Rick Marchand Sharpening Method

kgd

kgd

Joined
Feb 28, 2007
Messages
9,786
Before we went out on our overnighter yesterday, Rick demo'd his knife sharpening techniques on his waterstones using my Bark River Aurora.


[youtube]UAxd7SV-ZtM[/youtube]



KGD_0031.jpg


KGD_0037.jpg


KGD_0047.jpg
 
Rick displays a gentle touch in that video ... didn't know he was capable of that :D

What grit is he using there ?
 
KuRUpTD said:
Rick displays a gentle touch in that video ... didn't know he was capable of that :D
Click to expand...

It is interesting getting to know Rick on the forums and then watching him sharpen a knife for the first time. I think it may have something to do with him liking knives more than he likes most people :)
 
Wait, you mean the knives that Rick sells actually come sharp :eek:

Didn't know he had that much skill... :p

Thanks for the vid Ken.
 
I've gotta' ask--what's up with that anvil? Looks like it's missing its horn! :eek:
 
TheGame said:
Wait, you mean the knives that Rick sells actually come sharp :eek:

Didn't know he had that much skill... :p

Thanks for the vid Ken.
Click to expand...

Last year at blade he looked at the Bushlore I bought from him a few years ago. It wasn't not-cut-hot-butter dull, but I had neglected to maintain the edge after my oldest had used it a good bit in her fire starting studies. He said I should let him take it back home for a few weeks and work on the edge when he had time. It is one of his early pieces and I think he wanted to get it closer to the edge geometry he does these days. So...naturally I let him take it back with him. When I got it back a few months later it would probably split hairs, I know it would wipe them off my arm like they weren't there.
 
Honest to god I thought this was going to be a video him grinding one rock on another :p




I've never seen the paper-on-the-stone thing before, thats a cool idea. Would that produce a finer finish than a plain(no compound) leather strop?
 
Very smooth technique. Notice the way he lifts the handle to follow the angle of the edge along the curve, all the way to the tip, very consistently from stroke to stroke. Good technique, fellas. :D
 
There's so much to learn from people like Mr. Marchand. It's a pleasure watching them perform at things at which they excel and take pleasure.
 
I loved this video and have been waiting to see something like it. Rick puts a ton of thought into how he sharpens - what goes on with the metal - and what is happening at the edge.

I have come to sharpen my convex knives this way as well (through my own processes as well as talking to Rick).

I think many knives, with the 'mouse pad and sand paper' method end up with a large shoulder right behind their edge that makes for a sharp edge - but a poor slicer. The rocking action you see Rick doing takes that edge off and makes the whole shoulder and edge a true convex.

I have found my knives sharper, and last longer with the method you see above.

Thanks for the post.

TF


p.s. I am not sure who Rick has doing the sharpening - but he needs a better hand model. Whomever it is handling your Aurora has chubby little girl hands. Ewwww.....
 
KuRUpTD said:
What grit is he using there ?
Click to expand...
The white is 4000gt and the yellow is 8000gt.
FortyTwoBlades said:
I've gotta' ask--what's up with that anvil? Looks like it's missing its horn! :eek:
Click to expand...
Yup, I used to spread the rumour about Grant's march and knocking the horns off to cripple opposing forces..... but that story turned out to be BS. I guess the simple explanation is that the horn/body junction it the weakest point and some just break off with heavy use. Not as interesting. That anvil has been dated back to the Early 1800's.
mistwalker said:
When I got it back a few months later it would probably split hairs, I know it would wipe them off my arm like they weren't there.
Click to expand...
Days, weeks, months.... who's counting?... oh yeah, customers.
Wyszrd said:
It's a pleasure watching them perform at things at which they excel and take pleasure.
Click to expand...
No comment... too easy.
6shooter said:
I've never seen the paper-on-the-stone thing before, thats a cool idea. Would that produce a finer finish than a plain(no compound) leather strop?
Click to expand...
The wet paper does a great job of extra fine stropping.
Talfuchre said:
I think many knives, with the 'mouse pad and sand paper' method end up with a large shoulder right behind their edge that makes for a sharp edge - but a poor slicer. The rocking action you see Rick doing takes that edge off and makes the whole shoulder and edge a true convex.
Click to expand...
Thanks TF... I think the mousepad is good for touch-ups but it can change the geometry over time. This is mostly due to folks pushing down too hard or lifting the spine... OR not starting out with a true convex, in the first place.
Talfuchre said:
p.s. I am not sure who Rick has doing the sharpening - but he needs a better hand model. Whomever it is handling your Aurora has chubby little girl hands. Ewwww.....
Click to expand...
Hey.... Ken is always bugging me about my hands... guess what? We measured and have the same damn size mitts!! Though, my fingers are much more attractive.
 
Last edited:
Rick Marchand said:
Yup, I used to spread the rumour about Grant's march and knocking the horns off to cripple opposing forces..... but that story turned out to be BS. I guess the simple explanation is that the horn/body junction it the weakest point and some just break off with heavy use. Not as interesting. That anvil has been dated back to the Early 1800's.
Click to expand...

Ah--guess that makes sense. My 110# is a Fisher so it's a steel horn and face cast-welded to a ductile iron body. May only be a mid-grade anvil, but that horn isn't going anywhere! :eek::D Sawyers anvils look a lot like that, but they're essentially just a block.
 
Very informative. These blades look fantastic.

Now a little off topic question: Who plays the oud in the background? Beautiful.

Edit: I realized it is not "live" and it could also be a banjo?
 
I'm glad piped in to answer the Rick questions!

lightleak said:
Very informative. These blades look fantastic.

Now a little off topic question: Who plays the oud in the background? Beautiful.

Edit: I realized it is not "live" and it could also be a banjo?
Click to expand...

The artist's name is Brahim Fribgane and the song is titled "Amazigh". He is a North African artist. The music is free-use.

I've noticed that several of my past video's have had their music usage license changed over time, so that music that at one time was okay under Youtube's agreement became restricted. I understand that such agreements are in constant flux and also understand the artist's right to change them. But it is a pain to have to switch music and re-upload old vids. So I am not trying to use free-use licensed music when possible. For those potentially interested, I like this site:

http://freemusicarchive.org/

You can find Brahim's work there for free download.
 
They are Norton... and yes it's mentioned in the video. I'm sure Ken will happily transcribe the entire thing, if your ask him to. I would do it myself, but unfortunately my sound just went, too. Ha!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top