I want to place an edge on the top of my Marine Raider Bowie

Joined
Oct 24, 1999
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My first choice is to have this done by a professional, but searching the yellow pages in my area (Silver Spring, MD) comes up with nothing. So my next choice is to do this myself. I am very competent using my Spyderco, Crock Stick, and stones to finish edges already ground, but have never tried to sharpen a fake edge (I believe that's what you call this back edge). It has been suggested to use a file to start the edge but, if there are any written instructions out there that clearly explain how to do this I would feel much more comfortable attempting this. I would hate to ruin a very good knife; I love them all no matter the price. Thanks
 
If it already has a false edge ground than it shouldn't be too big of a problem. Its probably a little hard to cut with a normal file, but you could use a coarse diamond hone, or silicon carbide sandpaper on a block. Pretty much just try to match the bevel as best as possible and start grinding/filing away.
If you go the sandpaper route, start out with coarse stuff around 50-80 grit and bring it down to an edge. Then keep using progressively finer grits till you get the finish you want.

If the false edge is hollow ground, your in for a lot of work, you'll have to flatten out the bevel as well as bring it down to an edge.

An I have to ask, are you sure you want to do this? Double edged blades have pretty limited use. With a big bowie like that that's single edged you can use it as a draw knife, or pound on the back of the blade to split wood etc. I wouldn't sharpen the back unless my main interest in using it was as a fighter.
 
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