New Endura 4 problems

S

Soupladel

Joined
May 14, 2020
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17
I just received a new Endura 4 today and out of the box, it just isn't as sharp as i would hope/expect it to be.

I mean it has an edge, and it is reasonably sharp, but i have a 6 year old leatherrman charge that is sharper than it. I did post on the official Spyderco forums about this but every time i try to reply now i am told i have been blacklisted!!!

Although i bought it from Amazon, and although the listing had it labelled as a Böker Endura 4, i am 99% certain it is a legitimate Spyderco Endura 4 FRN (FFG blade, G10 steel). I have looked at all the signs such as the style of the clip, depth of the pattern, laser etching of the blade info, locking mechanism being flush with the blade.

So my questions for the experts is what should I do about improving the edge on the blade? I should be clear i am hopeless with stones but i am also obsessive about getting the edge just about perfect, so i really don't have the patience to "learn" how to use to stones properly as i am not convinced i would get there. So i am hoping someone might give me recommendations on reasonably low cost guided solution for improving this blade?

I have been looking at the Lansky system as being a possibility, naturally on the official forums they recommended the Spyderco sharp maker, which i am not ruling out but my research to this point suggests it is great for honing a blade, but not so great for re-profiling where required.
 
Lansky would be a good start. Follow the instructions and go slow. Use a sharpie to paint the edge so you are able to see if you are grinding to the apex.

Spyderco Sharpmaker is excellent for maintaining the edge once its profiled to the angle you want.

Spyderco Enduras are fantastic knives. Once you use it a few times it becomes clear they were designed to excel as an EDC tool.
 
If i went with the Lansky, given its smallest angle is 17 degrees, i am not going to make a mess of my new knife?

I have read elsewhere that the VG10 steel on the Endura is better suited to the 15 Degrees of the factory angle, given mine clearly needs a bit of help out of the box, would i be safer going with the sharp maker?

Ideally i don't want to then have to then buy a lansky after the sharp maker.

my end goal with this knife is scary sharp with a nice mirror like edge :-)
 
Mirror edges will require more than what those two systems offer.

Your going to have to put in some time and work learning to sharpen if you want a mirror edge.

KME makes a good guided system that is much more precise than a Lansky. You will also need strops and compounds to polish.
 
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With the Lanksy, just because it says 17 degrees on the thing doesn't mean you're getting 17 degrees. Usually it will be nothing close and will typically be different at the heel, belly, and tip, and then be noticeably different on the other side. Lanksys are notorious for uneven and inconsistent bevels. The largest fundamental problem with a Lansky is how shallow it is from front to back. It's simple physics and it's an inexpensive sharpener. You get what you pay for.

A KME is a significant upgrade and a significant price increase. At that price, you'd be wise to look at what else is available. TSPROF catches my eye more than any other system.

For the prices of those systems you can easily buy a good sharpening stone progression, plus a burner knife for practice, and have money to spare. Spyderco makes some amazing bench stones as well.

If you cant use bench stones and want to minimize costs while getting really good results, get the Spyderco Sharpmaker.
 
Hi Soupladel,

Welcome to our forum. Doesn't sound right on the edge. I guess you could send it to us. Why were you blacklisted?

sal
 
I am not sure on the black listing, but I had tried to post photos in their subforum to clarify if the knife is real or fake and it identifies my post as spam, then any subsequent attempts at posting I got a warning saying I had sent too many forms and to try again after a few minutes, then after waiting I got a message saying sender blacklisted when trying to posted.

however I completed a “contact us” form and I seem able to pair again, albeit with every post pending moderator approval
 
Ok, confession time, I am not entirely a noob to knives, but I don’t think I had ever realised the damage cardboard can do to a Knife Edge. When my Endura arrived I used it to shred the amazon hard card envelope package it came in and it was from this point the edge wasnt what I expected.

I have run it through the ceramic side of a blade medic and things are much much better, I have also ordered the Sharpmaker and a strop.
 
Get the diamond or cbn rods for the sharpmaker. They will reprofile the blade. I've used them for S30v, 20cv, and m4, they'll eat vg10s lunch. Reprofile to 15 degrees, microbevel with the brown stones at 40 degrees. It will be stupid sharp then!
 
Your thread title is “ new endura 4 problems”

The problem being what?
That the knife was less sharp AFTER you used it?

Seems you’re just looking for sharpening advice.
Nothing wrong with that, but maybe change your thread title.
 
Rusty_shackelford said:
Your thread title is “ new endura 4 problems”

The problem being what?
That the knife was less sharp AFTER you used it?

Seems you’re just looking for sharpening advice.
Nothing wrong with that, but maybe change your thread title.
Click to expand...

no not at all, initially when I posted I thought I had a problem, hence the title of the post, but since realising I briefly used it on cardboard I have realised that a *possible* explanation for my problem was said cardboard.

However, I am looking for confirmation this is the likely cause and that something else isn’t going on with a knife that seems to have become blunter after only a very brief use
 
Soupladel said:
no not at all, initially when I posted I thought I had a problem, hence the title of the post, but since realising I briefly used it on cardboard I have realised that a *possible* explanation for my problem was said cardboard.

However, I am looking for confirmation this is the likely cause and that something else isn’t going on with a knife that seems to have become blunter after only a very brief use
Click to expand...

Sending it in to spyderco is probably your best bet.
Might cost you a couple of bucks, but you’d at least know for sure.
Plus they’d prob send it back really sharp.

Good luck
 
Soupladel said:
I thought spyderco blades were factory sharpened at 15?
Click to expand...

Close. But my sharpmaker is actually at 28 degrees instead of 30 so I reprofile to make sure everything is good to go.

I've been freehanding more lately though, but still use a spyderco medium bench stone for my final edge. Coarse diamond and then medium ceramic makes for a very sharp knife!
 
Thick Cardboard is an edge distroyer. Even steels like m390 can be dulled qickly by it. I am not surprised a bit that after a few cuts of hard cardboard your vg10 Endura is no longer sharp.
 
Soupladel said:
If i went with the Lansky, given its smallest angle is 17 degrees, i am not going to make a mess of my new knife?

I have read elsewhere that the VG10 steel on the Endura is better suited to the 15 Degrees of the factory angle, given mine clearly needs a bit of help out of the box, would i be safer going with the sharp maker?

Ideally i don't want to then have to then buy a lansky after the sharp maker.

my end goal with this knife is scary sharp with a nice mirror like edge :)
Click to expand...

Drive for show and putt for dough... (golf saying)

I started with the Lansky...
Then the KME
Then Free Hand (brutal, took 3 years to get the hang of it)
My Spyderco Endura in ZDP 189 caused me to upgrade to the KME with Diamond stones.
I practiced on thrift store kitchen knives (Free hand) and $5.00 Walmart blades with the KME.
Scary sharp and a mirror edge came quickly on the KME with the lapping film kit.

Recently I discovered that stopping at 400-600 grit gets me a scary sharp longer lasting edge.
10-12 years into the hobby I am coming to love 3 grits and done...
Mirror edge KME finish to impress my friends.

If sharp is your goal you can get it with the Lansky and pratice.
For the mirror get the KME and lapping film. (or send it out to someone)

The fun part is in playing with it. Good Luck : ) Enjoy your Endura I love mine.
 
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