RC-5 "shaving sharp"...am I wasting my time?

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vickmacky

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Mar 11, 2010
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I can get my Spuderco and even my Ranger RD-6 to shave hair off my arm but I can not for the life of me get my RC-5 to shave hair. It cuts paper ok but still not as good as my others. Is it because its so think or do I just suck at sharpening? The edge feels convexed so I tried using 1000 and 2000 grit on my strop and it just dulled it. I then took it to my Arkansas stones and got is sharper but again not like my other blades and I've been at it for about 2 days now. Does it even need to be "shaving sharp" anyway?
 
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From my experience, you can hone any good edge to shave hair.

Make sure you strop both sides equally or the the edge will become uneven and you'll have to reset the edge symmetry. That'll be a bit of work.
 
My Rc-5 came "shaving sharp" !!
I have the missing patches of hair to prove it
 
I don't have the RC5...but I haven't had any problems getting any of my ESEE knives sharp enough to shave.
 
I'm getting mine soon, and if it's got a wicked edge ( which I bet it will) , I'll just keep it that way. On some thick knives I have ( BK2 for example) , I've reduced the primary edge a few degrees to help slicing tasks. I know it will never make super-thin slices like the 3 will , just because of edge geometry.
I'll take the 5 for what it is : a heavy-duty survival knife. I won't try to morph it into a samurai slicer. That said, maintaining a consistent sharpening angle does wonders for overall blade perfomance.
 
i Use a spiderco sharpmaker and my ESEE 3, RC4, HEST, IZULA and RC5 are all shaving sharp..no issues.
 
How thick blade stock isn't doesn't affect how sharp the edge can get. You should be able to get it shaving sharp. I agree with awad that you might now be getting the angle or pressure right if it's a newer knife. If that's true and you rounded off the edge, you might have to work on it awhile to get it back to 'pointy'. Do you know the sharpie trick or do you know what a burr feels like?

Whether or not you actually need it to shave depends on what you do with it.
 
I use a ceramic 2000 grit as a hone stone only. A 800 then a 1200 is used first if needed. My RC5 will shave arm hair over the full length of the blade, as will the rest of my RC (ESEE) knives. A consistent angle and pressure is the trick.
 
Then its just me. I will work on it some more. I got it used and I know they come with a flat grind from ESEE and to me it feels like a convexed bevel. Im only good at flat grinds right now:(

BTW: General question, when my green loaded strop is turning black, is that normal? I assume its the "shavings" from the knife making it dirty but it seems to happen pretty quickly.
 
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sounds like it may have a wire edge that you're rolling back and forth.
Try "whittling" a stick to knock that off, then reprofile it back to a flat grind.
good luck!
 
My RC-5 came from RAT sharp enough to de-hair my arm. I have used it quite a bit and have been able to maintain the edge using my strop. Keep working at it my friend.

SB
 
vickmacky said:
Then its just me. I will work on it some more. I got it used and I know they come with a flat grind from ESEE and to me it feels like a convexed bevel. Im only good at flat grinds right now:(

BTW: General question, when my green loaded strop is turning black, is that normal? I assume its the "shavings" from the knife making it dirty but it seems to happen pretty quickly.
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Hrm, I've never stropped a coated ESEE knife, but could the blackness be the coating coming off? Meaning you have it at too low of an angle, and you're just hitting the edge of the backbevel, where the coating starts? That would explain it not getting sharper, right?

I've never really stropped anything, actually, that's just the first thought that popped into my head when he said it's turning black. The the metal particles could do that too.
 
Yes, the steel coming off turns a loaded strop black--happens with all my knives, not just the coated ones.
 
goodeyesniper said:
Hrm, I've never stropped a coated ESEE knife, but could the blackness be the coating coming off? Meaning you have it at too low of an angle, and you're just hitting the edge of the backbevel, where the coating starts? That would explain it not getting sharper, right?

I've never really stropped anything, actually, that's just the first thought that popped into my head when he said it's turning black. The the metal particles could do that too.
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No im sure the angle was not too low to rub off the coating. I was thinking what Kreole confirmed. Thanks. As for the knife, I went out and got a piece of glass and glued some 600 and 2000 wet/dry to it and, while it doesn't shave hair like my little Spyderco, its finally sharp. I accidently:o bumped it on my knuckle with only a little pressure and I now have a 3/8" cut bleeding like a SOB so I think it will do what I need it too. I dont shave anyway:)
 
Over time I've reprofiled my edge to basically a scandi grind and it's pretty rediculously sharp. I don't think this knife needs to be shaving sharp, it's not hard to maintain a proficient slicing edge on the beast.
 
Ask, Dino...we can get anything shaving sharp. This thread makes me want to sharpen a shovel until it will shave just to do it! I've got a belt sander and it works magic but... With a good medium grit diamond hone and a stip of old leather you can get a great edge on anything.

If you want to really get a blistering edge I've found it takes alot more work. But if you are looking for a paper cutting arm hair chaseing edge I'm sure it is attainable. Goodluck!
 
kreole said:
Yes, the steel coming off turns a loaded strop black--happens with all my knives, not just the coated ones.
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This is the reason for the black as Kreole points out. I had a thought about a wire edge as well. if the blade edge has a dull spot under light or catches on your thumbnail when you run the edge (lightly) over your thumbnail then there is something not quite finished. Get an old leather belt and secure one end. Use the rough inner surface like an old barbers strop. This can polish the edge well and remove a feather of the edge. A back of a writing pad, the kind with the rough grey card, also works well as a finishing medium. Just practice and it will result in a long lasting polished edge. Assuming the edge angle is not too small then I have never found a knife to be too sharp!
 
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