Sharpening Buck/Strider tanto tip

[Sean Hawkins]

Hello there!

I read somewhere that the front part of the tanto blade is not sharpened to ensure maximum tip strength.

I've a Buck/Strider tanto inbound from a trade with aztec777 very soon and am wondering how much effort it'll take to sharpen the front "portion" of the blade. I have a cheapo sharpening stone from a supermarket, a DMT medium/fine grit folding sharpener and 2 spydie sharp maker (medium and fine).

Is it advisable to sharpen the front of blade for daily use or should I just leave it be?

Thanks
Sean

BTW It's good to be back. I was suffering from withdrawal and had the shakes for a while...

 

[Crayola]

I have a Buck/Strider tanto that was worked on my forumite RDT. He sharpened up the tip some,a nd polsihed it in the process. Indeed, the tip isn't sharp. Even mine isn't sharp really. The tip was designed more to poke holes in things. This knife to me really screams "knife as tool". Point for poking, scraping, scratching, and an edge for cutting. If you want to rework the tip, I'd suggest using the coarsest hone you havem or getting some coarse wed/dry paper, say 120 grit or coarser. With the paper, put some on a FLAT surface (I have a piece of glass that is used for flatness chores), wet the paper (water is fine), coat the tip in black amrker, lock yoru elbows into the side fo your body, put the tip on the paper at the angle you want to sharpen at, and move your body back and forth. Tanto blades are easy to sharpen since the point, and often the main edge, is straight. I like to move my bofy forward and back, nto side to side like. Just keep that angle locked in and ove back and forth with good pressure. It won't take long at all to thin out the tip some and make it a nice even grind. Switch sides and do the same. Follow up with your DMT stone.

 

[SIFU1A]

i sent my 880 in to buck and they mirror polished the blade and sharpened the tip, looks great, is not as sharp as the other part of the blade, but is far from dull like it was.

price?? $10 including shipping, took about 10 days or so. am very happy with it also

greg