Samurai Edge Sharpening is Back!!!

Andy Prisco

Andy Prisco

Joined
Nov 2, 1999
Messages
2,805
Well...I normally don't post on the general forum, but when I heard that Mike Haynes from Samurai Edge was sharpening knives again, I had to bring it here.

In Knives Illustrated, Fall 91', Vol. 5, Bud Lang did a killer article on Mike Haynes' professional sharpening company, called The Samurai Edge, in Gilbert, Arizona....in the article, he brought out exponentially better perforance out of factory and custom knives that were already razor sharp....slicing 10 oz. leather like it was butter in one of the before and after tests. (Bud, if you are reading this...jump in on this thread if you can)

Mike was trained by a Japanese master on very special water fed wheelstones, which apply absolutely terrifying edges to knives. He is the only person using this equipment on knives in the country, while others have used it on shears for years.

I still have knives he did over 10 years ago and they are frightening!!!
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For already reasonably sharp knives, he starts on a 2500 grit stone and then moves to a 4000. For knives that are dull as a brick, he will reprofile with an 800 grit and move up from there. The knives slice as well as they push cut due to the technique....

He has opened his doors to knives once again and is new to BladeForums, so I hope we can show him our support.

His pricing is...

up to 4" blade: $40
up to 8" blade: $55
up to 10" blade:$65

..this excludes shipping. This is Mike's full time business and all that he does. Drop him a note if you are interested at edgey@aol.com or call his toll free at 800-926-2060.

Andy Prisco
Sharper Instinct, LLC
www.sharperinstinct.com


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Andy Prisco,
Co-Founder, Manager
American Tomahawk Company
877-557-5200
http://www.americantomahawk.com
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[This message has been edited by Andy Prisco (edited 02-27-2001).]
 
This actually sounds quite interesting. I would like to experience what many consider the ultimate edge. I, for one, would love to see close up shots of a finished edge.

While many customs are delivered reasonably sharp, many are not. For those afraid to sharpen an expensive blade, this could be worthwhile. Or maybe for that special shelf-sitter that you would like to be as sharp as it looks.

Are recurves possible to do with this process?
 
COOL! Do you think he would do my BM 710 in M2?
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W.A.

------------------
"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
Tennyson
Ranger motto

A few useful details on UK laws and some nice reviews!
http://members.aol.com/knivesuk/
Certified steel snob!
Founding president and member number 1! Wana join?
 
I have some knives coming back from him next week....I will take some high quality images and post them when I get the knives back.

Yes, he does recurves...did my Walter Brend Models 2 and 5 many years ago....they were AWESOME
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Andy Prisco,
Co-Founder, Manager
American Tomahawk Company
877-557-5200
http://www.americantomahawk.com
----------------------
 
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Now that HAS got me thinking!

The 710 is a great knife but it would take me hours to get it to a good angle. IMHO $45 is well worth it to get it done on a Jap waterstone with a pro sword polisher. I use a Ultra Fine Spyderco Benchstone at the moment WOW!!! Sharp is not enough of a word to describe the edge I can get. But this is something else...
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Never enough money...
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W.A.

------------------
"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
Tennyson
Ranger motto

A few useful details on UK laws and some nice reviews!
http://members.aol.com/knivesuk/
Certified steel snob!
Founding president and member number 1! Wana join?
 
Thanks for the reply Andy. I have a couple of Broadwell fighters, that while sharp enough to easily slice free falling paper into progressively smaller pieces, are just begging for something a little more extreme. My only reservation at this time is that they are double edged and have the sharpest points I have yet seen on a knife. I would just hate even the slightest rounding of the tips. Am I concerned about nothing? Looking forward to seeing your images as well. I am waiting for Mike to return my call.
 
Don't know if he would do a Hawk, but I suspect he might
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...drop him a note and ask him!
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...as soon as I get the knives back, I will upload the images.
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As for rounding the edges, have no fear...he is GOOD at what he does....he did my Randall #2, and Brends which had double edges...points were razor sharp with perfect symmetry. My Randall #2 could do the slice the free standing paper bag test a la Sean McWilliams, after getting it back from Mike...again, that was with a slice!!!!
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from a blade profile that was primarily a thrusting/stabbing design.

------------------
Andy Prisco,
Co-Founder, Manager
American Tomahawk Company
877-557-5200
http://www.americantomahawk.com
----------------------

[This message has been edited by Andy Prisco (edited 02-28-2001).]
 
Andy

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">The knives slice as well as they push cut due to the technique....</font>
Click to expand...

This is the first time I have ever heard anyone claim that they can get good slicing performance at high polishes and it goes against my current understanding of edge performance. If anyone does get a blade done I would appreciate an email if you use the blades afterwards.

I would be more interested in the performance in regards to slicing vs push cutting, as well as the difference in comparision to the edge produced by a very fine grade ceramic, the polishing tapes on the edge pro, 0.5 micron sandpaper, 8000 grit waterstone etc. .

-Cliff
 
Guys: Maybe I should raise my prices-I deliver edges that good on all my knives, and. I'll maintain them for FREE for as long as you own the knife.

RJ
 
How do you sharpen yours?

W.A.

------------------
"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
Tennyson
Ranger motto

A few useful details on UK laws and some nice reviews!
http://members.aol.com/knivesuk/
Certified steel snob!
Founding president and member number 1! Wana join?
 
I do a combination of belts and buffing-and the result, though not 8000 grit, push cuts and slices great-1" rope, rolled newspaper, free-hanging cigatette papers, etc.
A lot of it has to do with the quality of heat treat, grind style and edge geometry, I think.



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Stay Sharp,

RJ Martin
http://www.martinsite.com
 
How much do you charge? Say for a reprofile of a 710 to 20% either side?

W.A.

------------------
"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
Tennyson
Ranger motto

A few useful details on UK laws and some nice reviews!
http://members.aol.com/knivesuk/
Certified steel snob!
Founding president and member number 1! Wana join?
 
Andy,

I remember that article. Some of the pictures were facinating. It'd be great if Bud could find a way to link or post some of them here for those who are left to simply imagine what that Japanese water wheel process looks like in action.

------------------
-=[Bob Allman]=-


I did NOT escape from the institution! They gave me a day pass!


BFC member since the very beginning
 
...well, I'm ahead of you. Mike is sending me his copies of the article to upload here via digital images. Yes, the pictures were quite impressive.

Cliff...will do you one better.

I will send you one of my knives to do the test yourself....drop me a note off-line and we will work out the fine tones.
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If it helps Mike, I am happy to oblige you.

In the article, microscopic pictures were used to demonstrate the before and after on a Trailmaster with Mike's hand applied edge, revealing composition like no jig or buffing wheel can do...I look forward to your remarks on the performance Cliff.

And by the way, you and I need to talk Tomahawks!!!! ...again, let's take it off line.



------------------
Andy Prisco,
Co-Founder, Manager
American Tomahawk Company
877-557-5200
http://www.americantomahawk.com
----------------------
 
This does sound interesting indeed! Leonard Lee, Prez and founder of a LARGE Canadian tool store/company, did a vast amount of research on edges and sharpening, and wrote a book on it. The research included electron microscope photographs of edges and he concluded that waterstones and a strop are the best way to sharpen a blade, over using Arkansas stones and a whole host of other stones. It would be interesting indeed to hear more on this subject.

Having said that, I do share some of the same reservations that RJ Martin expressed. The level of sharpness he can achieve is legendary. I have never seen an RJ in person, so I can only report what I have heard. But I did sharmen a knife last year using my grinder and buffing wheels and I have NEVER gotten an edge sharper. AND, I'm sure RJ would shake his head at the method I used! I am a beginner at using souch equipment, while RJ is a master.

I suspect that RJ's methods as welll as the waterstone method produce exceptionally well edges, period. Which produces a better edge would probably be a fruitless discussion, but oen that will likely be discussed! After all, we are knife knuts!

RJ, could you mention your sharpening methods to help me out??

------------------
"Come What May..."
 
Guys: Not trying to start a big debate here-waterstones are great for sharpening-the grits are very consistent, and, the wearing away of the stone as sharpening is performed means that new, sharp abrasive is constantly being exposed. I have a whole set of them-my objection is that mine are not under power, and, thus are very slow to use compared to my technique.
What blew my mind initially was the willingness of so many posters to pay $45 to have a pocketknife sharpened.


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Stay Sharp,

RJ Martin
http://www.martinsite.com
 
well....all I can say is I would, and have...plenty of times. When Mike's $65 sharpening job came back on each of my $1,000 Brends, it made all the sense in the world. As for the Gerber Mark 1 and other inexpensive knives he did for me..they suddenly began to perform like modified muscle cars!
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Maybe it's not for everybody, but for those who are like me
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and have this curse to procure the best of whatever you can afford, it made sense.

------------------
Andy Prisco,
Co-Founder, Manager
American Tomahawk Company
877-557-5200
http://www.americantomahawk.com
----------------------

[This message has been edited by Andy Prisco (edited 03-01-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Andy Prisco (edited 03-01-2001).]
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Cliff Stamp:

This is the first time I have ever heard anyone claim that they can get good slicing performance at high polishes and it goes against my current understanding of edge performance. If anyone does get a blade done I would appreciate an email if you use the blades afterwards.

-Cliff</font>
Click to expand...

Unless an edge is brought to a fine finish, all you are doing is creating small serration's that wear/chip off quickly, requiring the blade be resharpened often. That's precisely why the best sharpening systems you can find provide the means to go to very fine grits.

A finely finished edge will wear a very long time and will slice extremely well. I agree with RJ, belt grinders are the modern day equivalent of water stones, providing a range of uniformly fine grits for progressive sharpening. They just do it a lot faster than you can by hand. All of my blades go to 2000 grit with a final light stropping on a polishing belt.

I'm often surprised by the comments on repeated sharpening on these forums. If it's done right it doesn't need to be done often. Polished surfaces are more wear resistant than rough surfaces.



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Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com
The New Tom & Jerry Show
 
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