How to Dull a False Edge - Need Suggestions

A

Alan Antopol

Joined
Dec 12, 1999
Messages
347
Folks,


How would you dull a false edge of about 2 inches? Not legal to carry a double edged knife, where I live.

Is it as simple as holding the false edge perpendicular to a stone and moving it back and forth? No reason to send it back to the maker to dull the false edge, correct?

Thanks Alan
 
I'd use some 400 grit wet/dry hold it taut, and use a shoeshine motion. Just use enough pressure for the paper to stay on the edge, not enough that it might cut through. Then you can use whatever grit is most appropriate and blend it in with the previous finish.
 
A false edge is just that. If its a double edge you can just use the sahrpener as you mentiones, a file might speed.
 
unclejoe357 said:
A false edge is just that. If its a double edge you can just use the sahrpener as you mentiones, a file might speed.
Click to expand...
Actually, it sounds dumb, but a false edge is sharp. A swedge would be an unsharpened false edge.

From A.G. Russell's glossary:
False Edge: A sharpened area on the back of the point of some large knives.
Click to expand...

edited to add: Sorry, Alan, not much to add beyond what Yoda said. Yoda's technique may be cleaner than the aforementioned perpendicular to stone idea, but frankly there's no problem with that either. I think it just depends on how fast you want to do it and how nice you want it to look.
 
AA, try using a thin rod diamond sharpener such as the DMT folding type. I have an ultra fine model that I just run over the edge til it dulls. Use smooth deliberate strokes with even pressure without letting it fall off and plunging downwards near the tip. The benchstone method will work as well. But the rod allows for more control.

N2
 
ZENGHOST said:
Actually, it sounds dumb, but a false edge is sharp. A swedge would be an unsharpened false edge.

From A.G. Russell's glossary
Click to expand...

Well, you're right, but A.G. (gasp) is wrong according to every other authority I have ever consulted. A "false edge" is "usually" not sharp but, of course, you can sharpen it. Who says so, well, to name a few, the BF FAQ, Bernard Levine, Ken Warner, Spyderco, Mission Knives, Entek, Cold Steel, and the Schrade Handbook of Knife Knowledge and Terms.

At least be prepared if you order a knife with a "false edge" to have it be a false - dull - edge. Or ask first if it's a big issue.

Now "swedge" vs. "swage" and what it means is another entire fun subject!! :D

"Showshine" Really great explanation. Just keep the sandpaper pretty taut if you want to keep the knife purdy.

Tom
 
Something you need to consider when doing this is just how much you'll need to take off to "be safe" about falling under the restriction. I'm guessing merely dulling it won't be enough, it'll have to be rounded smooth or flattened on top so that it's visibly dull and doesnt even resemble a sharp edge. I'm talking rounded butterknife dull, not grinding down so it's the same thickness as the spine. For that the sandpaper should be fastest and give the best looking result.
 
The sandpaper sounds like a great idea. It would look nice rounded off like that. To speed it up a bit, you could do a couple of quick swipes with a Dremel, then finish with a benchstone and/or sandpaper.

"False edge" is an old sword term that originally just meant the back edge, which might be sharp along at least a little bit, if not its entire, length. It didn't mean that it was a fake or unsharpened edge. The false edge is different from the "true edge", which is what the bottom, usually longer, edge of a sword is called.
 
my understanding of false edge is that it's unsharpened, hence "false". if it were sharpened, what would be false about it? it would be a "real" edge...lol
 
Yes, but it's on the "false" side of the knife. Sharpened clip is my terminology, but there's no clip on some knives/
 
You could always send it to me to sharpen. That would make it duller than anything. :grumpy:

Sandpaper or using a file sound like the way to do it to me.
 
round file... best way...
I consider doing it with some daggers I have, but legally, it's still a double edge... The courts won't discount an edge cause one is incompetent with the whetstone. In the case of your "false edge", you should be fine.
 
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