Sharpening the Southard

nccole

nccole

Joined
Jun 2, 2011
Messages
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Anyone put their own edge on the Southard yet? Mine is still shaving in all places but one spot in the middle of the blade (I think it was from a zip tie), so I am thinking of putting my own edge on it soon. If you have, how does it feel compared to other steels (S30V, VG10, ZDP-189, 14C28N, 8Cr13MoV)? I have a GATCO system with diamond stones fyi. I guess guys with blue PM2's could also share their experiences.
 
To be honest if you are using diamonds it shouldn't be too much of a difference at all. I've done 20cv, m4, s90v, and a plethora of other steels on my wicked edge and the diamonds seem to make it easy with all steels. I think when people can tell the difference is when they are using waterstones or others.
 
The first thing i did with mine was put my own edge on it. I found it to be a little more difficult to sharpen than S30V and m4,about the same as m390 maybe just a smidge harder than m390 which would make sense as my experience with m390 has been limited to Benchmade's heat treat which is a little softer than spyderco is rumored to have run the 204p in the Southard. All in all, with diamond stones you shouldn't have any problem.
 
I'll get mine on the wicked edge as soon as it needs it. Interested in seeing how 204p takes an edge.
 
atony said:
I'll get mine on the wicked edge as soon as it needs it. Interested in seeing how 204p takes an edge.
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It takes a nice edge, but does put up a bit of a fight. Not sure what it it, may have to do with the carbide size but it definitely doesn't take as fine of an edge as easily as something like m4. That's not to say that it doesn't get as sharp, just that it takes a bit more time and a bit more skill to get a hair whittling edge out of it than some other steels. Of course, this is all assuming you're freehand sharpening since that's what I do. I imagine it'll take a very nice edge with minimal extra effort on the wicked edge.
 
If I freehand sharpen it will never get sharp! definitely going on the WE. Thanks for the info.

mkjellgren said:
It takes a nice edge, but does put up a bit of a fight. Not sure what it it, may have to do with the carbide size but it definitely doesn't take as fine of an edge as easily as something like m4. That's not to say that it doesn't get as sharp, just that it takes a bit more time and a bit more skill to get a hair whittling edge out of it than some other steels. Of course, this is all assuming you're freehand sharpening since that's what I do. I imagine it'll take a very nice edge with minimal extra effort on the wicked edge.
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Thanks for the info. 30 degrees inclusive sound good? That is what I put on just about everything.
 
Hey, what degree are you guys running it? For those who reprofiled, did it take long? I have the stock 120 on the EP, no diamonds yet.
 
nccole said:
Thanks for the info. 30 degrees inclusive sound good? That is what I put on just about everything.
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FCM415 said:
Hey, what degree are you guys running it? For those who reprofiled, did it take long? I have the stock 120 on the EP, no diamonds yet.
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As I said above, I sharpen freehand, so I don't know exact angles. With that said, spyderco shoots for 30° inclusive from the factory, and I thinned out the factory bevel considerably so I'd guess mine is between 20° and 25° inclusive with a microbevel around 30°. As for time spent reprofiling, again, with diamonds it wasn't too big of a deal, probably took me about an hour to thin out the edge then progress through the grits to a mirror polish. Without diamonds it might be a bit of a bear, 204p is some pretty hard, wear resistant steel.
 
Putting a new profile on it is no problem at all with diamonds. I can't really attest to using other stones on it but I'm a believer on the fact that you shouldn't even think about re profiling harder steels without diamonds. Of course I could be wrong and it might be reasonable without diamonds.
 
My stupid friend cut meat on a baking pan with it and made some rolls on the edge towards the tip, so when i just got home a couple mins ago i had to touch it up on the WEPS on 600 grit then strops, but to my surprise it was about 54 degrees inclusive when i was matching the bevels so i wouldn't waste steel. It's pretty sharp but i was surprised to see that this one came with such an obtuse edge compared to my other spydercos. My ultra coarse wicked edge stones come in on thursday so i have to break those in before i dare reprofile my southard. I am thinking 34 degrees inclusive would suit this blade well due to the hardness and the way i am intending on using this.
 
Mine is sub 40 inclusive (touched it up on the UF rods a couple of days ago)
 
I might just keep it at whatever stock edge it came with for now. Reason being I do not want to take it to the EP for over an hour on the 120 grit. Everyone seems have used a diamond stone to reprofile. When I get around to purchasing the 140 atoma, I'll give it a shot and aim for 30 or below and take the steel to its potential.
 
dflores said:
Got any pics of the edge?
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I'd like to see some pics as well. Preferably from guys who have the wicked edge or edge pro so I can get a feel for what angle my freehand edge might be at. I assumed the Southard was close to 30° inclusive from the factory since that is what spyderco usually shoots for, but it sounds like some of you guys had edges far more obtuse than 30°, which would put my estimated edge angle off by quite a bit. Not that it really matters, i'm just curious as I'd like to be in the 25° inclusive range to get the most out of this steel.
 
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