obsessive about sharpness?

Runs With Scissors

Runs With Scissors

Joined
Dec 3, 2000
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I have this affliction goin' on, where I go and buy all these nice purty lil' knives, with good steel blades of the 154CM, 440V, tool steels, etc. type materials that can hold an edge longer than nother steels, etc.

Thing is, I'm learning that's possibly overkill for me due to my horribly obsessive habit of running off and resharpening my knife the very instant it ceases to be hair popping sharp. Not that I'm afraid to use my knives, quite the opposite, I use them every chance I get. (maybe some subconscious justification of the money I spend on them?) But the moment I realise the blade doesn't make hair jump off my forearm it NAGS AND NAGS AND NAGS in the back of my mind. So, then once my workday is done, or I return from a fishing/camping trip etc. it's like I walk in the door, give the wife a polite kiss, and immediately go get my Sharpmaker so I can bring my knife back to where it should be. It doesn't matter if I haven't eaten in over a day, slept in over a full 24 hours, etc. I MUST bring the edge back ASAP!!

It's not like the knife is unusable, it's still got plenty of cutting ability left, but It drives me up the damn wall if the blades not shaving sharp. I've learned to travel with the pocket size sharpening stones in order to work around this odd habit of mine.

So, anyone else put themselves through this kind silliness?
 
For me it's another issue not that I want to sharpen a dull knife, being known as a knife knut, everyone expects all my knifes to be shaving sharp, and I'm obligated to keep them in this condition because if I don't they never let me live it down. The nice thing about having a large collection that ranges from old slipjoints from the 20's up to tactical folders with modern alloys from the 90's-2000's I have a lot to sharpen without oversharpening any of my EDC's.
 
What silliness? I usually keep several sharpening tools and a strop in my office desk and another hone or two in the car. Why should I wait until I get home to sharpen? It is imperative that I uphold my reputation and have the sharpest knife anyone has ever seen on me at all times.

One result is that I favor AUS-8, AUS-10, VG-10, BG42, and Sandvic 12C-27 for stainless alloys since they take the best bragging edge. It also makes simple carbon steels attractive since they strop up to scary sharp.
 
I take a more balanced approach because I don't want to over-sharpen my knives either. By that I mean removing metal unnecessarily when a simple steeling (for example) will do to return the edge to my satisfaction. So I sharpen a little less now, but I'm enjoying it more...
 
Yep, I hear ya! I just have to have them sharp. I have really learned to hate that fiberglass reinforced packing tape. That stuff is just brutal on a shaving edge. Drives me nuts! :mad:
 
Runs With Scissors, I'm on the same bandwagon as you! My EDC knives MUST have a shaving edge on the blades. As soon as my Spydie Military fails to shave hair, I am utterly frustrated until I get home and break out my 204. While it still does have a great utility edge, without it being able to shave hair I am just not content. You know what I mean? :(

I'm proud to have that razor edge on my knives. Even though it is not hard to keep a good edge at times, I have a habit of touching up the edges every night. ;)
 
Hello everyone, my name is Kurt Maloney and.. I'm a sharpness addict. It all started when I got a Lansky, then I started hitting the hard stuff when I got a Spyderco Sharpmaker. Now I'm over the edge with an Edge Pro and diamond stones and steels. I'm even starting to look at belt grinders now, the sickness knows no bounds!

Whew, I feel better now :) ;) . Seriously, I know the feeling. I've got a few knives I recently dulled up on a field exercise and it's been in the back of my mind to work on them ever since we got back.
 
I can't stand to have a knife less sharp than I know it can be. Especially since I got my sharpmaker. I can put on a damn sharp edge with bench stones freehand, but the 204 makes it so easy to keep em that way.

I just got the diamond rods for it last night, I might really be in trouble now.

jmx
 
Some people wash their hands dozens of times per day. I heard of one fellow who shinned his shoes several times per day. And now people who sharpen their knives constantly.

Whatever it is, it all goes by the same name: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Sorry guys, but sometimes a spade is, in fact, a spade.
 
No, it doesn't all go by the same name. There's Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and then there's Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder which is a whole 'nother ballgame.

Plus, there are other impulse control disorders, and a host of other crap.

Go consult your DSM-IV for fun reading. :D

Anyway, even the best doc wouldn't be making diagnoses based on the replies in this thread. Especially since doing so would be unethical.
 
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