Recommended sharpening angle for GEC

[rye_a]

I recently started collecting traditional knives and picked up a few of the GEC #77 patterns. They aren't always as sharp as I like when they arrive, so I'm planning to touch them up on a ceramic rod. Any recommendation for what angle I should use? I use a Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker, so my easiest options are 30* and 40*. Thanks!

 

[Ernie1980]

A lot depends on what you are using the knife for. I keep my traditional knives at around 15 degrees per side for better slicing, but depending on the steel and what you are cutting that type of edge might not last very long. From my experience GEC knives tend to have pretty obtuse edges, sometimes upwards of 25 degrees per side. Reprofiling any knife on a sharp maker is not a good idea unless you have several hours to kill, I would recommend a nice diamond or waterstone benchstone. You can sharpen the knife to around 18 degrees or so and then use the sharp maker at 20 degrees to easily touch up the blade by adding a microbevil.

 

[el_duderino04]

I would think the 15 degree bevel and 20 degree backbevel from the Sharpmaker should give you a pretty good, long lasting edge.

Another option for reprofiling, if you want to stick with the Sharpmaker, is getting the diamond or CBN (cubic boron nitride) rods for the Sharpmaker. They'll make the reprofiling go MUCH quicker, but make sure to use a very light touch with those rods. If you use too much pressure you'll 1) take off a ton of metal from the edge, and 2) prematurely wear the rods out, as the diamond or CBN particles can be dislodged from the steel backer. Also, though there is some disagreement on this point, too much pressure plus speed can burn and weaken the edge.

I have used the CBN rods for reprofiling and it is far easier than trying to use the brown rods.

 

[Jason B.]

Traditional pocket knives are sharpened at 10-15 dps, I know with CASE knives the instructions recommend the same.

Just shoot for a straight 15, your edges will cut better.

FYI, your not going to burn a edge hand sharpening, your nickname would be The Flash if you could.

 

[droptrd]

Depends on how thick the blade is. For an example, my endura is awesome with 15 dps. My delicas with their thinner blades don't hold an edge as well at 15 dps so I set them at 18dps on my wicked edge then touch them up at 40 degrees on my SM. Holds a great edge now.

 

[me2]

Are they multiple blade patterns? I run on blade on my trapper (not GEC) at about 17 degrees per side, with a 20 degree microbevel, and the other blade I use a 7 degree per side angle with a 10 degree per side back bevel.

 

[Bladenoobie1]

Of all the GEC's I've owned, they often come with dull edges, but an extremely thin grind. Because the edge is already fairly thin I reprofile mine to roughly 18 degrees inclusive for a balance of bevel with and cutting performance. They all slice through cardboard smoothly and do most cutting tasks easily. 15 degrees inclusive will work fine, but I've found that on an already thin edge there isn't much of a difference and that doing so will make the edge more inclined to roll.