I sure wish they'd stop making great knives that have RECURVE blades

peacefuljeffrey

peacefuljeffrey

Joined
Feb 24, 2001
Messages
1,308
I HATE recurve blades. Not for any reason other than they are a pain in the ass to sharpen, and I don't like any blade that I don't have a normal time sharpening.

My preferred sharpener is a Spyderco Ceramic Whetstone, which is good and broad and long. It is useless, though, for sharpening recurve blades because it is FLAT. I would rather have the blades be of a straight or positive curve, and be able to use one sharpener, than have the blades have a negative curve (recurve) and have to keep in practice with several sharpeners. I think that recurve takes a simple thing (a knife) and overly complicates it by making it more of an issue if you wanted to sharpen it in a hurry or in the field. What, you're supposed to carry a Tri-Angle sharpening system or a Profile in the field? My impression is that in the field, most people have a simple, rectangular stone with them if they have one at all.

So IMO there are lots of knives out there -- for instance, the Camillus EDC that I was just perusing -- that are ruined for me because the blade recurves. I simply have no desire for the knife, even though I like the overall design. Anyone else have this mad abhorrence of recurve for the reason I stated?

---Jeffrey
 
Whew! So there's at least ONE person out there who agrees with me on this! :) Maybe we can make the manufacturers come around?

---Jeffrey
 
You could carry a diamond or ceramic rod that's not too thick with you. Or that Fold-A-Vee thingy. Either would allow for quick field touchups.

Or you could do what I did and start craving wharnies and sheepsfoot blades.
 
I like a recurve for it's looks, the longer cut and the ability to use the inside curve like a catch to cut with, as for sharpening it's not a problem they look harder to sharpen than they are and who really wants every knife to have the same blade profile? that would get boring.

Scott Ridgeway: It's the only thing keeping from a Benchmade 710
Click to expand...

A BM 710 isn't a recurve were you talking about something esle?
 
Well, here's the rub: When I sharpen now, I use the flat of the Spyderco Ceramic Whetstone. When I began sharpening, I used a Triangle Sharpmaker, and at first all I ever really used were the *corners* of the stones. When I got better at sharpening, I began using the flats of the stones. Simply, the flats have more grinding ability since there is more distribution of surface, right? Also, since more of the blade contacts more of the flat, as opposed to one narrow edge contacting the blade, there is less need to constantly be voiding the stone of metal particles before going on to sharpen more.

Hence I use the S.C.W. a lot now and it really is good only for standard blades, not at all good for recurve. So yes, it's not so much an issue of "I am no good at sharpening recurve" -- it's really that I gave up using my Sharpmaker for the simplicity of the S.C.W. Yes, I could bust out my Profile, with which I was quite good, since the rounded edge curve of it can sharpen recurve no problem. But this Whetstone is so wonderful to use, with its blue case and rubber feet that keep it right on the edge of my desk and it never budges, I don't have to hold it down...

It would be really cool if Spyderco made the Ceramic Whetstone with two edges that were rounded like the edge of the Profile... Now there's an idea that is seriously good and overdue!

---Jeffrey
 
I tend to like recurves for the cutting ability. Sharpening comes after the cutting and for field sharpening, something like a small Spyderco stone that is only an inch wide can still sharpen a recurved edge quite respectably.

I'll take usefulness in cutting over ease of resharpening.
 
Originally posted by NGK-Webmaster
A BM 710 isn't a recurve were you talking about something esle?
Click to expand...

Admittedly, I've never seen the 710 in person. It looks like a (slight) recurve in any picture I've seen, though.

I just did a search for "710" and "recurve" and it seems others refer to to the 710 as a recurve also.
I don't know if there is a technical definition that I've missed but, to me, it doesn't look like I could sharpen the 710 on a flat stone.

Scott
 
*shrugs*
I tend to like recuves for the cutting ability, and I like the flowing edge too.
I won't go out to the field, so that won't be much of a concern for me.
 
I agree peacefuljeffrey, I detest recurved blades and will not by a knife for that very reason. I wanted a 710 HS but did not like the recurve, if it was a normal drop point without recurve i would have bought it. :(
 
Who goes "into the field" and cuts so much that they dull the recurve blade anyway? What are you doing that you cut so much "in the field" that this has to be a concern? How far away do you go, and are you walking all that way and very secluded so that you couldn't, for example, have a nice sharpening system sitting in your car?
 
I can sharpen them, but when it comes to reprofiling the edge, I find that its more trouble than other type blades. I find no real cutting advantage to the recurves and feel its just another "cosmetic cool look thing that a lot of people find appealing.

My 710 DOES have a recurve although not as pronounced as some. Reprofiling my talonite Cammy EDC was aggravating in that the only round diamond hones were not in an extra coarse mesh and the job took longer than I like to spend.

The same thoughts for serrations, I can do them, and do them well....just don't care to, ain't got much for them either.


Thomas
 
The 710 is definitely a recurve!

I also go back and forth on recurves. Love the slicing performance, don't love sharpening them. Generally speaking I count a recurve as a small mark against, but one that can be made up for by other factors. E.g., for me, the 710 is still the best 4"-blade folder going, recurve or not.

Joe
 
I share the preference for flat benchstones for sharpening, and particularly for re-profiling an edge. Re-profiling an S-shaped blade is a thorough pain in the ass.

In making the choice between the 806D2 and 710HS Benchmades, I chose the 806D2 because of the mild recurve of the 710 blade.

If the 806 blade were recurved, I would not have bought it, despite any 'cutting theory' arguments.
 
Hate re curves.

agree.....bitch to sharpen .

recurve.jpg
 
I just can't consider the 710 a recurve there is just not enough there, maybe a little but not enough to be a recurve, atleast to me anyway.
 
I don't like recurves either. I actually don't like they way they cut. I can't come straight down with it and cut through something without extra motion. For me, they're a waste of energy and an inefficient design

It's not that you can't sharpen them, they just don't sharpen up as nicely and easily. The corners of the Sharpmaker just don't give them that great edge. It's a good edge, just not great.

And yes, the 710 is a recurve. A mild recurve, but a recurve.

Phil
 
yeah...i only have flat DMT stones and now i'm gonna have to buy a sharpmaker to sharpen my MT Amphibian...what a hassle
 
I have been thinking on this lately as one of my OP-12 Opinels had a slight recurve which I had wanted to preserve.

I can think of only two solutions:
The first is to get an inexpensive waterstone and redress it so that it has a slight convex surface.
The other solution, which takes some woodworking skill, is to take a appropriately sized block of wood, again put a convex face on it, and figure out a way to clamp or attach a piece of wet/dry sandpaper to it.

I think I will try the wood block idea first.
I will start by using an angled blade table saw to make a trapezoidal shape from the wood block.
 
Originally posted by phatch
I don't like recurves either. I actually don't like they way they cut. I can't come straight down with it and cut through something without extra motion.
Click to expand...

Ya. If you ever use your knife for cutting food, this quality makes recurves an absolute pain.
 
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