Hello,
I mostly lurk on the forum, but have been having an issue with a Schrade USA 61 OT that I was given a few months ago. The knife was unused at the time I received it and I really like the knife.
I've noticed the sheep foot blade dulls after briefly using it to open some boxes or cutting cardboard. I had been sharpening all of the blades using both stones of my Sharpmaker at the 40 degree angle and then stropping. I can get the blade sharp enough to easily and cleanly slice receipt paper. After a few cycles of the knife dulling and then re-sharpening it with the Sharpmaker, I decided to sharpen the sheep foot blade (and the other two blades) with a silicone carbide medium/fine stone. Starting with the medium side, I did 12 passes on one side of the blade, then 12 on the other side, then 10 passes each side, then 8, then 6, then 4. I don't know why I picked this method but it seemed like a good idea at the time. Repeated for the fine side of the stone, then stropped. All blades seemed razor sharp to me at this point.
Took the knife out to work today and opened about 4 boxes that were taped with that heavier duty packing tape that has the strands running the length of the tape with the sheep foot blade. Tried to see if the blade would still catch my thumbnail and it would not.
Is it my sharpening technique? I'm fairly confident I held the angle consistent enough with the SiC stone but I consider myself a novice sharpener. Does Schrade steel on the USA made 61 OTs not stay sharp as long? My Victorinox Cadet definitely holds an edge longer and I've only ever sharpened that with my Sharpmaker. If anyone has advice for what I could do differently or how I can get this blade to stay sharper longer I would appreciate it. All criticism welcome. Thanks.
