In what direction do you sharpen your knife for self defense?

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whitefox

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I've read there are 2 sharpening "techniques". Tip to heel and vice versa. Heel to tip. I have always sharpen heel to tip because it was easier for me. Until last night I started to have second thoughts.

When I sharpen a knife from heel to tip I get a scratch pattern like this on the edge going to the tip.
//////////

Now when I sharpen tip to heel, I get this scratch pattern. With the marks going back to the handle of the knife.
\\\\\\\\\\

There are 2 results with this scratch pattern I discovered with each direction. With the tip to heel pattern. \\\\\\\. When your pulling a blade back in a cut, like a slash motion with a sword or a machete, it cuts better.

When you sharpen heel to tip ///////. it seem it works better when you push the blade away from you. As if you were cutting a tomato, or bread. You would push the blade out in front of you then pull it back. Like a sawing motion.

At first I didnt think anything about these direction patterns. Until I tried something. I just finished sharpening 2 knives. One for each scratch pattern direction. The knife that had the heel to tip pattern I tested on the back of my hand. Not a hard press, but lightly. I pulled the blade back towards my body. Nothing.

It felt almost dull. Now I then pushed the blade away from me in the cutting motion. I could feel a slight sting.

Did the same thing with the blade that was sharpen tip to heel. I could feel a slight sting when pulling the blade back towards my body, but felt nothing when I pushed it away.

I started to research these scratch patterns. Some people stated the tip to heel scratch pattern was suited for piercing knives like daggers. The knives sharpen with the heel to tip were better suited for cutting tasks that required a sawing motion. Mostly food prep.

2 guys stated they did both paterns on each knife, but in a different way. One stated it sharpen one side of the knife tip to heel and other side heel to tip and had promising results. Another individual said as he moved up in the grits he would alternate the patterns. So example. 400 grit heel to tip. 600 grit tip to heel and so on.

I assume most knives sharpen on a belt sander don't have these different cutting preformances. Due to the scratch pattern going down. Not in slant. llllllllll.

I was thinking the tip to heel motion would be better suited on that tip to heel scratch pattern if the blade is used for slashing. What has been your experience with these scratch patterns?
 
For self defense I don't think it'll make any discernible difference.

For what it's worth I use a weps and the sctratch pattern is perpendicular to the edge.
 
As long as its sharp Its fine really. If you're stabbing then all it really has to be is pointy. That being said I haven't had to do either and don't intend to ;)
 
JDunn709 said:
For self defense I don't think it'll make any discernible difference.

For what it's worth I use a weps and the sctratch pattern is perpendicular to the edge.
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That is what I use as well. That is what these 2 knives were sharpened on.
 
I actually like to leave my knives dull, and soak them in salt water for a little while. That way I can be sure to give my attacker tetanus :)

Ignoring the question of self defense, I agree that sharpening tip to heel gives a scratch pattern that aids in slicing.
 
In regards to self-defense sharpening: I just hit people over the head with the paperstone base from my Wicked Edge.
 
Comeuppance said:
In regards to self-defense sharpening: I just hit people over the head with the paperstone base from my Wicked Edge.
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Nice! I poke them in both eyes with Sharpmaker rods.

Then i go at it with a serrated grocery store steak knife. Somehow I always end up dropping that knife in a sewer.
 
trust me getting stuck with a pointed metal object is no fun . if its been honed heel to point or point to heel it wont drop him ( or her) 1 tenth of a second faster. just remember when useing a knife, stab often stab deep
 
Do you first wrap it in bloody, weighted towels so that it won't get washed up and discovered by teen passersby?

marcinek said:
Nice! I poke them in both eyes with Sharpmaker rods.

Then i go at it with a serrated grocery store steak knife. Somehow I always end up dropping that knife in a sewer.
Click to expand...
 
I usually refrain from these types of remarks, but whatever:

In what direction do you sharpen your knife for self defense?
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Towards the attacker.
 
It depends. If I am attacked by the walking dead then all I need is that the knife be pointy enough to penetrate the skull.
If I am fighting off maurauders hell bent on pillaging and whatnot,I would go tip to heel.
If just a normal SD scenario where others were after my food and shelter I would use the hook of my SAK to carry their bodies away after they were felled by my clever booby-traps if they were lucky enough to get across the gator infested moat,that is.
 
A knife for self defense lol. Most attackers just drop dead because of my sexy good looks (or lack thereof).

I don't think it makes a difference which way you sharpen, as long as you sharpen it. I dip my blades in radioactive poison gummi bear juice just to make sure my victims are dead.
 
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