keeping a knife sharp in the field

[ecks]

Ragnar sells nice cheap 2 sided diamond "cards"
http://www.ragweedforge.com/SharpeningCatalog.html

 

[Erasmus]

The cheap $5 plastic jig that holds the tiny ceramic sticks in an X shape.

 

[lambertiana]

When I go backpacking I carry a DMT diafold fine/XF. Now that I will sometimes carry a Bark River, a leather strop loaded with their black compound on the rough side and their green compound on the smooth side would work well.

If you have convexed edges on a carbon steel knife, you can get creative. One time I sharpened up a convexed blade on a Case Cr-V stockman on a flattened toilet paper roll (the cardboard center) that I found in the dirt. It actually worked very well as a strop.

 

[SkaerE]

can someone please explain to me the idea of "stropping" a knife. hell, just link me to a good tutorial on hand sharpening if you have one bookmarked. i've done some searching and seem to get about 10,000 different ways. you can cut into the block (like slicing off a piece of cheese) you can rub the blade in small circles, etc. then i hear of folks sharpening on cardboard and their drivers side window of their car even (the clouded over edges)

anyhow, to say i'm confused would be an understatement

thanks again folks! i love this place.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Stropping just means to move the blade backward over the abrasive instead of running it forward into the abrasive. Stropping is usually done last as a fine finishing step by most, but you can strop on anything including very coarse abrasives. Joe Talmadge's Sharpening FAQ is a good place to start.

-Cliff

 

[bigbcustom]

can someone please explain to me the idea of "stropping" a knife. hell, just link me to a good tutorial on hand sharpening if you have one bookmarked. i've done some searching and seem to get about 10,000 different ways. you can cut into the block (like slicing off a piece of cheese) you can rub the blade in small circles, etc. then i hear of folks sharpening on cardboard and their drivers side window of their car even (the clouded over edges)

anyhow, to say i'm confused would be an understatement

thanks again folks! i love this place.

Here is a good tutorial that has been referenced many times.

http://drsharpening.com/leatherhone.html

Have fun.

 

[Craig_PHX]

Ragnar sells nice cheap 2 sided diamond "cards"
http://www.ragweedforge.com/SharpeningCatalog.html

That is what I carry in my PSK: small, light, and effective!