How sharp is sharp?

D

DeckardB26354

Joined
Feb 22, 2009
Messages
43
My BM Presidio came from the factory pretty sharp. Sharp enough to shave arm or leg hair, but I knew that it could be sharper.

So I first used an Extra-Fine DMT sharpener to try to smooth out the factory grind lines. The diamond grit made short work of the 440C and another level of sharpness was reached.

For the next step, I used Dan's Arkansas translucent stone (which seemed barely more abrasive than marble) with a little mineral oil and polished the edge a little more.

For the acid test-a wet shave. Yes it worked, but I can tell it was still a bit rough and there's no way it's practical to shave this way. That's why I have a gillette fusion.

But, I always wanted to try it, and yes it can be done, a hollow ground blade makes it a little easier. Not sure which companies send their knives out wicked sharp, but Benchmades seem to have a good, but not great factory edge.
 
Im like you, I want my knifes to be sharp. The only knife I didn't feel I had to sharpen out of box was my fallkniven U2. Also my Spyderco Caly jr was almost as sharp as needed, Just stropped it a little. / Bosse
 
I consider the knife and intended use. A less sharp edge, where i don´t notice a downgrade of sharpness that often, doen´t make me nerveous.:D

The last two Benchmades i got were from the HK line. Second hand but should be unused before me. I found the edges to have become better than a few years ago. Sharp, no burrs found, kept their shape very long.

Mine need to cut paper clearly.
 
DeckardB26354 said:
My BM Presidio came from the factory pretty sharp. Sharp enough to shave arm or leg hair, but I knew that it could be sharper.

So I first used an Extra-Fine DMT sharpener to try to smooth out the factory grind lines. The diamond grit made short work of the 440C and another level of sharpness was reached.

For the next step, I used Dan's Arkansas translucent stone (which seemed barely more abrasive than marble) with a little mineral oil and polished the edge a little more.

For the acid test-a wet shave. Yes it worked, but I can tell it was still a bit rough and there's no way it's practical to shave this way. That's why I have a gillette fusion.

But, I always wanted to try it, and yes it can be done, a hollow ground blade makes it a little easier. Not sure which companies send their knives out wicked sharp, but Benchmades seem to have a good, but not great factory edge.
Click to expand...

So far sharpest factory edge has Spyderco.

Best test for sharpness for me - whittling hair:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQPwHu4lxsQ

Thanks, Vassili.
 
I've had really, really sharp edges from Buck, Spyderco, Cold Steel and Dozier. I'm probably missing a couple, but those have really stood out.

How sharp is sharp? When you reach a new level of sharpness, it's almost enough... :D
 
Benchmade has made great improvements in their edge geometry and sharpness in the last few years. My new blade on the old TSEK came hair whittling sharp from the factory. I've owned a few Spydercos, and while they are more consistent from one knife to the next, the ones I had would not whittle hair.
 
I was not buying Benchmade for years because of their altitude against major Internet knife sellers and just there was nothing really excited in their model line, but last Benchmade, I got was this year - 710M4 (it was announced early but came out actually month after first Spyderco CPM M4 Mule) and it was far from Spyderco sharpness on same CPM M4 and way far from Spyderco ZDP189 Chinese

Spyderco_Lum_Chinese-008.jpg


Thanks, Vassili.
 
Hair whittling sharp is rather vague. Yes it's very sharp but I got few knives to that level with 2-3K grit whetstone. Considering that last finishing abrasive I use is 100 000 grit there's way more to go than just hair whittling.
 
If it cut's what ever I need cut then it's sharp enough. Taking hair off the arm has always seemed sharp enough.
 
Bors said:
If it cut's what ever I need cut then it's sharp enough. Taking hair off the arm has always seemed sharp enough.
Click to expand...

Same for me but it does not cut what I need if it is not whittling hair.

Best example - cutting off splinters without drawing blood. Sharp knife may cut off top layer of skin right on top of splinter. Regular blade which only can shave not able to do this without too much pressure and it result produce deep long cut drawing blood and pushing splinter into flesh instead - total disaster.

Sharp blade do not need much force to cut so cut became much more accurate, easy and pleasant. I do not need to hold plastic bag near cut I am going to make - I take knife swipe it and put it back in the pocket in one single move, taking less then a second.

If you learn how to sharpen to hair whittling sharpness you will never sharpen knife less then this - it is just much more convinient, I found many new way to use knife after I learn how to sharpen it and it does not take more effort then sharpening it half way. Taking off burr is actually easy with Green Rouge then on leather then on hard cermic stone or diamonds.

Thanks, Vassili.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
nozh2002 said:
Same for me but it does not cut what I need if it is not whittling hair.

Best example - cutting off splinters without drawing blood. Sharp knife may cut off top layer of skin right on top of splinter. Regular blade which only can shave not able to do this without too much pressure and it result produce deep long cut drawing blood and pushing splinter into flesh instead - total disaster.

Sharp blade do not need much force to cut so cut became much more accurate, easy and pleasant. I do not need to hold plastic bag near cut I am going to make - I take knife swipe it and put it back in the pocket in one single move, taking less then a second.

If you learn how to sharpen to hair whittling sharpness you will never sharpen knife less then this - it is just much more convinient, I found many new way to use knife after I learn how to sharpen it and it does not take more effort then sharpening it half way. Taking off burr is actually easy with Green Rouge then on leather then on hard cermic stone or diamonds.

Thanks, Vassili.

Thanks, Vassili.
Click to expand...

A Swiss army knife with needle and tweezers works well for tough splinters ;)
Some splinters I can remove with my thumb and the edge others I use the point. Having to dig for it builds character like dry shaving ;)
 
What do you think is sharp?

What is the sharpest edge you have ever felt?

It all comes down to your sharpening skill and the tools that you have. If you last sharpening step is a fine ceramic and that produces the sharpest edge you have ever seen then your opinions will be different than someone that finishes at a much higher level.
 
Bors said:
A Swiss army knife with needle and tweezers works well for tough splinters ;)
Some splinters I can remove with my thumb and the edge others I use the point. Having to dig for it builds character like dry shaving ;)
Click to expand...

Well, I am not saying how to remove splinter, please, not do this with semi dull knife because it is dangerous! My point is that with really sharp knife it is possible and acually very easy, instead of digging into it, just clear the way out and it fall away without any problems...

But again if you learn how to sharpen and have this sharpness you will find that many things became possible with knife which really sharp.

And it is not to hard to learn. I guess arguing why not to learn it take more effort...

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Bors said:
If it cut's what ever I need cut then it's sharp enough. Taking hair off the arm has always seemed sharp enough.
Click to expand...

Wise words indeed. :)

I've plenty of wondersteel blades. ATS55, ATS34, VG10, the list goes on, but one of the best pure cutters if properly sharpened is my plain 1090 carbon steel Douk-douk. I can get that sharp enough to dry shave without much trouble, using stones followed by 2000 grit paper.
 
simple. Can it cut blood cells, or better yet, bacteria in two, or four, or ten slices? THAT'S SHARP ;).
 
nozh2002 said:
But again if you learn how to sharpen and have this sharpness you will find that many things became possible with knife which really sharp.

And it is not to hard to learn. I guess arguing why not to learn it take more effort...

Thanks, Vassili.
Click to expand...

I under stand what your saying but look deeper into what I said earlier.

If it cut's what ever I need cut then it's sharp enough.
Click to expand...

Sharpen to your needs.........

Taking hair off the arm has always seemed sharp enough.
Click to expand...

For the vast majority of day to day needs this is plenty sharp and easy to maintain with a single pocket stone.

I have sharped knives that sharp but never really found a need for it outside of experimenting. Few steels will hold up under day to day use and even those will dull down to the hair shaving level quickly.


Again sharpen to your needs......
 
Bors said:
I under stand what your saying but look deeper into what I said earlier.

Sharpen to your needs.........



For the vast majority of day to day needs this is plenty sharp and easy to maintain with a single pocket stone.

I have sharped knives that sharp but never really found a need for it outside of experimenting. Few steels will hold up under day to day use and even those will dull down to the hair shaving level quickly.


Again sharpen to your needs......
Click to expand...

Yes as I sad my needs require full sharpness. Because I do not see any reason not to complete sharpening and sharpen it routinely I found a lot of use for it. If you learn how to achieve this sharpness not once by accident but stable and without special effort so you can have it any time you want - you will find a lot of use for this as well.

Just learn how to sharpen - it is easy and you will see a lot of new use for your knife.

Only problem is - average steel will not hold it for long. You need good steel for this as well - ZDP189, SR101, Dozier D2. What is you blade steel?

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Vassili, can you recommend a good sharpening set up? I saw some of your youtube videos but not sure of your set up? DMT extra course, course, then fine diamond? And a strop? I can't seem to get my blades (esp the point) sharpened properly freehand...my bevels are uneven.
 
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