Ratmandu Sharpening

G

Guilo

Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
181
So the edge near the tip of my knife is a different angle than the rest of the blade on my Ratmandu. I went to sharpen it on my stone since I've been using it, but ran into a problem because of the difference on the edge angles. I'd like to reprofile that edge, and was thinking of getting a Spyderco Sharpmaker to make things easier (since I'm a rookie on free-hand sharpening). Do any of you use a Sharpmaker on your Rats? If so, what angle do you use for your blades?

Thanks,
Guilo
 
Guilo said:
So the edge near the tip of my knife is a different angle than the rest of the blade on my Ratmandu. I went to sharpen it on my stone since I've been using it, but ran into a problem because of the difference on the edge angles. I'd like to reprofile that edge, and was thinking of getting a Spyderco Sharpmaker to make things easier (since I'm a rookie on free-hand sharpening). Do any of you use a Sharpmaker on your Rats? If so, what angle do you use for your blades?

Thanks,
Guilo
Click to expand...

I have a Sharpmaker and go with 20deg per side on my pair of RMD's. And yes, they way they're ground the angle is slightly more obtuse on the curved portion. I reprofiled one so that was no longer the case, but it took me a long time even with the diamond stones.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong but don't they have a convex edge. Both of mine did and all I did to resharpen was run it on the strop every so often and it was razor sharp.


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They do have a convex edge, but the edge at the tip of the knife is pretty dull (which I found odd because that's the part of the knife I used the least) and it's going to need more than a strop to fix it.
 
Guilo said:
They do have a convex edge, but the edge at the tip of the knife is pretty dull (which I found odd because that's the part of the knife I used the least) and it's going to need more than a strop to fix it.
Click to expand...

Hmm, then we're talking about a different knife. When did you get yours? I've had both of mine since '07, and they are most definitely not convex.

I know that there has been at least one run of RMD's made in the past year or two that were a bit different from the "originals", for instance on the "new" run the spine on the clip portion is square, on the originals it's swedged.

The only small Rat that I know of that came convex from the shop is the Vex, which I also have (and love).
 
I was pretty sure that they do have a convex edge... it's my first Rat though so I could be wrong. I got mine just recently from a forum member, not sure what year it was made.
 
Was the knife sold to you as mint, unsharpened, or had it been sharpened by the previous owner? It could be that you no longer have the factory edge on it.
 
The factory edge is a v grind. It seems pretty common for them to be a little more steep at the tip.

I'd get some stones and learn to free hand. It's relaxing and not too tough to learn. Good luck!
 
If you are going to be investing money into stones another option, for around the same amount of cash, would be a belt sander. That is if you want to convex your edges. My impression is that many here start with various stones or the sharpmaker and end up purchasing a belt sander after being here some time.
 
My impression is that many here start with various stones or the sharpmaker and end up purchasing a belt sander after being here some time.
Click to expand...

Ok, I'll buy a belt sander. What are the forum favorites?
 
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