my 2nd knife project

P

pdels

Joined
Dec 15, 2008
Messages
4
hello to all on this forum. I'm just getting here and am looking for some good advice on what my options are at this point. I wish I would have found you guys earlier.

I am trying to put an edge on an old knife my Grandfather left to me. Let me start by saying that i regret to have taken and angel grinder to it many years ago(my first knife project), when I was only a stupid boy. Now i'm a stupid big boy. Two days ago I started with 24 grit sand paper removing the cuts that the grinder stone had put deep into the blade on the side that says Arkansas toothpick. I have just finished up with 1200 grit and want to keep going to now take out those relatively minor scratches from what was there. Unfortunately there is no more writing left on the 8 and quarter inch blade. It's still 3/16 thick at the spine. i'm guessing I took the steel down just past the engraving with my 24-1200 grit hand sand sytem. The blade is just a hair under 1" from spine to what used to be a dull edge. now its even less of an edge. I guess 1" width is pretty standard for this blade.

Last night a brother of a friend looked at my knife. . He has a standard lasky sharpening system. we determined the knife was too thick for it. His stones also looked to fine for the angels I think I now need to cut.

I don't want to take the knife anywhere and have it done. I've put too much work into cleaning it up. Besides, I don't know anyone or anywhere to take it. I screwed it up and now many years later I want to put my own edge on it now that it's polished up.

What do you think I should do? what system do I need? what angles should I put it at?
 
Sharpening free hand is a fading art but if you want to try DMT diamond hones are the way to go. For a guided system the spyderco sharpmaker and the edge pro seem to be king of the hill. Do a lot of research and practice on cheap knives its the only way to learn.

There are also many people here that have expectional sharpening skills that you could send the knife to.

The edge angle you put on a blade need to relate to the knife and its uses.

P.S. Welcome to bladeforums
 
Thanks Knifenut,

I would like to know how to sharpen freehand. I do have a slight problem in how long it might take me to learn. A friend gave me a deer he gutted this morning. It's frozen in my backyard.Not sure how long the freeze will stay. the only other knives i have are tiny pocket knives. I plan to go out in the next few days and kill and gut my first deer. Time is running out for me as i leave for Christmas vacation soon. Should I just go out and get a knife at wal-mart to do this or do you think it's worth trying to get an edge on this project knife.

What edge angle do I need to gut and butcher a deer using this knife? Or is this not the knife to use? should I just go get another one and wait on the toothpick?
 
Not sure what knife you have so I couldn't say how well it will work. If you want you can use sandpaper to sharpen.
 
I used sandpaper and got a really sharp edge. Half way through a chicken it was dull.

My knife says (or used to say till it was sanded off) made in germany. with the number and letters 8BR on the blade.

this is the closest thing I could come up with so far mine has a wood handle:

Linder Knife "Arkansas Master Toothpick Bowie Knife"
Made in Solingen Germany
Order # L241120

Linder quality bowie knives. "Arkansas Master Toothpick" one just like Jim Bowie and his brother Rezin Bowie used. High Carbon Stainless steel blade. Brass double guard and pommel. Genuine stag handle. Quality Linder brown leather belt sheath. A Great knife and very popular.

Features:
Make and Model: Linder Master Toothpick Bowie
Blade Material: 440 Stainless
Handle Material: Genuine Stag
Blade Type: Long Bowie Clip Point
Blade Length: 8"
Overall Length: 12-3/4"
Weight: 9.8 oz
 
I would get a different knife for skinning.
 
tonite I just bought a buck 110 for 27.00 at wal-mart. this seems to me a good all around knife. is this a good skinner? I also bought a smiths sharpening system to see if this will work on my big knife. I don't think the course diamond stone is coarse enough and i don't think the angle is enough. there is only a setting for 20 and 25 degrees. The kit was $39.00. I guess i'll take it back. I need a finer stone for it too. any experience with these sharpening kits?

thanks for the replies
 
knife nut this seems like a great place i know a fair amount about good steel and sharpening and i think your right about hand sharpening. i have a sherade bear paw lb7 and i use a arkinsaw granite oil stone to sharpen it so i can shave. but the best thing ive ever seen for sharpening is a buffing wheel and actual diamond polishing compound for polishing diamonds.A friend sharpens his already razor sharp broadheads to a unbelivable sharpness like ive never seen.i can skin a moose and 4 deer before needing to resharpen to bad he only sharpended it once for me now im back to oil again.
 
Another good way is a 1x30 belt sander with various belts. I use diamond compound for stropping and your right it does give some amazing results.
 
pdls i have a premier original bowie with a walnut fingergroved handle hollow ground from soligen germany i was a dummy and bent the tip i dont know if i could fix that i did straighten it some what hard to tell but is by far the best steel in a knife ive ever had hold its edge longer than anything ive ever seen. IS GOOD DAMASCUS BETTER for edge holding sharpness. maybe knifenut can tell me. thanks kellyw
 
Damascus can be good but like all steels its all about the heat treatment.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top