New BK2 sharpness?

H

hmbeal

Joined
Apr 4, 2007
Messages
22
Well I just received my new BK2 and love the overall shape size and feel of the knife. It came sharp enough to shave the hair on my arm but it doesn't cut through paper all that well. I know cutting paper is no big deal but I was wondering if this is because of the thickness of the blade or should I just sit down with my sharpmaker and try to touch it up. The only reason I ask is when I got my BK7 last week it is by far the sharpest knife I have ever had and just expected the BK2 to be the same. Be nice guys I'm a newbie to knives and am getting hooked big time, so bad I'm already looking at adding a BK9 and I haven't even had a chance to use the 2 I already have.
 
I can't help ya too much, but if someone does have some input, would it be best to sharpen Beckers ( they have a 20 degree edge angle right? ) on the sharpmaker using the 30 degree setting or 40?
 
If it shaves, it should be sharp. Maybe theres a burr left ?
Hold it against the light, you should be able to see it if it's there.

@Vanguard: Other than the neckers (11&14), the edge angle is 20° per side, so the 40° setting would be right.
 
I touched mine up when I got mine but, for most purposes, it was plenty sharp. Sharpened or not, post some pictures of that thing in use.
 
C_Becker said:
If it shaves, it should be sharp. Maybe theres a burr left ?
Hold it against the light, you should be able to see it if it's there.

@Vanguard: Other than the neckers (11&14), the edge angle is 20° per side, so the 40° setting would be right.
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I see thank ya sir!
 
When mine came in, it was also hair shaving sharp. I touched her up with a leather belt and Green compound. It is hair shaving sharp and will slice through paper with basically the weight of the blade.
 
TheSharpLife74 said:
It isn't shaving the paper as well because of the thickness of the knife.
But touching it up can't hurt it;)
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I have to disagree.......

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Ok, regarding the factory edge, there's a burr. I don't have to see it to know its there. I've handled hundreds of BKT and Kabar knives, all if not most still have some form of burr on them, mostly, because they are coarse ground edges, with a mild buffing.

Its just the way it is sometimes. The reason why it won't cut paper, is that burr is either folded, keeping it from a push cut, or draw cut.

A quick stropping on a strop, cardboard, or keychain, will sort it out.

I really don't notice or even mind factory edges, its the first thing to go on my knives.

Moose
 
Thanks for the replies I will try stropping it with something, I don't have a strop but will try and use a belt and see if that works.
 
@hmbeal I just received a new bk2 as well and had the same results as you (shaving hairs sharp, not slicing paper). As some of the guys have said I touched it up with my dmt folder and some cardboard and it slices paper with no problems. I'm excited to see how well it holds up.
 
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:eek:
Well apparently I need to work on my sharpening skills because I have never had my 2 shave paper like that.
I just thought it was cuz of the thickness that it didn't shave paper to well...
 
Well I stropped the blade a bit and was able to feel the blade hanging up in a couple different spots. Hit it a bit with my sharpmaker but couldn't get rid of all the rough spots. I was able to make some nice paper curls like Moosez45 with most of the blade but there is still a rough spot that will take some extra work. By the way my BK7 came sharp enough to make those pretty little curls right out of the box.
 
TheSharpLife74 said:
:eek:
Well apparently I need to work on my sharpening skills because I have never had my 2 shave paper like that.
I just thought it was cuz of the thickness that it didn't shave paper to well...
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No worries, I'm a sharpening phenom. :D

Guide systems, when used properly, work wonders.

hmbeal said:
Well I stropped the blade a bit and was able to feel the blade hanging up in a couple different spots. Hit it a bit with my sharpmaker but couldn't get rid of all the rough spots. I was able to make some nice paper curls like Moosez45 with most of the blade but there is still a rough spot that will take some extra work. By the way my BK7 came sharp enough to make those pretty little curls right out of the box.
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Like I said, coarse ground edges, done by hand, no less. The folks at Kabar do their best to ensure the best product they can, but they don't spend much time on the edges.

I never pay them much attention, and have never seen a factory edge that I would be "happy" with, well, except my Hogue EX01, that baby came perfect, right out the gate. Even toting the polishing I put on mine.

I did nothing to the edge when this pic was taken....

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Moose
 
Not that Moose needs backup, but that Bk2 should be a paper shaver. Any piece of carbon steel should take a ridiculous edge. I consider my knives dull unless they cut paper cleanly with no jaggies. Stroppadoodledoo.
 
Well here is my conclusion, I got a used and returned knife. I worked on that edge for a while tonight and it just never felt right, so I got out a sharpie to see if I was actually hitting the right angle and I'm not hitting the edge. I'm thinking that someone bought it and tried sharpening it with something other than a 20 degree angle as I haven't had any troubles like this before. Not only that after looking at the package it just looks used. Oh well no big deal I have a Smiths Abrasives guide kit coming in the mail that has a couple diamond stones and a 20 degree angle that I'll rework the edge to. I have gotten it pretty good but I can still see just a little sharpie right on the edge so I know I'm not hitting it just right.
 
Any way to take pics of the edge, box and where did you get it from?

Moose
 
I could sure try but I only have a cell phone camera that isn't that good. I bought it from an online retailer not sure if I can name places without checking the rules but its a pretty big book seller as well. One other thing that made me think it might have been a return job was cardboard around the knife was kinda bent up and the sheath I thought would have been shipped in a plastic bag from some of the unboxing videos I have seen. I don't really mind if it is as long as I can get a good edge on it, who knows maybe Ill experiment with a convex edge with this one and see how it turns out and just buy another one. Like I said I think I'm hooked on these beckers, they have such a rugged beauty about them.
 
hmbeal said:
I could sure try but I only have a cell phone camera that isn't that good. I bought it from an online retailer not sure if I can name places without checking the rules but its a pretty big book seller as well. One other thing that made me think it might have been a return job was cardboard around the knife was kinda bent up and the sheath I thought would have been shipped in a plastic bag from some of the unboxing videos I have seen. I don't really mind if it is as long as I can get a good edge on it, who knows maybe Ill experiment with a convex edge with this one and see how it turns out and just buy another one. Like I said I think I'm hooked on these beckers, they have such a rugged beauty about them.
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Eh, you can't hurt it. Give'em hell.

Moose
 
hmbeal said:
I could sure try but I only have a cell phone camera that isn't that good. I bought it from an online retailer not sure if I can name places without checking the rules but its a pretty big book seller as well. One other thing that made me think it might have been a return job was cardboard around the knife was kinda bent up and the sheath I thought would have been shipped in a plastic bag from some of the unboxing videos I have seen. I don't really mind if it is as long as I can get a good edge on it, who knows maybe Ill experiment with a convex edge with this one and see how it turns out and just buy another one. Like I said I think I'm hooked on these beckers, they have such a rugged beauty about them.
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I've had the same problem [reselling used] with Amazon also, I'd call or email and ask politely for a refund of 50% explaining Exactly as you have here...
Then it's worth it to play around with the edge, but if we Do NOT complain it will be Business As Usual for Them in the future....Good Luck and Happy New Year, Dave
PS- I'm waiting for the BK2 ordered from Them as we speak, let you know how they Play me...
 
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