Sharpening tantos ...or...(psst, Glockman)

[Lavan]

Glockman, on another thread you mentioned something about having to know HOW to sharpen a tanto blade. Could you elaborate?

I mean other than having to don a kimono, kneel on a tatami mat and cleanse with a bucket of water the temperature of a full moon night in August, is there a DIFFERENCE in sharpening a tanto compared to other styles?

 

[glockman99]

To sharpen a tanto, think of both edges as totally separate blades...Sharpen each angle of the tip separately, and be carefull not to overlap and round-off where they meet....That's the "trick".

 

[GarageBoy]

Put the knife on the stone with the main edge first- push straight across and pull sideways on the knife, don't life, since there is no belly. Then sharpen the tip like a V shaped chisel

 

[Cougar Allen]