Sharpest out of the box?

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kristopher

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May 28, 2005
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Hello all! I'm fairly new to traditional folders, having concentrated on tactical folders and fixers for most of my knife collecting. I've recently developed a passionate desire for a really nice folder. I'd like it to take the place of the SAK I currently carry. I'm interested in a whittler or a congress, preferably a relatively small knife, so I don't scare the sheeple in my office. I've been drooling over some of the Schatt & Morgan knives, but my biggest concern at the moment is how sharp these knives will be out of the box. I remember the ones I eyeballed when I was a kid being about as sharp as a butter knife when they came out of the box. I'm debating between the really nice Schatt & Morgan knives, Boker tree brand and Queen cutlery. Case is not an option. I don't like their knives, and have a hard time finding any really redeeming quality there. (Please don't crucify me....lol. I know that there are people who collect and love Case knives....they're just not my thing.) Anyhow, that's about it. I'd like a Whittler or a Congress. I'd like it to be super sharp out of the box. Ideally I'd like for it to have a Wharncliffe blade, as I've always loved those. Thanks for the help in advance!

Kristopher
 
Of the three brands you mentioned, Boker would easily be the most consistently sharp out of the box.
The most consistently sharp brands I have found are Buck and Rough Rider.
 
I have had Queen sharp and dull. My Schatt's that I bought new were not too bad. I was going to say Al Mar, because they seem to come lazer sharp out of the box, but they do not make the patterns you are asking for.
 
Thanks for the insight, Guys. I'm probably going to buy a Boker Tree brand knife. I like the Schatt's, but have a good feeling about the carbon blades available on the Bokers. I haven't been able to find one of the Bokers with a "real" Wharncliffe blade, which disappoints me, but I can always buy more later, right? :)

Kristopher
 
I find Canal Street comes with the sharpest factory grind
Followed by Queen Schatt & Morgan
Then GEC
Then Boker and Case
Queen in D2 I know will need work
 
Take a look at the Canal Street Cutlery Hawbaker Muskrat. It's got a nice clip and a beautiful Wharncliffe on it as well.

Ed
 
neeman said:
I find Canal Street comes with the sharpest factory grind
Followed by Queen Schatt & Morgan
Then GEC
Then Boker and Case
Queen in D2 I know will need work
Click to expand...

I agree with Neeman's ranking.
 
This Canal Street Stag Jack in D2 came from a popular vendor in AK as sharp as I could hope to receive any knife. I used it to cut dried flowers over Thanksgiving with the shop edge and it is still sharp.
xxx
CanalStreetStagJack_4817.jpg
 
I think I would have to go with the old saw "ya pays yer money, and ya takes yer chances".

My Kershaws and Spydercos have come very sharp. But they don't make a real traditional like you want.

Mike Latham has me on Queen now, and while some of them come sharp, some of them don't. Viewing the many, many knives at the gun shows I frequent, I would say that the Pumas, Bokers, Eye Brands, and a couple of lesser German brands seem to be consistently the sharpest of their group.

I think all knives should be sharp, ready to work at their specified task (cutting) when I buy them. I don't feel like I should have to complete a tool (to me this is like sharpening a new saw blade after I buy it) before using. But I have learned to live with the fact that getting a sharp knife from the factory should be looked at as a treat, not as a a reasonable expectation.

Sadly, I think the knife that always seems to come sharp out of the box are the Rough Riders. I don't own any at this time, but after looking at a ton of them they always seem to have at least a respectable edge. A few were very sharp.

Robert
 
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I'm surprised to see several posts indicating that Case knives lack a decent factory edge. I've found them to be consistently hair-popping sharp straight from the box--far sharper than any of my GECs, and most of the S&M/Queens I've handled--with one odd exception; the expensive Case/Bose annual collaboration knives in my experience haven't been quite as sharp as their regular production counterparts for some reason.
 
CASE arrives usually sharp in stainless less so in cv

Queen carbon is razor, the D2 as we know is another thing..

Böker Germany comes keen

GEC is very variable, stainless is keen though

Rough Rider always arrives extremely sharp, stays like it and is easy to resharpen. Their bevels are good.
 
When I buy a Rough Rider I KNOW it will be razor sharp out of the box, will hold a good edge and sharpens easily.

Best regards

Robin
 
I'm sadden at your lack of love for Case knives. :( Ok I'm over it out of what you mentioned I would say probably Boker.
 
Every Case I have bought in the last couple years has been scalpel sharp out of the box. I used to be prejudiced against Case also but in re-examining them I have found Case to have the very highest quality for a production slippie.
Oh, and sharpest out of the box,bar none...Al Mar traditional lockbacks.
 
After reading opinions on question I am happy some folks are getting sharp knives.

BUT, to Kris or anyone, I would have to say: Owning a good method to sharpen your knife and learning how to use it is a big part of knife carry. Would you own a car and never put air in a tire or wash the windshield or wipe the dust off the dash. There are tools that are not costly that you can sharpen a knife with easily. A $25 dollar knife deserves a $10 dollar sharpener. The sound of metal gently grinding on abrasive will begin to be sweet to your ear. If I open a box with a new sodbuster (which I never have) and it is dull I will sharpen it and be happy.

300/ch
 
I just received my first Schatt & Morgan, a 4" Pennsylvania Congress, and found all four blades to have the typical (to me anyway) Queen 60 degree edge bevels. The Case Large Stockman in CV that I picked up a week ago was a straight razor by comparison.
 
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