My Second Randall

R

rprocter

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Awhile back, i bought my first Randall, a #25-5 with stag handle. I received a great deal of help from Ken Lunde towards understanding these knives and their options, for which i remain most grateful.
I'm not a Randall collector, just a guy with way too many knives who wanted just one example of a Randall to 'round out' my collection of USA Fixed Blades.
Well that was then, now i've bought another. This could be a slippery slope !
The new one, just arrived is a # 3-7 with finger grooved stag handle.
My question is about sharpness. this one is not sharp enough for field use and i would like to give it as a gift to my son for use while hunting.
What is usually needed to get the edge to hair-poppin sharp ?
just stropping, or a complete re-profilinmg of the edge bevel ?
thanks, roland
 
Ceramic crock sticks or light stropping usually works for me... :thumbup:
 
I use anything from the arkansas that came with the knife, to a strop, to ceramics and fine hones, and sometimes a small "butcher" steel that works great in the field.

I bought a lansky years ago, and a few years later stopped using those things. There is no need to reprofile the edge IMO.
 
Thanks. I'll crock it and stone the tip. Just hope i don't create a new, previously unseen, profile. Oh well, i could always use that as an excuse to get another Randall.
roland
 
rprocter said:
this one is not sharp enough for field use and i would like to give it as a gift to my son for use while hunting.
What is usually needed to get the edge to hair-poppin sharp ?
Click to expand...

I've received brand new knives from Randall in the past that were not sharp, and I was very happy with the edges after using the Gatco diamond system. (The more recent knives arrived very sharp, so needed no touch-up.) Have also used this on used knives I have bought.

[URL="http://www.greatamericantool.com/sharpeners.mgi"[/URL]

-Steve
 
I have found the edge of my Randalls to be a great working edge. I have no use in changing the profile of a Randall...thats why I bought a Randall.

With that being said, I was thinking of using a Spyderco Sharpmaker on the 40 degree (20 per side) to keep the edge sharp.

Does anyone use this system for Randalls?
 
I have not yet had time to try to improve the sharpness of my new # 3-7, but post # 2 above and a PM, both instruct to try and true the edge first with either a ceramic rod or stropping before removing any steel.
i.e., do not try a Sharpmaker, stones, or any other abraisive methods until it is found that a ceramic truing of the edge +/or stropping, is not sufficient.
roland
 
I would think the method of sharpening on a sharpmaker (ceramic stones) would fall into line with this thinking.
 
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