Sharpening Stone Really Necessary in Survival Kit?

I can honestly say i have never needed to sharpen in the field. One simply switches to another knife if the edge ever dulls (extremely rare for me). After all i normally have between 5 - 10 knives on my anyways.

heck on the last BC fatwood hike i had 7 , and that covered a few hours of fatwooding
 
Bushman5 said:
I can honestly say i have never needed to sharpen in the field. One simply switches to another knife if the edge ever dulls (extremely rare for me). After all i normally have between 5 - 10 knives on my anyways.

heck on the last BC fatwood hike i had 7 , and that covered a few hours of fatwooding
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If I am carrying 5-10 knives then I doubt the weight of a sharpening stone is going to be a big problem.
 
I carry a Fallkniven DC-4.It has diamond side for coarse sharpening and ceramic side for touch up :thumbup:
 
the diafold definitely looks like a nice option, if a guy wanted smaller yet how would a dmt mini in coarse + a dmt credit card in fine compare?
 
Depending on what steel, and hardness, you using. stone can be not to hot for sharpening. I have some knives that even with diamond can take some effort. I carry a flat swiss file, and diamond. This combination handles all of my tools, and any serious damage that may occur. I have also used these for other purposes. Filing broken fingernails, powdering magnesium, making fine tinder, cleaning corroded battery terminals, and so on. I consider the sharpness and maintenance of my tools to be extremely high on my list. Always carry the means to do so. They weigh nothing and take up little space.
 
I carry something for the simple reason that for minimal effort I have the ability to take a tool from a frustrating liability verging on useless to perhaps the most useful. Admittedly I rarely carry a stone instead of paper [I do for the golok and ax – small slip the size of my small DMT – either /both], but given the potential it creates I'll take something.

I posted in here before about how I completely wiped the edge off my SAK cutting trough a tire. I wanted the tubes from a BMX if found. Didn't realize it has steel belts in it. Cold hands lack delicacy. I kept powering down before I realized that it just wasn't going to happen and there was a problem. Similarly, all sorts of other salvage has hidden nasties in and I can't be sure to be cutting only soft woodland stuff in the woods. Then there's the beach. Great place to forage but a real easy place to blunt your knives.

I know that in survival situations I could rub my knife up a rock or something but compared to the edges to which I am accustomed the best outcome from that would be pitiful.
 
This is like going to a cooking forum and asking if desserts are really necessary :D

I love to sharpen in the woods when taking a break or just at camp. I carry a couple of different lansky ceramics and the extra course diamond. Maybe 8oz total. I should probably try something lighter, but these are what I'm comfortable with free-handing and that extra course diamond is like having a full size shop file with you if you really screw up an edge, that thing eats metal.

Only problem I've had is the looks other hikers give me when they pass by and I'm sitting on the side of the trail sharpening what looks to them like a big scary knife :D
 
It's probably not necessary but with how small you can get them, it really can't hurt either. I just keep one in the front pouch of my pack next to my first aid kit. Nothing special, just a small ceramic sharpener I had laying around.
 
ZombaiO said:
I carry a Fallkniven DC-4.It has diamond side for coarse sharpening and ceramic side for touch up :thumbup:
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That's interesting "ZombaiO">> I've heard good stuff about Fallkniven's sharpening tools but I've yet to try out any. I've seen the very one you are speaking of in a couple of knife magazines. However I haven't found a dealer here in the USA other than an internet site I don't trust that has them.

I see you are over in Europe. I wonder if a guy can order them directly from Fallkniven? That is if I can't locate a source here in the USA.

Another sharpening tool I would recommend if you have any serrated blades in your emergency kit. Spyderco makes a great manual sharpening tool for serrated blades known as the 701 Profile kit. Now they use to have a shorter version of that tool know as the 702 Profile kit which I was lucky enough to land 2 of them when they disco'd them. I do see them pop up for sale in various places occasionally. The 702 is the ideal size for bugout bags and would be great.
 
You can tell by my screen name what I think. I always carry a diamond rod or ceramic stick so I can touch up my blade edge.I try to use my knife as a knife not a shovel,axe,pry bar,or hammer. Unless you are in an extreme situation where you truely need to survive then whatever it takes, but, it is always good to be able to maintain the edge of your knife in the field. A sharp knife as we all know takes less effort to use and in turn is safer to use.
 
Can you get by without a sharpening stone in your kit? Yes you can. If your skills are up to snuff, you can also do it without a knife at all. Believe it or Not.:) Of all the stuff that you may need, a knife can often be way down the list.

Of course this would not be possible on the BF.
 
I was just out for six days in jungle conditions and had to sharpen my machete every day. I always carry at least my diamond rod for field sharpening. IMO it's a necessary piece of kit and worth its weight. I wouldn't carry a "large stone", that would be a waste when there are smaller systems to get you sharp again.

Mac
 
i carry a lansky diamond rod, GB axe stone when i have my hawks or axes, and a leather strop with diamond paste. Not all the heavy and i can always get a razor edge
 
Will you survive without one? Probably, however I go into the backcountry to enjoy myself and a sharp knife is a joy to use.

Spyderco doublestuff, same stone for the last 20 years and still going strong. Chris
 
I have a Smith's diamond pocket stone. 3"x1"x<1/2" and comes with a small nylon sheath. Also has a groove for fish hooks. For ~$10 makes sense to me in all but the smallest kits. -DT
 
The condom principle:

Better to have one and not need it, than need one and not have it.

Do you want to have to stop and search for a natural sharpener in the middle of making an emergency shelter or notching a firebow hearth?
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This. Right here. Solid info, muh bruvva.

Lansky Extra Fine diamond hone in my pack.

A little diamond stone I bought forever ago at Wal-mart in the pocket on Sweet Lucille's sheath.
 
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