how sharp :) ?

[butcher_block]

thanks to a QX5

i have now a shot of my straight razor that i use
at 200x with a hair from my beard on it
finished with spyderco ultra fine hone and stropped
makes me wish i had some of the cool stuff Kevin C and mete have to look at steel

 

[hellgap]

very cool the only thing sharper is obsidian or a ceramic knife

 

[jdm61]

The comment about obsidian baldes, whihc are volcanic glass got me to remebering. When I was at Emory for a brief stint, my molecular biology professor took us down to see the electron microscope. This was what passed for a "basic" model in 1980 (non-scanning) and they would embed the samples in some kind of clear plastic substance and the use glass microtomes to shave off the sample slices. IIRC, the method was to have a really pure piece of this type of glass and to break it so you had a clean, straight edge. My understanding is that for the really complicated and VERY small stuff, they use diamond microtomes. Now THAT is some sharp stuff!!!!

 

[Salem Straub]

Cool, I shave with a straight razor too. Saves a lot of money in blades! I finish sharpening it with a #8000 Takenoko water stone then strop on leather. I wish I could take a close up like that of the edge to check it out. If you ever read "The Hot Zone" there is a lab scene where they are dissecting viruses with a diamond knife that can split cells! I remember it saying that if you only set it edge down on your finger, it's own (light) weight would push it through your flesh like butter. They must have been mechanically controlling it, imagine trying to split a virus with even the tiniest tremble in your hand!