• The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
    Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
    Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.

  • Today marks the 24th anniversary of 9/11. I pray that this nation does not forget the loss of lives from this horrible event. Yesterday conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was murdered, and I worry about what is to come. Please love one another and your family in these trying times - Spark

Knife Sharpener

M

Merost

Joined
May 16, 2009
Messages
160
I'm looking for a sharpening system, probably a clamp-type, that I can pack on outings. Anyone use the GATCO Backpacker? Also considering the DMX or Lansky. Advice?

On a related side note -- anyone know if clamp-type sharpeners work well with a scandi grind blade, like that on a Mora?
 
I like the Spyderco Sharpmaker with the addition of their diamond rods. They can be used as either a "V" style sharpener or as a bench stone (scandi or chisle sharpening)depending on the situation.
 
The best backpacking sharpener I have found is a Siguy.

Comes with a variety of colored nails and practicaly carries himself on hikes!

Can't cook for crap though...
 
As knifenut said, go with the DMT Diafold MagnaGuide. It's light, inexpensive, has a wide range of grits, adjusts to 7 different angles, and the Diafold sharpener (which contains two different grits) can be used freehand. While I still use my larger stones on occasion, it's the MagnaGuide that I use most often. A few minutes with the MagnaGuide, followed by a quick stropping, puts a shaving sharp edge on a knife. It's easy to carry in the field, and weighs next to nothing. I use it on everything from pocket knives (MagnaGuide) to machetes (freehand). It's a great tool.
 
tonym said:
The best backpacking sharpener I have found is a Siguy.

Comes with a variety of colored nails and practicaly carries himself on hikes!

Can't cook for crap though...
Click to expand...

LMAO...:D That cracked me up!

I'd agree that the clamps won't work on your scandi because the settings won't go low enough. If you did use the clamps, you would probably end up adding an extra bevel by accident.

I carry a spyderco double duty, it's basically a pocket stone that is ceramic, so it doesn't need water or oil to use it. I keep mine in a little pouch when I'm out and about and it's great for touch-ups. It's like this one here: http://www.jsknivesnmore.com/pocket-stones-p-5061.html

I hope that helps, J.
 
Another alternative is to just carry a small double-sided strop, like the compact ones sold by Knives Ship Free. Even non-convex blades can be freshened up on one in the field (I use one on my folders fairly regularly).
 
I also use one of the small Spyderco stones. Mine is a fine only, though, not the double-grit one that J posted about above. The double stuff would be nice, have thought about getting one or two myself.
 
I have a sharpmaker at home, and one of those little folding DMT sharpeners in my pack for field use. Seems to work nicely for my purposes
 
I'm thinking that when I get my scandi that I have on order of just using the sharpmaker stones free hand. I've never sharpened a scandi, would there be a problem using the triangular stones free hand?
 
Not at all, the red one is all you need and it will fit in about anywhere. I bought my first one about 18 years ago at a gun show. They work really well on 90 percent of the knives that I have used them for. They won't hurt your blade and my son who is a chef, uses them on most of his kitchen knives with no fear. One of them will last for years.

Another thing that works great for me is a little homemade sharpener. It is just a piece of wood, 3/16 inch thick. four inches long and 3 inches wide. I put a thin piece of craft foam rubber on one side with a 2000 grit piece of wet and dry fastened on with spray adhesive. This will touch up any convex edge quickly. On the other side, I just put carpet tape on and another piece of 2000 grit. This works very, very well on Sandi or flat ground edges. It fits in my shirt pocket. I might make another with like 800 or 1000 grit for a bit faster cutting.
 
Last edited:
Before becoming a fan of convexing, I had a Lansky for years, but didn't care for it much. Then I got the Spyderco Sharpmaker, and it works fantastically well. Like the others here I highly recommend it.

For my Scandi grinds, I actually prefer this sharpener believe it or not. I set it down and push or pull the blade across the stones. It works great. Made by Dexter/Russel, but my brother gave me mine as it was sitting for years in a commercial kitchen and was never used. I guess no-one knew how to use it.

dexterrussell-3way-pic.jpg
 
I have used a Spyderco "double stuff" for 12 years and it is simply awesome. I have never used a flat stone that works as well as this one:)
 
you can do a scandi on one rod guide system, but it's not a clamp. It's called the apex and it is THE BOMB.

I have taken one on supported camping trips, but I generally don't.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top