Never Been Sharpened - Overated?

I don't worry too much about it. I've picked up some 50 to 60 year old blades and though some scratches were evident they cleaned up nicely and took a razor edge. I even have an old English blade that was originally traded to a trapper at a rendezvous back in the 1830s, shows some scratches but still sharpened up fine.

These are few knives that come out of the box that don't benefit from a bit of edge dressing. I just took a brand new hunting knife to my translucent Arkansas and strop last night.
 
I think it is relatively important for collectors, not so much if you plan on using the knife anyway. If I plan on carrying a knife I generally reprofile it to a 30 degree (total) edge anyway so that I know the touch ups on the Sharpmaker are actaully getting the edge.

I suppose it is relevant to know whether or not the person who sharpened it is competent or not. If I asked how a knife was sharpened and the seller responded that he reprofiled the factory edge down to XX degrees using he EdgePro and then used a XX degree microbevel on the edge, thats awesome - no problem. If he says that he used his dads drill press and a sanding wheel - not so good. :D
 
I agree the sentiments of many that have already posted.

If I am looking for a collector knife, then "never sharpened" is one indicator that the knife is in mint condition.

If I'm purchasing a user knife, then as long as the edge isn't badly damaged, I don't care if it has been used or sharpened. First thing I will do is sharpen it anyway.

Kevin
 
I do use my customs. I still don't want it sharpened by anyone but the maker.
 
I also agree with most of what was said. "Never been sharpened," means that it probably hasn't been used much, if at all, and that someone with mediocre sharpening skills didn't foul up a nice blade :)

It's a whole different story if the person knows what they are doing and like it was stated, used guides and KNOW what the edge angle was that they put on the knife.
 
If I'm buying a knife, I'd just as soon it have its natural edge geometry in tact and prefer that it not be altered by some clown who's tried to sharpen it on a grinding wheel.

In many cases knives will be fine, but saying a knife hasn't been sharpened is a selling point. Reprofiling a knife is a skill that's quite different than just sharpening. Not everyone can adequately repair a knife that's been butchered on a home sharpening system.
 
It's not a big deal to me as I always rebevel my knives to a very thin backbevel and microbevel. Lately I've just been backbevelling to a very thin angle but letting the edge angle raise up as I thin it creating a more pronounced convex than I usually do. Either way I sharpen at thin enough angles to take care of all but the worst scratches from a bad sharpening job. It also helps that I don't much care about scratches on my blades either as I use all of my knives. If I get a user I am usually more happy than getting a NIB knife because I will get a better dealon it. My main things to look for are solid lock up and decent fit and finish. Most bad sharpening jobs can easily be fixed, but I'm not big on dealing with bad lock up. Obviously a collector would not have the same needs as I do, but as a user scratches and a rounded tip from poor sharpening aren't a big deal.

Mike
 
Skimo said:
Why only the maker?
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because a lotta folks who shell out $400, $500 and up, & up, like the edge the 'smith puts on it, which are usually quite good by the way, though i sharpen a lotta my customs i wont touch some, a good example would be a emerson custom with a zero bevel grind,
 
Skimo said:
Why only the maker?
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Because what I am spending THAT much $$$ on a custom knife, I don't want anyone but the maker touching the edge!!! And I like the edge that the maker puts on it in the first place.
 
I just like to know that the guy/girl didn't scratch the thing up. If the aesthetics have been affected, I want the price to be adjusted for that.
 
T.K.C. said:
Because what I am spending THAT much $$$ on a custom knife, I don't want anyone but the maker touching the edge!!! And I like the edge that the maker puts on it in the first place.
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TKC,

Do you ever sharpen any of your knives? If not, you're missing out. It's pretty fun.
 
My collector knives that are complete series pieces are NIB and never sharpened, never carried. My old collector knives I have found here and there have not been sharpened by me. Note: this is a small part of my collection and by large most of my knives are used and sharpened.
 
I got hold of an old slip-joint recently, good order,excellent snap but somebody had raised a hideous burr on the edge...OK this was an old knife and I was able to get it back to decent but it could've been a new or very costly knife.

Incompetent or downright vandalistic sharpening can be a nasty looking business, so, yes unsharpened is generally a good sign.
 
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