Question for Mr Becker

wildnewfie

wildnewfie

Joined
Feb 23, 2012
Messages
868
Recently I was able to grab another bk5, this being a blackjack version and when it arrived I was surprised to see it was a convex grind. I do appreciate convex grinds and do put them on all my blades but I have to wonder why the Kabar version is a traditional 20/20 grind vs the convex which really makes the bk5 cut better. It is a great design but the cutting edge geometry makes a huge difference. So my question is was the change in grind angle due to Kabar requirements or a change in preference to cutting angle?

Also I would love to see a spirit run of bk5 in D2 or 440 or s30v with the convex grind ... Just saying... Thanks again for the great blades.
 
I know that this was not directed at me, but I would likeep to weigh in.

The convex grind was likely too costly, in terms of labor hours, to get right. When someone is used to sharpening a knife at a certain angle, (as most, if not near all) hitting that angle or Very close to it is much easier. That causes the employee to not have to worry about edge heat and counting passes as much.

-hit your angle
-apex knife
-flip
-wash, rinse, repeat
-move on to next knife.

If each knife had to be convexed, it would risk hitting the flats with slack belt sharpening, (more) uneven grinds since the blade may be laid more flat, fully apex'd spots with a chance of non completely apex'd or burned edges.
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That being said, I did convex my thinned 5, but it was by hand and it will cleanly pass the hair cut test.
- hair cut test is a hair pulled down over a blade edge facing up and the pressure exerted on the hair will cut said hair.
 
The blackjack bk5 is scary sharp. From the seller it shaves hair. I did strop it cause I have too much time on my hands and now it is beyond scary sharp... Pretty sure it will be the most bad ass camp blade at the next weekend atv run.

And yea I agree it does take more time to put a good convex edge on a blade but to be honest if the bk5 cost another $10-20 and came with the convex I would gladly pay it as it makes the knife so much better.
 
It's probably not just cost. Most customers don't know the first thing about sharpening, and find it much easier to maintain a 20/20 if they do. Not that many people know how to maintain a convex, and the bulk of those that do, know how to reprofile it anyways.
 
I feel that field sharpening a convex edge is much easier... Just about everyone wears a leather belt so you can strop it. Even without a compound you can bring it back easy enough. Granted a rolled edge or dent is much harder to fix.
 
wildnewfie said:
I feel that field sharpening a convex edge is much easier... Just about everyone wears a leather belt so you can strop it. Even without a compound you can bring it back easy enough. Granted a rolled edge or dent is much harder to fix.
Click to expand...

Yes that's what I meant. Let's say you are out in the woods for a weekend and you damage your blade, you can easily fix a chipped or rolled blade with a stone.

A well maintained v shaped edge or compound bevel works fine for me. Maybe one day I'll find a work sharp for cheap and buy it but I've never not been able to do something because of lack of convexing.
 
convexed would have to be "by hand" and it's going to cost you more than $25 per knife, i would expect

over 30 years of observation, no matter what people say, y'all are "value conscious" and don't pay for that stuff if you don't have to

KaBar has had a few runs, and they did sell out, but not with quite the enthusiasm you'd think, so, you know, imho, they are leery of stuff like that "for cheap"

now, if you had a chance, to get what you want, and were willing to pay appropriately? that would work :D

let's face it. i know 20 guys that cheap out on their "kit knives" and will spend $9000 on a special. split the difference now and then.
 
Back when Round Eye Knife & Tool had a shop in Amherst Ma., I almost traded making a knife for a Blackjack Vorpal-zero ground convexed "short sword", really-I remember the guy saying they were discontinuing them because the guys buffing them were getting hurt too often. Dunno if that's true but I do enough convex blades to believe it.
 
That is why the Vorpal was discountinued.....buffed/bright polished finish on a convex edge= dangerous issue.....
 
The simple answer is, I suppose, cost of worker training, time and scrap rate...... By the time you are ready to convex, you have a bunch of money tied up in the blade..... Convexing is both time consuming and subject to plenty of human error..... Each screw up and I have personally screwed a bunch up myself, Subtracts from the proverbial" bottom line" and drives unit cost up...Waaay up .... Better and cheaper for you to find someone who will do it on an aftermarket basis......

Ethan
 
Thank you for the reply Mr Becker. I figured it was a cost thing. I have since put a convex edge on my newer bk5 and it cuts well just not as good as the blackjack version.... That thing cuts like a light saber
 
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