sharpen to a double edge?

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Mar 2, 2011
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does anyone know of a good way to sharpen the back of the blade on a folding lockback knife without messing up the heat treat? thanks guys.
 
You don't want to. If you do, what will keep that edge from going right through your leg while it's in your pocket? :)
 
Not to mention, if you get caught with it in the wrong place. Double edged (sharpened) blades are illegal to carry in a lot of jurisdictions. It's pretty universally perceived as a stabbing weapon (dagger), when both edges are sharpened. Be careful, whatever you decide to do. Personally, I don't see it as worth the potential troubles it may bring.
 
Komitadjie said:
You don't want to.
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Yes he does. That's why he posted the question.

If you do, what will keep that edge from going right through your leg while it's in your pocket? :)
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Perhaps a slip case? A pocket sheath? When there is a 'carry' problem, there usually is a carry solution. This one isn't so difficult.

Obsessed with Edges said:
Not to mention, if you get caught with it in the wrong place.
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My guess is that the OP is familiar with legal restrictions, and is willing to take the risks involved. We have plenty of UK-based members here who carry daily despite strict UK laws, as well as US-based members who break their local laws concerning knife carry on a regular basis.

Both of you are knowledgeable knife guys... Please, why not just answer the OP's question? Don't we get enough 'nanny-ing' from our governments?

If it were me trying to make this mod, I'd start out with files, but be aware that it's going to take quite a while to reach the sort of edge you're looking for. Check with member 'CharlieMike.' He's done a LOT of modification to the spines of knives, turning them into 'wave open' blades. Ask him for some tips. He's a friendly guy who likes to help.


Stitchawl
 
stitchawl said:
My guess is that the OP is familiar with legal restrictions, and is willing to take the risks involved. We have plenty of UK-based members here who carry daily despite strict UK laws, as well as US-based members who break their local laws concerning knife carry on a regular basis.
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I'm not making any assumptions either way, as to what he may or may not already know about the risks. I used to look in on the 'Knife Laws' sub-forum here fairly regularly (previously assuming that most of us DO know the risks involved), and there are an awful lot of folks who don't have any idea what the law says (or means), for their locale. I cringe every time I read some of the questions asked, and more-so at the so-called 'advice' sometimes offered in return, by others who THINK they know the real risks, but don't. That's why I limited my reply to basically, 'I don't think it could be worth it' (on many levels). I don't have any issues with somebody who's fully willing to 'own' the responsibility for doing such things, but I don't feel too anxious to enable or encourage it, either. Especially in cases where the OP just might be rather young and not-so-wise to the ways of the world (again, not making assumptions, but you seldom know who's actually asking for advice here).

To the OP, I don't mean any disrespect at all. Giving a heads up to someone who may or may not know the risks, is never a bad thing, so far as I'm concerned.
 
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^ That.

I thought of sharpening the swedge on one of my folders fairly seriously for a while, to the point that I had the DMT plate out and was ready to get to work before it occurred to me that it'd be friggin' DANGEROUS with a totally exposed edge like that. Even in a case, you have to grip dangerously close to open the blade. One wrong grab and you're bleeding everywhere.

That being said, the belt grinder is the way I'd do it, and it would not be difficult at all. Have to be kind of careful to not heat the blade too much, but a dip every couple of swipes would keep it minimal.

Still would NOT advocate it. A balli, sure, since it's totally enclosed when it's in its 'storage' configuration, or a sheath knife, but not a lockback!
 
ive allready done it to my gerber evo. totaly screwed up the HT tho. its actually not that dangerous.. well.. for me it isnt. ive only cut myself once on it. out of 6 months that its been like that. idk how but when i reach for it and grab it my hand doesnt get cut on the exposed edge. i guess its because when i grab the knife i simply grab it (kinda gently) and dont move my hand accross the edge. and ya here you have to carry it open. it has to be clipped to your pocket where people can see it.
 
Dangerous or not, legal or not, I must ask why? What's the point?

It has no advantage on a folder that a civilian carries and not only that but the blade needs to be originally ground in such a way where putting a sharpened swedge on the blade is possible.

OP, sorry but it sounds like your knowledge of local law is not very "up to date". "It's gotta be exposed" does not cover the laws regarding double edged knives.

If its something you want done and is legal your best bet would be to contact a skilled knifemaker and have the job professionally done.
 
There's no danger of screwing up HT unless you use uncooled high-RPM mechanical grinding.

Do it by hand using a file or a coarse stone and you'll have no worries. If you use mechanical grinding, make sure you have a bucket of water nearby to dunk the blade into before it gets too hot to touch.
 
Komitadjie said:
^ That.

I thought of sharpening the swedge on one of my folders fairly seriously for a while, to the point that I had the DMT plate out and was ready to get to work before it occurred to me that it'd be friggin' DANGEROUS with a totally exposed edge like that. Even in a case, you have to grip dangerously close to open the blade. One wrong grab and you're bleeding everywhere.

That being said, the belt grinder is the way I'd do it, and it would not be difficult at all. Have to be kind of careful to not heat the blade too much, but a dip every couple of swipes would keep it minimal.

Still would NOT advocate it. A balli, sure, since it's totally enclosed when it's in its 'storage' configuration, or a sheath knife, but not a lockback!
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good advise. i sharpen a lot of knives for members on the forum and if someone wants a folder sharpened on the swedge i tell them the same thing. why take chances on getting cut. a fixed blade is different but i'm not too keen on the idea of sharpening the swedge on a fixed blade either. there might be a time when you need to put pressure on top of the blade but cant due to the swedge being sharpened.

i know that i would not want to carry a folder with a sharpened swedge with the edge i can put on a knife. i have been cut just touching an edge i sharpened.
 
^ That again.

With a decently-sharpened edge, merely brushing against it or having the knife rotate in your pocket to touch the fabric lining against your leg is enough to start you bleeding.

If you REALLY want to do it anyway, it'd be worth just tossing it off to Richard. He can do it without any danger of damaging the heat treatment, and he can probably make a better judgement of how much is SAFE to sharpen. That is to say, how far into the frame it sits so you can have a semi-double-edge that's still reasonably safe. :)
 
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Ignore most of the advice given.

Cheap 8" water stone from ACE or some other hardware store.

If you know how to sharpen, it's the same thing as sharpening your blade.

If you don't know how to sharpen, it's a rough way to learn.

Legal or not, it's none of my business, the information is not illegal to disperse so why even bother trying to stop the flow of information?

If it's a cheaper knife chances are you can use a single cut bastard file to set a bevel, better to remove the blade from the knife and clamp it to a workbench.

You might want to learn how to use a file because if you don't you are going to be out $6-$30 or whatever your file cost if you mess it up.

Belt sander, paper wheels, benchstones or sandpaper on blocks will work if a file doesn't, heck for metal removal you could use a cinder block.

Based on my extremely limited experience in sharpening swedges I recommend you grind the bevel at a lower angle than you intend on using for your cutting edge.

Easiest to get done is a chisel grind, simple raw metal removal till you make a burr.
 
would it be possible to do it with a coarse diamond stone or would it wear out the stone?
 
as long as you keep the pressure light, you will wear your patience way before the stone.

i wouldn't consider anything finer than a 140 atoma for this. in fact i wouldn't consider anything slower than a 80 grit belt ... keep in mind that unless you already have a swedge there it'snot sharpening anymore, i would call this a regrind.
 
^ That.

A coarse diamond plate will do the job with a huge expenditure of time, but it's really a job for mechanized equipment I think. I know it'd be a job of just a few minutes with a coarse belt on my grinder (unless it doesn't have a swedge to begin with, then it'd take a bit longer). I'd still say pass it off to Richard, he's got the right tools. :)

Also, bear in mind that if it doesn't have a swedge already, your blade is going to become very weak, since a double-edge blade usually has a steeper bevel to keep some thickness near the centre of the grind, compared to a normal single-edge.
 
knifenut1013 said:
Dangerous or not, legal or not, I must ask why? What's the point?

It has no advantage on a folder that a civilian carries and not only that but the blade needs to be originally ground in such a way where putting a sharpened swedge on the blade is possible.

OP, sorry but it sounds like your knowledge of local law is not very "up to date". "It's gotta be exposed" does not cover the laws regarding double edged knives.

If its something you want done and is legal your best bet would be to contact a skilled knifemaker and have the job professionally done.
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My mate wanted me to do it to a folder he'd had for a while, which he uses for fishing. He reckons that a sharpened swedge on a clip point is ideal for gutting/filleting when doing a batch of fish. I said "good idea" but your folder is non locking and you're liable to remove one or more of your fingers. I recommended modifying a Mora.
 
A sheathed blade would be SAFE to have a double-edge on, since it is enclosed fully when it's in its "storage" method. You'll notice that ESEE offers most of their swedge-ground blades with either a sharpened or unsharpened back edge. :)
 
im going to do it to my old kershaw leek. it doesnt really have a swedge, but its very thin on the top of the blade, would that still work?
 
As I recall, the Leek has a fairly strong distal taper. That means your blade tip will be VERY fragile once you're done grinding... I'd be really tempted to pick a different candidate, man. Plus, with no swedge to begin with, that's going to be a BIG job without power tools.
 
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