Sharpening tanto blade.

M

muradtexas

Joined
Apr 7, 2012
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I am new to sharpening knives on whetstones, Arkansas stone and such. I'm getting better, but the hardest part is to maintain the angle when sharpening a curved blade. It seems easier to sharpen the straight portion of the blade.
When I was picking a knife recently, the salesperson told me that sharpening a tanto blade is in fact a more difficult process, and I just fail to see it. It looks like 2 straight portions of the blade with no curve to me. Something I can move up and down the stone with no curving. What am I missing? I know some of you are experienced sharpeners. Can you tell me what is so hard about sharpening a tanto blade before I get into it and mess up a knife?
 
Murad, I'm with you on this. I have several tantos and I find them very easy to do. Sharpen the main edge, then sharpen the forward edge. Done.

The only thing to watch for is any slight variance from a straight edge. For example, on my Chris Reeve tanto Sebenza, the hollow ground straight edge has a slight curve to it. It won't bother you, using a stone. But the forward edge is convex and needs a different technique. A strop is a good bet.
 
I'm not sure if I got it right, but I have a solid piece of leather with some buffing compound on it. It gets the job done. Stropping every once in a while brings it back to shaving sharp (more than I need). Not sure if I got the right setup, but as long as it works, I'm happy with it. But thanks for the input. I knew it had to make sense to someone.
 
I've never had any issues with tanto blades, they are easier to do on stones than on a powered system, though. If you're not careful, you can easily take off that second "point" on an Americanized tanto.

Typically the main edge and the tip-edge are two different angles as well, of course.
 
the only tricky part of tanto sharpening is keeping the secondary ''point'' crisp and even. this is being picky but i like the 4 bevels to meet just at the point.
 
I give up and gave my 653 E;bay trophy Buck [less than $5.00 shipped] to Joe in Atlanta this year for Spa treatment and sharping after I put a nice curve in the edge...It came back sharper than some LE 110's I have.I have not had much luck putting a really sharp edge on the thicker steel Bucks..
 
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