge bevel and left the majority of the tanto alone. Does that make sense? Anyway, he did a fantastic job and the only difference is now it's razor sharp. I have to get me a system!
 
Be very careful sharpening a tanto for the first time. You can mess it up really bad...ask me how i know. For me, i sharpen the blade in two stages. The straight edge portion and then i re adjust the knife and sharpen just the tip portion. Im no expert but doing it this way allows me to maintain the edge geometry/bevel that i want. I like a strop as well for putting a convex edge. Not sure that helps you but good luck. Very nice knife btw
 
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Strop it on sandpaper over a leather strop. Use very light pressure and only as much grit as you absolutely need. Chris runs 'em on the softer side so you have to let your material (sharpening & finishing strops) do the work. Just my .02 ymmv :D

Yes, MM two stages, tip seperately from blade. ;)
 
I just got the Umnumzaan tanto and asked Chris Reeve how to sharpen it. They said to only sharpen the belly part, but to send it back to them when the tanto front edge needs sharpening. What are you all currently doing - do you try to sharpen the shorter edge yourself? I found this youtube which shows one way to do both edges with a Sharpmaker. Any comments?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_GzBU5h2bU
 
Hah. I'm not a sharpener of any sort. In fact, I've goofed up a knife or two during the phase I went through where I thought I'd learn.

So when I found myself in possession of a small 21 tango, that arrived to me in desperate need of a real sharpening? I sent it in. I'm still waiting for it's return.
 
So far been getting away with just stropping the tip, and Sharpmaker on the rest of the blade...
 
With any tanto you have to sharpen the edges separate. Sharpening the short edge will push the belly point away from the grind line. Sharpening the long edge will push the grind line towards the tip. I will make a drawing to show spedifics.
 
Spyderco sharpmaker, but treat each edge like a separate knife. Finish off with a strope. Or you could just pay to ship it in to CRK and wait a month or so to get it back.
 
I don't own a tanto shaped blade but I would think that you would buy a second Zaan with a tanto edge to have a spare. When one gets dull send it back to CRK fro sharpening and then use the back-up knife. You could just alternate sending in knives for sharpening.
Expensive to do but very simple in concept. 😁
 
Historicbattery said:
With any tanto you have to sharpen the edges separate. Sharpening the short edge will push the belly point away from the grind line. Sharpening the long edge will push the grind line towards the tip. I will make a drawing to show spedifics.
Click to expand...
OP passed away in the meantime ...
 
I realize this is old but maybe this will be helpful to someone. I don't have a tanto CRK but do have several tanto spider monkeys. This what I do, It will help you keep your angle.

Use a square and mark your degrees on a piece of paper. I think its easier this way but you can probably skip this step.
20220624_134133.jpg

Next make a mark on your blade.
20220624_134235.jpg

Make a mark on your finger at the same level you made a mark on your knife.
20220624_134336.jpg

Put the knife on the stone and line the two up. This should get you pretty close. And yes you have to sharpen the end of your tanto like it is a seperate knife.

20220624_135303.jpg

You can remove the sharpie marker with finger nail polish remover.

Anyways, that's how I maintain my tanto tips. If you want to keep the convex edge you'll probably have to send it in.
 
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