Sharpening 1095...

[PRKsux]

I have both an ICU and a Company Knife by Newt Livesay and I cannot get these knives sharp! I used my Spyderco 204 and after the usual sharpening procedure, which sharpens all my other knives, the ICU and CK are not even sharp enough to cut cleanly through paper. Any recommendations on what I should do?
Thanks.

------------------
GOA
KABA
CRPA
NRA

 

[Paracelsus]

I'm guessing your difficulty has nothing to do with the steel. Probably the secondary edge bevels (cutting bevels) are not the same as the angle you are using on your sharpmaker.

Use a black felt marker to mark all along the edge of the knife (both sides). Then make a couple of strokes on your stones at the angle you want. If the black is not removed all the way to the very edge, you need to get stroking until it is all gone on both sides. Sometimes one side will need more work than the other.

If there is a lot of black showing (the edge bevels are a wider angle than the angle you are sharpening), you may want to use a relatively rough stone to thin out the edge bevels before finishing on the sharpmaker.

Happy sharpening!

Paracelsus

 

[lambertiana]

You may have the problem that I occasionally have when I switch between stainless and carbon steel blades. Most stainless blades require more pressure when sharpening, and if you don't use a lighter touch when you finish with a 1095 blade, you may be rolling the edge. Try feeling the edge by moving your finger from the spine toward (and off) the edge. If you feel a slight egde or ridge on one side of the bevel, you have rolled the edge and you need to use a lighter touch.

John