M16-04db tanto D2, new to sharpening made my blade worse

[pete675]

So I purchased a M-16 04 DB tanto from crkt. The knife was very dull. I used my ken onion worksharp grinder attachment, followed the instructions and it is only slightly better. I have read that crkt uses a "chisel grind" and you should only sharpen one side?. It is frustrating me that my new "hard use" knife cant cut as well as my chinese knives. I tried to sharpen it and I made the tanto less pronounced and only slightly increased sharpness. I have the stropping belts, does anybody else just sharpen one side and strop the other? If so I'm guessing the side with the factory edge would be the one face down, then strop to remove burr? I figured id ask for advice before I damage the knife.

For those looking to buy the big deadbolt m-16, I had lock issues with my first one that CRKT quickly fixed. What I do is keep the deadboly partially depressed when opening or else the lock would stick this will ensure smoother engagement and release.

 

[3D Anvil]

In the photos I'm looking at it doesn't look like a chisel grind. There appears to be an edge bevel on both sides of the blade.

I'd sharpen a tanto blade like that in two distinct steps to avoid rounding the transition point. Treat that angle in the blade the same way you treat the tip of the blade; don't draw the angle all the way across the belt. When doing the long part, stop before the angle hits the middle of the belt and lift the blade straight up. When doing the short part, set the angle straight down toward the middle of the belt and move toward the tip.

 

[pete675]

Thanks for the advice! I was getting a lot of conflicting information. A lot of people told me as a rule you just sharpen one side of CRKT knives but that did not sound right. I checked the website, they call it a "flat grind" I am gonna give it another whirl (both sides) and work my way to the stropping belts. The instructions say to lay the spine flat on the angle guide but I have seen people say to lay the angled part of the blade on the angle guide. What are your thought?

 

[3D Anvil]

If you lay the blade flat, the angle you set will be accurate. If you lay the primary bevel on the guide your actual angle will be the angle you set plus the angle of the blade’s primary bevel (usually 2-5°). On your knife I’m guessing the primary is close to 5.