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Sharpening Out In The Field????

R

reconranger

Joined
Sep 23, 2007
Messages
822
Wondering what everybody carries out in the field to keep their edged tools sharp?

I have a little steel that is light and compact, that I have had for years. It is also tapered at the end, so it can be used as a chisel!!! Has worked well for me!

I think that sharpener in the scabbard of the Gerber LMF II, is a real clever idea for a "field expedient" sharpener.....
 
I have a small diamond hone (or two), I always have one with me all the time anyway. If I have carbon steel knives with me, I may bring a small nameless carborundum hone too.
timann
 
I often bring along a Spyderco ceramic stone. It has a coarse side and a fine side, and a leather pouch. To be honest, I have never really *had* to use it in the field, but I often use it to touch up my knives while sitting around the camp fire, just because I find it relaxing.

For real emergency purposes, I often pack some small squares of cardboard backed with wet-dry sandpaper. They take up no space, and can be used to touch up a blade or remove rust spots.

Best,

- Mike
 
I have 2 DMT diafolds, the balisong style ones. I also have a nice little, lightweight , thin wood block with mouse pad glued to it and a selection of wet/dry sand paper to use with it. But mostly for camping and such I don't take much, I try to keep my knives maintained and use quality steels that don't need frequent sharpening. Plus I carry 3 or 4 to the woods with me. In a 30 or 40 lb. pack another pound or 2 isn't really notice ...so I think have a couple of spares is worth it.
 
I carry a DMT diafold fine / extra fine. Back at camp I keep a complete set of DMT 6" stones course, fine, and extra fine.
 
Either a DMT diafold, or most commonly, a small section of firearms counter mat (basically a mousepad with a stiff plastic sheet of info on one side) along with 3-4 different grades of wet/dry sandpaper cut to fit the section of pad. The pad/sandpaper is light and packs easily tucked away in a pocket of whatever bag I'm carrying.

Works for just about anything I have to sharpen.

Charlie
 
Falkniven DC4. Diamond on one side and ceramic on the other side. Great little hone, liked it so much I picked up another one to keep in the kit.
 
I usually just bring some bits of sand paper and some strop butter on cardboard in a plastic baggy or small tin. It is a light weight but very capable kit. It\'s great for me since the majority of my knives are convexed.
 
DMT Diafold Coarse/Fine and a hard arkansas stone.

The Diafold keeps my big honkers sharp, and I use the hard Arkansas for keeping a keen edge on skinners while working.

If I'm going to be out for a long time, I'll bring a strop for my Aurora, but for weekenders, I haven't needed to sharpen it.
 
I have one of the small Spyderco fine ceramic stones, and that works pretty well. Thinking about getting a couple of the medium/fine stones to throw in various places so they're always around.
 
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