Sarge-how about sharpening stuff?

D

DKP

Joined
Nov 15, 1999
Messages
334
UB says the knives are on their way to you. Do we need to get with Ragweed Forge or some other place & get some sharpening supplies of your choice headed that way also??
 
Good thinking DKP, but I've pretty well got it covered. I hauled a box full of sharpening stuff to Afghanistan and used it quite a bit. Not to sound prideful, but it's amazing to me how many otherwise smart folks have a hard time putting an edge on a knife. And the snake eater types all love those high tech knives that you can't sharpen without a diamond hone, so yeah I pack those along too. What I'm trying to say without sounding too much like a pompous twit is, you can pass out the whetstones, but unfortunately, not the skills to operate them well. Now if I could only justify adding a belt sander to the packing list.;)

Sarge

p.s.: the guys that know how to use 'em invariably bring their own whetstones, etc., along and help out those who don't. If time allows I'll get a buddy to help me pre-sharpen all the khuks that get handed out so they won't be glancing off of stuff when they're being tested. Uncle reminded me of that need, and it just makes good sense to give a knife a good workout before you put too much trust in it.
 
I hauled a box full of sharpening stuff to Afghanistan and used it quite a bit. Not to sound prideful, but it's amazing to me how many otherwise smart folks have a hard time putting an edge on a knife.
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While my wife would be the first to assure you that "otherwise smart" does not apply to me, I can relate to the rest of the sentence:o. My 20" sirupati came back from Bagram Air Base with the first really sharp edge it's had since I got it!
 
Originally posted by Berkley
While my wife would be the first to assure you that "otherwise smart" does not apply to me, I can relate to the rest of the sentence:o. My 20" sirupati came back from Bagram Air Base with the first really sharp edge it's had since I got it!
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Berk!!!! I'm shocked!!!! :rolleyes: :p ;) No wonder you collect the old khuks. You don't sharpen them.;) Hehehehe.
 
No wonder you collect the old khuks. You don't sharpen them. Hehehehe.
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True - but in many cases, I don't have to;). The old convex edges are often amazingly sharp a century after they were made. In fact, one of the khuks I have for Sarge if he wants it is a 1919 MK II that is as sharp as a new Randall Model 1.
 
HOLY COW!!! A 1919 MK II..............Unh unh, no sir, no way. Please don't mistake my alarm for ingratitude, but I just don't see myself holding such a blade in my hand and saying; "here ya go Airman Tentpeg/Private Snuffy". It stung enough when I added the two khuks Rusty gave me to the footlocker of knives to be handed out. Now you want to hand me an 84 year old khuk to give to a 24 year old kid? If that's what you really want to do Berk I'll honor your intentions, just don't be surprised if my hands are a bit shaky when you put that heirloom of a khuk in 'em. Holy Cow, I need a beer...

Sarge
 
Holy Cow, I need a beer...
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When we get together at the Dog & Duck you can play with this blast from the past and see if it's up to the demands of the Twenty-First Century. As far as I can see, even the leather looks good to go, but it ain't my a$$ that will be depending on it, so you can put it back on the shelf if you like. I'm just going through the collection to find stuff that will be useful.
 
Originally posted by Berkley
True - but in many cases, I don't have to;). The old convex edges are often amazingly sharp a century after they were made. In fact, one of the khuks I have for Sarge if he wants it is a 1919 MK II that is as sharp as a new Randall Model 1.
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Berk the ones I've seen courtesy of T-Bone have been the very same. It's sort of amazing in a way that old knives keep their edges so well.
One of the things is that in the old steel all of the austinite has changed into martinsite, I hope I have that right the terms still confuse me;), and the steel is actually better than when it was first hardened.
The WW II Kabars, Catteragus Q225, Case's Imperial's and the rest have the same qualities.
All of the old ones should be extremely high performers!!!!:)

What facinates me is the thinner blades on the old khuks I've seen. The convex blades are what makes them so efficient along with the knife being thickest at about the angle and tapering back each way from that point.
That makes the old khuks as point heavy as the new heavier ones, realizeing that not all of the old khuks are thin as some I've seen.:)
 
Just the original edge, but sharp
OK, for information, I personally sharpen with a fine Arkansas oil stone and a silicon rod sharpener.
 
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