Ray Mears sharpening technique vs factory becker

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skjames19

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May 9, 2013
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It hit me while I was watching a Ray Mears youtube video. He was showing how to sharpen a Scandi grind, and he had mentioned that after the initial sharpening of the whole blade, he would give extra attention to sharpening the area right by the handle because that is the most important and most used area for bushcrafting. Now I know Beckers dont come with the best factory grinds, but what I did notice was that the blade portion closest to the handle was MUCH noticeably sharper than the rest of the blade. If Becker did this on purpose, it made me appreciate their attention to detail. Or is this just a conicidence? Has anyone else noticed the same thing with their factory grind?
 
I've never noticed it. IIRC the final grinding and sharpening is done by hand so they are susceptible to human error and imperfections.
 
Can't say that I know how or why for certain, but I think I've noticed this before (esp with my Bk-5 and BK-9), but always attributed it to the type of work done with each zone of edge: e.g. the heel of my bk-9 is sharper than the belly because I chop toward the belly and use the heel only for delicate work. but it would make sense to me that the good folks that literally sharpen knives for a living at Kabar would either consider this or do it automatically.

It could also be a design function because it seems to me that the two blades in question also seem to intuitively sharpen to a greater inclusive angle toward the belly, and narrow toward the point and the ricasso. A wild guess here, but this could be a function of the blade's own balance since they both focus the mass near the front of the grip (making a grip-heavy knife when on the stone.)

But bear in mind, I'm just spitballing here, and am no expert.
 
My Bk2 seemed to be a little sharper down at the start of the edge, I'm guessing because its the starting point on the belt sander when they put the edge on it, idk. I do however like Ray Mears, more so than all the other cocky "survival" dudes! He is more of just an all around Bushcrafter and he doesn't try to force his ways on people like its his way or no way. I can name a few others that do this and it gets under my skin.
 
My BK2 was pretty sharp from factory,but I noticed that shave sharp was more on the front ,around belly,and less on the part near handle. I got new laser engraving version.
 
My 2 had a great working edge on it. That is to say, it wouldn't slice through paper but it decimated any wood I fed it. And that was ok in my book.

I seem to recall it was sharper up near the belly more than anywhere else, of course my grind angels were off too, but that has been fixed now.

Loved my 2 then and still love it now.
 
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