Looking for advice on sharpening an M390 push dagger

V

Valheru

Joined
Sep 1, 2019
Messages
66
Hello everyone,

I just bought a nice little “DPx Gear Hit Push Dagger Assault”. (Link Below). I love the thing but I want sharpness like my Protech godfather.

The trouble is that it’s M390 and my hand sharpener (which works great on stainless blades, high carbon 1095…) isn’t “working”. It’s scratching it up a little and I can’t detect any increase in sharpness

Can anyone recommend a high end “automatic/powered” sharpener? Price is no object.

I know nothing is idiot-proof but I know very little about this and I’m hoping for something idiot-resistant (:

thanks for the help!

DPx Gear Hit Push Dagger Assault Stonewash Titanium (1.5" M390) - Blade HQ

Features: Black stonewashed, dagger blade built from Bohler M390. Black stonewashed, titanium handle. Black leather sheath with a paracord necklace. Description: The DPx Gear Hit is a top-end push dagger built from some of the best materials on the market. The single-beveled, double-edged blade...
www.bladehq.com
 
I think the best bang for the buck powered sharpener is the Ken Onion Work Shop. I use it to sharpen all of my kitchen knives. But it may be a little tricky for a small push dagger. For all of my nicer knives, I use the Wicked Edge. Simple, easy and repeatable.
 
Hey thanks so much for the help. Those both amazing, but I’m leaning toward one of the Wicked sharpeners.

Do you think the Pro Pack 1 would be “good enough” for an amateur collector with ~ 20 knives but none over like $500?

I hadn’t even though about sharpening the wife’s kitchen knives (:

wickededgeusa.com

Pro-Packs

Wicked Edge Pro-Packs include a Wicked Edge precision knife sharpener, bundled together with many great sharpening abrasives and accessories.
wickededgeusa.com wickededgeusa.com
 
Valheru said:
Hey thanks so much for the help. Those both amazing, but I’m leaning toward one of the Wicked sharpeners.

Do you think the Pro Pack 1 would be “good enough” for an amateur collector with ~ 20 knives but none over like $500?

I hadn’t even though about sharpening the wife’s kitchen knives :)
Click to expand...
The Pro Pack 1 would be more than enough. It's a fantastic system and really simple to use. My only suggestion is to sharpen a dozen knives or so. The stones need to break in to perform at their best. So it may take a little longer initially with the leaning curve.

The only other suggestion I have is to buy a digital angle cube to figure out the actual angle being sharpened. It's going to differ based on the knife height and width.
 
tokerblue said:
The Pro Pack 1 would be more than enough. It's a fantastic system and really simple to use. My only suggestion is to sharpen a dozen knives or so. The stones need to break in to perform at their best. So it may take a little longer initially with the leaning curve.

The only other suggestion I have is to buy a digital angle cube to figure out the actual angle being sharpened. It's going to differ based on the knife height and width.
Click to expand...
Awesome I’m going to buy it! I’ll watch some YouTube videos to learn how to use this.

Would this cube be good? https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/Angle-Cube-P684.aspx

There’s a guy at a farmers market here who sharpens knives for $6 a pop. Not a bad little business but that would get expensive in a hurry for sharpening my collection and the kitchen knives.
 
That's the exact cube I use. It's really useful for reprofiling or setting the initial edge. One more but of advice. Set up an Excel spreadsheet and list the height, position and angles used for your knives. Saves a lot of time when you resharpen.
 
Valheru said:
Can anyone recommend a high end “automatic/powered” sharpener? Price is no object.
Click to expand...

kalamazooind.com

1SMVP 1 X 42 INCH BLADE SHARPENING SANDER

The 1SMVP 1 x 42 inch blade sharpening sander is a great tool a variety of settings, including home workshops, machine shops, and manufacturing facilities.
kalamazooind.com kalamazooind.com

Done.

I get my sharpest edges from a HF bench grinder with paper wheels in under 4 minutes.

Even the guided sharpeners take practice. They take setup time, too.
You won't stick with them unless you enjoy sharpening because of the time commitment.
The trick to those guided systems is a Sharpie.
My preference is KME...they have a fantastic KME User FB group. $200 shipped for a diamond kit.

The best sharpening advice is to hone often so you have to rarely sharpen.
I could make an argument that most are better off sending their knives to a professional sharpener, then just getting a honing rod or Sharpmaker to keep them sharp. (that's what I did at first)
You'll save a ton of $ and time.
 
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tokerblue said:
That's the exact cube I use. It's really useful for reprofiling or setting the initial edge. One more but of advice. Set up an Excel spreadsheet and list the height, position and angles used for your knives. Saves a lot of time when you resharpen.
Click to expand...
Great idea! Thanks again for the help
 
Kerneldrop said:
kalamazooind.com

1SMVP 1 X 42 INCH BLADE SHARPENING SANDER

The 1SMVP 1 x 42 inch blade sharpening sander is a great tool a variety of settings, including home workshops, machine shops, and manufacturing facilities.
kalamazooind.com kalamazooind.com

Done.

I get my sharpest edges from a HF bench grinder with paper wheels in under 4 minutes.

Even the guided sharpeners take practice. They take setup time, too.
You won't stick with them unless you enjoy sharpening because of the time commitment.
The trick to those guided systems is a Sharpie.
My preference is KME...they have a fantastic KME User FB group. $200 shipped for a diamond kit.

The best sharpening advice is to hone often so you have to rarely sharpen.
I could make an argument that most are better off sending their knives to a professional sharpener, then just getting a honing rod or Sharpmaker to keep them sharp. (that's what I did at first)
You'll save a ton of $ and time.
Click to expand...
Hey Kerneldrop, thanks for taking the time to help me. You make an excellent point about just having them professionally sharpened.

do you mean sending them to the manufacturer (Microtech, ProTech…) or are there companies that will do this for any knives you send to them? Any ones you’d suggest?

Sorry to ask another question… I have to admit that I don’t know what honing is, how to do it, or what I’d need to buy to do it?
 
Valheru said:
Hey Kerneldrop, thanks for taking the time to help me. You make an excellent point about just having them professionally sharpened.

do you mean sending them to the manufacturer (Microtech, ProTech…) or are there companies that will do this for any knives you send to them? Any ones you’d suggest?

Sorry to ask another question… I have to admit that I don’t know what honing is, how to do it, or what I’d need to buy to do it?
Click to expand...

For honing...check out the Spyderco Sharpmaker. you'll know all about honing once you explore the Sharpmaker.

With a guided sharpener, you still have to know sharpening fundamentals. The guided systems aren't fool-proof where you go from zero to sharpening-hero. They just allow you relax a bit and keep the same degree on the edge. You still have to know sharpening.
Before dropping cash on that Wicked Edge, I would definitely check out the KME Users FB group and see what you think. $200 for a diamond kit. I know you said money isn't an object...but familiarize yourself with sharpening before investing $600 in a kit. Ruixin is even cheaper.

Wicked Edge will be an excellent product IF you use it...

I send my good knives to Traditional Sharpening Services
I sharpen my woods knives with a belt sander and paper wheels.
KME Users FB page has a few pro sharpeners.
 
Hey Kerneldrop, thanks for the great advice. I just ordered the Spyderco from BladeHQ along with a couple cold steel push daggers (my latest knife obsession.)

Does this look like the right one? https://www.bladehq.com/item--Spyderco-Sharpmaker--1859

It might do everything I need! I have a little hand sharpener from Amazon that’s better than nothing but it definitely has its limits, like the aforementioned

Before I read what you wrote, I did kind of think the Wicked would be easy to figure out and I’d be sharpening stuff perfectly in an hour or something.

I think I’ll be sending my “nice knives” to Traditional after reading the glowing reviews on that thread: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/traditional-sharpening-services.1132962/
 
The delay in spending more on a kit or machine is good.
Don't necessarily halt your plan, as much as fully-explore your plan.
Learn more about what's involved and see if it's a journey you want to take.
Sharpening --regardless of the method-- is like any other acquired skill...it requires time and interest.

Send your M390 to Traditional and let Jason show you what sharp looks and feels like.
That way you know the end goal. Then use your Sharpmaker as a hone and keep it sharp.
 
I must admit, I’m rather excited… there isn’t anything much more useless than a dull knife. I might send several knives to him. Do you just do the machine sharpening for $4?

off topic… just picked up a S&W tactical baton and I’m loving it. It’s like 4” long but expands into 12.5” of steel. You could do some serious damage with this thing. I just ordered a 26” Monadnock autolock
 
I'm sure that a professional sharpening service will do a good job, but you'll be without your knives for a time. Not to mention the time it takes to package and send it off. Any guided sharpening system is going to give you a really sharp edge. You want to test sharpness? Cut some paper. That will immediately tell you how sharp your knife it.
 
Weird thought, but since the blade is removable from the handle, maybe you can take the blade out and sharpen the back of the blade flat on a stone or sandpaper backed with glass like hair clipper blades.
 
tokerblue said:
I'm sure that a professional sharpening service will do a good job, but you'll be without your knives for a time. Not to mention the time it takes to package and send it off. Any guided sharpening system is going to give you a really sharp edge. You want to test sharpness? Cut some paper. That will immediately tell you how sharp your knife it.
Click to expand...

I don't disagree and all true and excellent points.
Sharpening --whether guided, freehand, or machine --is a wonderful must-have skill.
 
Before I spent big money I would start with something very simple like this - https://www.worksharptools.com/shop/sharpeners/manual/precision-adjust-knife-sharpener/

It's excellent bang for your buck and there isn't any "in-between" angles you'll miss like some other similar systems. But if I'm being totally honest, you'll eventually want to learn hand sharpening on a bench stone. Doesn't have to be an expensive stone, or an expensive knife.. but taking the time to practice and get a "feel" for it will pay off in spades. Buy a cheap medium grit stone and a mora.. dull it then go to town.

Good luck on your journey!
 
When I had the money to buy a good sharpening system, I spent three days or so researching and looking at photos and videos of every sharpening system that I could find. Not needing electricity was the main criterion. After my research I settled on the Wicked Edge WE130. It got the 'edge' over the Gen 3 Pro because I could profile asymmetrical edges with the WE130. I'm very happy with my decision. And Wicked Edge sharpeners hold their resell value pretty well. There are some guys that have 2 or 3 Wicked Edge vises inline to sharpen filet knives and swords.
 
Kerneldrop said:
The delay in spending more on a kit or machine is good.
Don't necessarily halt your plan, as much as fully-explore your plan.
Learn more about what's involved and see if it's a journey you want to take.
Sharpening --regardless of the method-- is like any other acquired skill...it requires time and interest.

Send your M390 to Traditional and let Jason show you what sharp looks and feels like.
That way you know the end goal. Then use your Sharpmaker as a hone and keep it sharp.
Click to expand...
Wow this Sharpmaker is amazing dude. I even had some success with the M390 dagger. I ran my serrated Microtech Stitch over the honing stone and it is hard to describe how sharp this thing is. I mean it was damned sharp before.

I also used it on some new Cold Steel push blades. Man, the little double edge serrated is crazy sharp now too. It seems to really shine on serrated knives which has always been hard.

Thanks again for the great advice
 
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