Open question to W&SS

Nic Ramirez

Nic Ramirez

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Apr 17, 2003
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I was giving this a bit of thought. So let's say that you find yourself in a survival situation and you have a blade on you that's really dull. How would you go about sharpening it using only natural materials? And before you say "sharpen it on a rock" let's really think about the mechanics of this. Would you find a river stone? What type of rock? (quartz, sandstone, etc.) Would you do anything to prep the stone like grinding two stones together to make the surface smoother? Use water, saliva, a bird's egg for a lubricant as you sharpen?

I'm interested to hear your thoughts about how you would sharpen a knife [including technique] when the chips are down and you're caught in the wild.

[This is a hypothetical to get us thinking. If you need a setting, how about the Pacific Northwest.]

Nic
 
I've always heard smooth, flat, sandstone from a creek bed was a good choice, as for lube I would go for water or spit. I've also heard crushing a rock as fine as possible on top a flat rock also worked
 
It's not that hard. If you've never done any freehand sharpening take an old beat-up knife you don't mind scratching and try it. If you don't have an old beat-up knife get one at a thrift store. You can learn more in a few minutes of experimenting than you'll ever get from asking questions on the net. Try some different rocks. If the knife is really dull you can hardly fail to improve it....
 
I can freehand sharpen to my own satisfaction, but I cannot fathom pulling this off on a found rock. I may need to try it.
 
Cougar Allen said:
It's not that hard. If you've never done any freehand sharpening take an old beat-up knife you don't mind scratching and try it. If you don't have an old beat-up knife get one at a thrift store. You can learn more in a few minutes of experimenting than you'll ever get from asking questions on the net. Try some different rocks. If the knife is really dull you can hardly fail to improve it....
Click to expand...

This. If you have a plan and a particular type of rock you want... you probably wont find one. Just pick some flat-ish rocks up and see what you can make work. For a survival situation, it doesn't have to be a pretty edge. It just needs to cut.
 
The only thing I can add to the above is that if you can get a somewhat decent edge with a rock, there are lots of materials that will function as a strop to help take that edge to the next level. A pair of jeans, a belt, etc.
 
the first knife I ever got hair cutting sharp was on a brick with water I haven't tried any rocks yet but it should work.
edit a leather belt is a great strop.
 
I agree with the two above. Wear a leather belt and strop anytime needed.
 
Stroping, great idea. Didn't think of that, glad I started this thread. Good suggestion on getting some crap knives from a thrift store and trying this. Without ever having tried this, I would think some sort of sandstone would be best.
 
A really dull edge can be brought back to an edge-like surface on concrete. Then find a smoother rock to thin it down and wear it to a finer edge.
 
I'd first use my leather belt and try to strop it back. If I had no belt on, I'd use my pants leg before trying a rock.
 
Why did I have a really dull knife:D

I tried to touch up a Mora on a flat river rock.... like a good skipping stone...... it worked well but not shaving sharp... but good enough to perform some camp chores.
It was pretty dull and rusted before I tried to fix it up.
 
Ive often wondered if I could get two smooth rounded creek rocks, hold them together somehow and then draw the blade through them like those cheap ceramic sharpeners . I guess I can get an old blade and try it.
 
Good question,I'll try the different rocks where I camp the next time I'm out.
My thinking is you don't need to drag the knife edge across the stone,you can drag the stone across the edge instead.(like using a sanding block)
That way you're not limited to a perfectly flat surface,just something you can hold comfortably & safely and rub the opposite side across the edge.
 
If youve ever used a steel to right a cutting edge , its kinda the same principle just with an abrasive .
Ive done it , carried a stone that was good till I found one that was better .
I found that you need a smooth surface .. it doesn't need to be flat , but you do need to be able to use that surface for the whole blade uniformly .
ugly scratches are going to happen , its kinda a given being its a new skill of sorts .
Interesting to me was just fooling around I found that glassy type rocks are simply ultra fine abrasives .. and dont go for a rock that looks coarse .. they kinda can be majorly abusively so to your edge .
 
Most knives can be sharpened quite well on any smooth stone out of a creek. People have been sharpening blades long before the invention of edge pros and other gizmo's. I suspect most Roman legion soldiers and mountain men did not have a selection of Eze-Lap or Japanese water stones in their saddle bags. I second the poster who said to get a thrift store knife and go practice with a rock. You may be surprised.
 
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jackknife said:
Most knives can be sharpened quite well on any smooth stone out of a creek. People have been sharpening blades long before the invention of edge pros and other gizmo's. I suspect most Roman legion soldiers and mountain men had a selection of Eze-Lap or Japanese water stones in their sadle bags. I second the poster who said to get a thrift store knife and go practice with a rock. You may be surprised.
Click to expand...

It's not called an Arkansas stone for nothing. ;)

I've never tried it personally but I have bent a tip back on a piece of glass once. 3v steel even.
 
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