Regrettably a newbie question for you guys

D

dallsbeep

Joined
Sep 3, 2015
Messages
8
Hello there,

I am super new to these type of blades and am intimidated to use it, because then id have to sharpen it!

Which of the smaller blades is which? Both came insanely dull, so i am not sure which is supposed to be a smaller knife, and which is the field sharpener.



Also, for sharpening, i have a puck with a rough/soft side, a rat tail bastard file, and one of those handle sharpener things. I figure wither the puck or the file is going to be the right thing to use on this when not sharpening in the field right?


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Okay, I got this! They can take a lot of use without needing a sharpening, that is a beautiful benefit of the convex edge. When I got my first HI I was intimidated with sharpening too because I grew up with straight bevels and stones, etc...

So one of your utility steels is a knife, correct, the other will have completely square edges and that is the steel.

A puck, file, sharpener aren't right - the ideal method is an assortment of wet-dry sandpaper 220,320,400,600 are my favorites but I would be comfortable with something like 220/320 and 600. Get one of the thick rubber ''old type'' mousepads, not the new,thin optical ones...
Then you draw the blade backward spine towards you over the sandpaper. Hold the spine up in the air so the edge contacts it at a steeper angle than you'd expect - you can find the angle by tilting it on your fingernail until it bites... You're trying to shape the edge like a bullet (convex) not like a wedge with flat sides. It may 'feel' less sharp but it'll cut great when you get it right. Covering the very edge of the blade in sharpie helps you see where you are removing metal! Good luck, don't be scared, get after it! A leather strop would have the same effect. a quick google of ''mousepad sharpen convex'' should get you a helpful tutorial or youtube video!

I hope this helps!
 
Just for the record, a convex edge will chop great, it does not need to be shaving sharp. I usually touch up my blades after use with the small "steel", and that's usually enough. My smaller knives, I do sharpen the convex edge to a much sharper edge to slice, as opposed to chopping.

Basically, I sharpen my blades to whatever angle it originally came with, because the kamis really know exactly what they are doing for each blade and it's intended use.
 
It almost looks in the picture like you got two Karda's. (the small utility knife). A Chakma is square on both sides, no attempt to sharpen it at all.

Other than that these guys got it right near as I can tell.
 
A. That's a gorgeous khukuri.

B. I'm a sharpening control freak and the mousepad thing never sat right with me. I've used the cardboard tubes from paper towel rolls, wrapped with sandpaper. It gets in the recurve easily and I can control the angle and pressure better that way but YMMV.
 
Ok then, it seems i got two Karda's then. Whew, it was driving me nuts trying to figure out what was what! Both have slight edges so i figure i should probably buy a Chakma.
 
Check with Auntie, she might have some spares laying around.

Having one with a matching bone handle might be a challenge. I'll check at home and see if I have one laying around for you.
 
pmwc78 said:
A. That's a gorgeous khukuri.

B. I'm a sharpening control freak and the mousepad thing never sat right with me. I've used the cardboard tubes from paper towel rolls, wrapped with sandpaper. It gets in the recurve easily and I can control the angle and pressure better that way but YMMV.
Click to expand...

The subtle give of the backing material is what rounds over and creates the convex bevel.. How do you get the same gentle slope with a round object? You're going to create a concave/hollow edge, no?
 
The roll would be essentially perpendicular to the edge and the roll isn't terribly stiff and gives as I apply pressure so I do get a convexed edge from it. Might not be the method for everyone but I've used it for years and I'm too stubborn to change :D
 
dallsbeep said:
Ok then, it seems i got two Karda's then. Whew, it was driving me nuts trying to figure out what was what! Both have slight edges so i figure i should probably buy a Chakma.
Click to expand...

I have one laying around, it needs to be cleaned up a little, but it's usable.

PM me, and I'll send it to you.
 
pmwc78 said:
The roll would be essentially perpendicular to the edge and the roll isn't terribly stiff and gives as I apply pressure so I do get a convexed edge from it. Might not be the method for everyone but I've used it for years and I'm too stubborn to change :D
Click to expand...

I'm willing to try it out, thanks for the idea.

The thinner edge will be nice to get into the recurve area.
 
Just curious - how do the native khurkri makers do it - with a mouse pad or paper towel roll core :confused:?

:D Not trying to be a WA just having a bit of fun with you. Still to my the question - how do those guys maintain their edges?

Ray
 
RayseM said:
Just curious - how do the native khurkri makers do it - with a mouse pad or paper towel roll core :confused:?

:D Not trying to be a WA just having a bit of fun with you. Still to my the question - how do those guys maintain their edges?

Ray
Click to expand...

Actually the ones I have seen maintain their edge beyond steeling (which is done constantly) they used a chunk of leather with a paste made from some sort of crushed rock. felt similar to pumice but my Nepali (basically non-existant) wasn't good enough to really get the name.
 
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I think their theory and wisely so is the secret to keeping a knife sharp is not letting it get dull.
They touch it up often with a steel and very seldom have to do much more.

Same applies to chainsaws. You keep it sharp, don't lose the critical angle. Guys would laugh as I touched up my chain during the day until they realized they were making dust and I was throwing 1/2'' chucks of wood out of the saw and cut circles around them.

Applies to other sharp pointy things as well.
 
Very True Bawanna, but if you steel it regularly and only sharpen when needed you aren't stripping off steel faster than necessary. Watch a butcher. He will steel his blade every couple of cuts, BUT he will not sharpen very often at all. Good knives are expensive, and I have had some that were over 150years old that still had most of the blade, where I have seen the same knife make/model that were used in home kitchens for less than 1/100th the actual work but have almost no blade left because the owner sharpened the blade every time they brought it out.
 
Everyone seems to have this covered, but I will add that 2 kardas is not a bad thing! Some people sharpen their chakmaks too. You can always use the spine as a steel, and then if you lose one in the woods, you always have a backup
 
Thanks guys! cul4u01 will be sending me a Chakma! What a nice guy. I really appreciate it.


Yeah, I had been scouring all the deals on here for quite some time, and researching them like crazy. I saw the bone handle, and lost it. It had a hairline crack that had been repaired and was discounted. I knew that was the one i wanted and it fell within my parameters so i emailed and voila!

I live up in Rural Alaska and have a few different knives/axes depending on what I was doing. I usually carry my trusty kbar that ive had since i was about 16 so ive had it for about 14 years. LOVE IT. But I also bring a boy axe for camping as well. I was hoping to try and find a good mix of the two to consolidate weight and this one popped up.

I think I may change the sheath to Kydex as it is very Rainy in southeast alaska and I dont know how well it would hold up, but I love the heft of this thing and cant wait to put it to good use next summer. Like everyone says, these things seem pretty bullet proof/overbuilt.
 
SingleGrind said:
Everyone seems to have this covered, but I will add that 2 kardas is not a bad thing! Some people sharpen their chakmaks too. You can always use the spine as a steel, and then if you lose one in the woods, you always have a backup
Click to expand...
Good point! Since both match somewhat less common handle material could be one was a chakmak that got sharpened.
 
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