One knife can cut paper easy but can't shave hair; but another one is the opposite

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s.c.

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Mar 2, 2003
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I just got done touching up my Falkniven S1 (convex edge) and it can cut paper effortlessly with very smooth cuts. However, it has difficulty shaving the hair off my arm. Yet, my Spyderco Swick 2 is hair popping sharp but doesn't cut paper as smoothly. What gives? Is this a matter of grind, blade style, steel?
 
I'm not much of an expert in these things. So, just guessing your sl would has more of a saw type blade patten. Mainly, because of the type of steel used. For instance it would also slice meat very well.
try a rope mush cut test with it. It probably wouldn't work very well...as it's a saw patten.

Could have something to due with the weight. If it were to shave your arm it just might take some meat with it...if you press hard enough?

ask yourself this. do I want to cut paper with my knives or meat?

to get that s1 super shaving sharp. you'll need some mad sharpening skills...It is possibe to achive shaving sharp with it.

/awaiting an experts opinion on this though.
just my best guess here.
 
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Sounds like you either rolled the fallkniven or didn't get to the edge. The spidie sounds like a coarse edge that's been polished ie. factory edge.

Paper cutting is a poor judgment of sharpness, blade and edge types will also have huge influences on how the knife cuts paper.
 
No expert but here is my guess. I think it might have to to with the types of edges and grind. Also the edge thickness might play a roll in this.
 
Psycoman said:
ask yourself this. do I want to cut paper with my knives or meat?
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I don't think meat would cut paper very well. :D

I'm guessing I rolled the S1 as well. I'll use it around the yard tomorrow and try again.
 
I am thinking you rolled the edge as well. See if you can shave LEFT and RIGHT handed. I am guessing it will shave one way and not the other
 
I checked all of mine about a week ago. I had 5 out of about 60 that would shave but not cut paper. One was so sharp I hated to touch it. The hair would jump off your arm if you got it close. Anyhow. I set the angle to 20 deg per side, reprofiled, and honed. Now they cut paper and hair like crazy. I'm thinking rolled edge too. One of mine was pretty thin from honing by hand.
 
But.... when you cut paper and the blade glides through any piece of paper of all thicknesses and types, then you know you have a superbly sharp knife. I am talking about the ones that do not make a sound when going through the paper and you feel absolutely no resistance... you know you have a superbly sharp knife...
 
knifenut1013 said:
Paper cutting is a poor judgment of sharpness, blade and edge types will also have huge influences on how the knife cuts paper.
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This right here.

I spent all night with my Kershaw Needs Work, my Benchmade Kulgera and a phonebook going, "Why can't I get the Benchmade to push-cut a full page!"

I went through an entire phonebook, so I moved on to shaving tests. The Kulgera would shave with barely any pressure at all, would shave very close and the entire patch it ran across. The Needs Work, not so much...

Not saying "Wow, the Kulgera must have been way sharper," but it was certainly sharper than I thought given the results with the paper.
 
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