Sebenza blade angle.

[A.Dragg]

I just reprofiled my Starbenza and Micarta Insingo on the Wicked Edge. I have to say, both of them seemed to have about the same exact edge on them, which was consistent. They weren't all that sharp, or maybe the fairly obtuse convex edge they have just doesn't seem that sharp. It took quite a while to put a regular V ground edge on them at 34 degrees inclusive. They are just insanely sharp now. I much prefer them this way. Mine were both pretty much the same edge to begin with, and it was consistent. But I imagine I would have had trouble with the Sharpmaker too because they are convex edges, so how is the Sharpmaker going to sharpen that edge, especially when the actual edge is probably past 40*? Even if there was a 50 degree setting, all that would do is sharpen the apex of the edge, but then you'd need several different degrees to sharpen each of the bevels at their different angles. I'd just grind that shit off (which is what I do). Just too much work to continuously maintain (sharpen) a convex edge (although it's just fine if you maintain it with a good strop) for an edge that, in my opinion and experience, just doesn't seem all that sharp and is too obtuse (for me) anyway. I like a simple 30*-ish edge because it's sharp as hell, easy to re-sharpen/tough up and the more acute, the more it widens the face of the bevel so you can see more of that beautiful mirror polish

 

[James Y]

When I got my Sebenza in 2002, I have to admit that it's edge was dull OTB. All I had was the Sharpmaker, so I began reprofiling it. I was willing to take longer, because I didn't want to remove too much steel at a time. I know that the convex bevels were more than 40 degrees inclusive. But I set the rods at 15 per side. I worked on it, off and on, for weeks, maybe 20 minutes or so at a time. As it became reprofiled, I then finished the edge at 20 per side, then stopped with cardboard. It was finally a sharp cutting tool. It was a bit surprising that my knife with such a high hollow grind would have come OTB with such an obtuse edge.

But my Sebenza still has never been as sharp as my Umnumzaan came OTB. I suppose I could thin out the shoulders of the bevels on my Seb more...the edge it still convex, only thinner than it originally came, and easier to touch up.

Jim