Sharpened my AG S30V

Pack Rat

Pack Rat

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Jan 27, 2006
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I finally quit procrastinating about thinking about sharpening th AG S30v for its first true sharpening.

The first time you put "your edge" on any knife takes longer than the next times after that.

So I started with the coarse Lansky Diamond stone till I had a nice purty edge and sharp to the touch. Did notice that about half inch back in the curve from the tip, it seemed to take a bit extra profiling, but it came around.

So then I used the medium diamond till the edge looked smoother under the magnifiers, and then went to the fine diamond for more smoothness yet. BUT, I worked the fine diamond for quite a while and never seemed to get any farther than the type grind you see on a factory edge.

Now, I didn't use any oil or water on the diamond stones per what the Blond chick told me at the Lansky Booth at the last NRA convention.

so now it still won't shave so I went to the Medium regular lansky WITH oil and it started coming on down to the smoothness I am use to. did that till I got bored with the medium and switched on to the 600 Fine stone with oil.

I probably worked the fine stone as long as I worked all the others together and the edge looks about 90% smooth. When It would slightly shave while still on the clamp, I took the clamp off and used a dry strop a few times.

That did the trick and it is as sharp as any 110 I have ever made patches on my legs with.. I didn't time it as I piddled doing other things at same time, and my fingers get weary some too.

I figure next time the regular medium stone, and the regular fine stone will make a quick tune up of it.

I didn't use the crocks for the first time out on a previously unsharpened blade. Will probably see how they do for a touch up now that I have "my" edge.

Oh... I use the 25 degree hole and clamp the blade as close to the top edge as I can. Been using this same lansky since 1991 or earlier.

S30V definitely took longer the first time.
 
Thanks for the update Pack Rat!
I always wondered why they gave you that bottle of honing oil :D
Maybe someday I will get to sharpen my S30V. Probably not any time soon though...
 
Pack - I was almost about to order the Lansky system...where did you get yours??? Do the three diamond rods come with it???

That doesn't sound like the $35 setup I saw... :(
 
...Trax I use a Deluxe Lansky which is the same as all of them except it has 5 regular hones. I've had it for longer than I can remember. I think they are about $35 now. I picked up a few diamond hones off of that bay joint when the steel started gettin' tougher to move. They run about $15 to $20...but they move tough steel really well. Stropping does wonders when yer done...
 
chickentrax said:
Pack - I was almost about to order the Lansky system...where did you get yours??? Do the three diamond rods come with it???
That doesn't sound like the $35 setup I saw... :(
Click to expand...

I have no idea where I got the original kit that only had the three regular stones, honing oil, which has lasted over 15 years btw, the wires, clamp, and this kit had the metal base post that you sit the clamp on instead of holding in hand ...Of course you still hold on to it with other hand. That base is invaluable so get one if you dont have one.. They sell them separate now and are probably plasdic.... I think I gave $20 for the first kit...

Bought the 3 diamond stones at Bass pro a few years ago thinking they would be better.....NOT.....least on non premium steels... Just do not need them on 440, 420. Seems they were 7 to 11 bucks each...give or take.. and they had a variety of grits.
 
Pack Rat said:
I have no idea where I got the original kit that only had the three regular stones, honing oil, which has lasted over 15 years btw, the wires, clamp, and this kit had the metal base post that you sit the clamp on instead of holding in hand ...Of course you still hold on to it with other hand. That base is invaluable so get one if you dont have one.. They sell them separate now and are probably plasdic.... I think I gave $20 for the first kit...

Bought the 3 diamond stones at Bass pro a few years ago thinking they would be better.....NOT.....least on non premium steels... Just do not need them on 440, 420. Seems they were 7 to 11 bucks each...give or take.. and they had a variety of grits.
Click to expand...

They still sell the plastic or metal base. Only a few bucks more for the metal base. In my opinion the base is a must have! you can sharpen without it but its much more stable on the base! At the sport shops here you can buy the diamond set with 3 hones for $59.99. The standard (pro) set with 5 Hones is $39.99 you can also order the diamond hones separately but I think they are $$$$$$$$$$$
 
I also have a mediun and fine ceramic hone for the lansky for the serated edges.
I have used those numerous times sharpening the blades on the electric knife :eek: :D works ok....but bottom line, takes so long to wear out electric blades, and too cheap to sharpen, and too much time.. Just go buy new ones.
 
wh4f said:
They still sell the plastic or metal base. Only a few bucks more for the metal base. In my opinion the base is a must have! you can sharpen without it but its much more stable on the base! At the sport shops here you can buy the diamond set with 3 hones for $59.99. The standard (pro) set with 5 Hones is $39.99 you can also order the diamond hones separately but I think they are $$$$$$$$$$$
Click to expand...

Get the Metal base!!!

I would just buy the basic 3 hone kit and then selectively get the Diamonds you want. In a kit you may not be able to do that... Check Gander Mt. Or Bass Pro.
Seems the diamonds varied from 9 to 15 bucks...May be wrong. There was quite a varied selection at which ever store I was in.. We have both..
 
...In all honesty I use the Lansky very seldom anyway. The diamond hones work well but they still take a bit of time. Jim's right about using the "stand" thing with the Lansky too...I had the plastic one and it broke long ago shortly after I got it. Now I have to admit that the method I use most to remove lotsa stock and get a really fine edge is wet/dry paper on an old piece of 3/4 inch glass leftover from my aquarium building days...That works fantastic for me and the various grits of wet/dry are easy as heck to come by and cheap...
 
Pack Rat said:
Get the Metal base!!!

I would just buy the basic 3 hone kit and then selectively get the Diamonds you want. In a kit you may not be able to do that... Check Gander Mt. Or Bass Pro.
Seems the diamonds varied from 9 to 15 bucks...May be wrong. There was quite a varied selection at which ever store I was in.. We have both..
Click to expand...

:thumbup: :thumbup:
Also when you buy your new Lansky kit they have an order form in with the kit, to order more hones direct from them- kind of like a coupon :D
Good deal
 
Buck_110 said:
DMT and Norton make some outstanding products. You may want to peek at what they have. I have amazing results with the Norton crystolon bench stones myself. Norton makes huge stones as well, which make it easy to do one long continuous stroke. The crystolon stones are formed, not mined like the Arkansas jobs. The formed stones provide better uniform density. Because of this, they produce a better edge. The mined stones will have differing densities throughout the stone, and will dish more quickly in certain areas.
Click to expand...

Is the DMT and Norton a system where you can maintain a constant angle? Without having to try and do it manually?
 
wh4f said:
:thumbup: :thumbup:
Also when you buy your new Lansky kit they have an order form in with the kit to order more hones direct from them kind of like a coupon :D
Good deal
Click to expand...
:thumbup:
And order some extra wires....the extra hones dont come with them... a pain to have to change..
 
Pack Rat said:
:thumbup:
And order some extra wires....the extra hones dont come with them... a pain to have to change..
Click to expand...

I just bent up some extra wire... They were cheap enough to just order though! ( in hindsight) :D
 
Another thought on that base... Son in law got the plastic one and first thing he did was screwed it down to a 1x4 about 20 inches long or so....Gives him more stability yet, and in 10 years hasn't managed to bust it,,,yet.. Says it is less strain to hold it... I just like the portability wthout, but that is an excellent idea... I watch him and it looks easier than how I do it.
 
I'm with Buck_110, I like my Norton oil benchstone. I've sharpened my Mayo TNT with good results, and touch ups on the crock sticks. I use my Lansky, and have a Spyderco Sharpmaker on the way, but oil stones work best for me, I seem to be collecting those too;)
 
Pack Rat said:
Another thought on that base... Son in law got the plastic one and first thing he did was screwed it down to a 1x4 about 20 inches long or so....Gives him more stability yet, and in 10 years hasn't managed to bust it,,,yet.. Says it is less strain to hold it... I just like the portability wthout, but that is an excellent idea... I watch him and it looks easier than how I do it.
Click to expand...

I also have the plastic base, screwed down to my handloading bench.
No problems yet, works slick, but not portable...
 
Buck_110 said:
Pack Rat: DMT does make some products like you mention which aid in holding the angle. You just have to poke around on their website: www.dmtsharp.com a little bit to find what you're looking for. You will NOT be disappointed with their products. Those diamond products will hog steel off like you've never seen before. Of course they make finer grits if you're not looking to remove alot of steel as well.
Click to expand...

I might look at them, but I kinda use the old bit about that if it aint broke, dont fix it. I guess it is what you learn with. Now, for larger fixed blades, I would be more than willing to look at different systems. But for a 4 inch blade or less, this Lansky does me good...

One little knife I can get what people call "scary sharp" is a Western muskrat.
Those two blades sharpen up so fast on the lansky it is amazing. Hook my old belt around my foot and strop em a couple of times after they get honed and like I said just amazing.
 
Scott Hartman said:
I'm with Buck_110, I like my Norton oil benchstone. I've sharpened my Mayo TNT with good results, and touch ups on the crock sticks. I use my Lansky, and have a Spyderco Sharpmaker on the way, but oil stones work best for me, I seem to be collecting those too;)
Click to expand...

Peer pressure, peer pressure :D ...now I will be looking for new stones...

An Uncle was a butcher. Taught me long ago that holding the same edge both ways, all the time and you will get a sharp edge. i can't do it on a flat stone free handing a blade. Love these near factory edges that come off the lansky, and I am sure as do others.
 
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