Sharpest slipjoint?

M

mrjefe2u

Joined
Oct 19, 2010
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253
It looks like some pocket knives are not consistent
in the degree of sharpness.

Among your recent traditional slip-joint knives:

1. Which came the sharpest out of the box/tube?

2. Which is now the sharpest after you worked it over?

My GEC 73 is now my sharpest after a little work.

The Case CV's seem better than the SS.
 
The traditional that arrived the sharpest would be a Rough Rider tiny toothpick, which came shaving sharp. With my recent Queen small stockman a close second. My most dull knives have been from GEC or Trevor Ablett (not that it matters much because I like to sharpen them to my liking anyway).

After sharpening, all my carbon steel blades seem to keep excellent edges but the sharpest, due to its thin flat grind, is probably any one of my Opinels. That simple old design is so effective, and for a working knife, I find them hard to beat.

Paul
 
Im so used to factory grinds that I just expect to put my own edge on them after opening.
Some factory edges can come shaving sharp and roll after first use.
My newer Case knives would probably get the nod for arriving the sharpest, but a few have come with uneven grinds as well.
GEC's 1095 gives me the most satisfying edge of all my slipjoint brands and steels.
And my GEC #62 Easy Pocket Congress (nasty wharncliffe main) would be my sharpest of the bunch.
 
For the nearly 40 years that I have been into knives, factory edge has been a derogatory term.

That said, Case seems to be doing a pretty good job with factory edges lately.


I wonder why the tactical makers like Kershaw and Spyderco seem to be able to deliver scary sharp right out of the box. I wonder if their undoubted focus on automated manufacturing produces better results?
 
Sharpest out of the box so far for me has been my Case CV Trapper.
I do have it on good authority that Queen has been looking into better sharpening for their knives. Stay tuned.
 
MarkPinTx said:
I wonder why the tactical makers like Kershaw and Spyderco seem to be able to deliver scary sharp right out of the box. I wonder if their undoubted focus on automated manufacturing produces better results?
Click to expand...

Spyderco got its start making sharpening equipment. It's no surprise that their knives are some of the sharpest around.

Kershaw on the other hand is owned by KAI, a Japanese company. Every Japanese made knife I've seen has been very sharp, almost as if it is a point of pride for them.

- Christian
 
Hands down it is my Jared Oeser Trapper - it is super sharp and a pleasure to use. It is so sharp you take notice to carefully open and close it, lest you pay the price in blood.

DSC_2013.JPG


best

mqqn
 
protourist said:
Sharpest out of the box so far for me has been my Case CV Trapper.
I do have it on good authority that Queen has been looking into better sharpening for their knives. Stay tuned.
Click to expand...

Indeed, I can confirm that the d2 edges on my latest were very sharp. Aside from my Opinels and my fiancé's RR it is the only traditional I have received In the box that could shave hair. It's a nice feeling. It will give Queen a little edge in the market if they can keep it up. Ahem sorry about the shameless pun.
 
That is a good observation on the Japanese. I think the first Spydercos were Japanese as well. I just wonder if they don't have some kind of jig for machine sharpening rather than relying on the vagaries of "hand sharpening."
 
Sharpest OTB without question have been Japanese made knives without a doubt!!! Moki, Macusta, and Al Mar and most others manufactured in Seki City . US manufacturers would do well to strive for similar standards. I'm hearing Queen has improved lately but past offerings have dismal in terms of sharpness and grind consistency.
 
I think the sharpest out of the box over the years has been Victorinox. Case is doing better than say 20 years ago, and Buck has slipped a bit. But no matter where I buy a new SAK to mail off to a vacation spot, It's always shaving sharp out of the package.

Carl.
 
Sharpest out of the box recently (traditional) was a new Case Mini Trapper. Sharpest knife I own is whichever one I did the best sharpening job on. Most of mine seem to be about equally sharp unless I was lazy when sharpening them. Theres's a certain level of sharpness I can put on a blade with my tools and skills as they currently stand. It turns out that is sharp enough for any of my needs so I don't worry about putting a mirror finish or arm-shaving edge on them because I don't tend to need to shave my arm very often.
 
The Chinese have sharpening down, too. Just about every RR has come shaving sharp, and this Marbles imported hunter's trapper came ridiculously, fearfully sharp, all three blades.

marbles4.jpg~original


I think the sharpest I have gotten one is the boy's knife, nice thin blades.

15BKopen_zps69348fd6.jpg~original
 
For traditional pocket knives I'd guess that my sharpest (out of the box) is either an Opinel or possibly an AG Russell.

I think the sharpest pocket knife (now) is probably an Opinel, but that is really a difficult thing to judge since they're all sharp now.

Fixed blades is easy - the sharpest (by far) knives (brand new) that I've had are anything from Breeden or AA Forge.

They're probably still the sharpest of my fixed blades.
 
The sharpest slipjoints I have seen out of the box have been my Charlows...especially the second run spearpoints. I have also gotten a Case Tiny Trapper that was a near scalpel out of the box. My sharpest after sharpening is either my GEC Hound Tooth or my old Schrade 80T.

People keep saying the Rough Riders come sharp but the Battleaxe congress and my Hawkbill came as dull as my ex wife ;)
 
Custom knives without a doubt, I assume your talking production though. I would have to say Victorinox does a good job. Case has not been great for me, My expensive Case/Bose tribal spear wasn't even that sharp out of the box. My GEC 73 was dull, but was easy to get RAZOR sharp. Queen seems to have very thick edges and Queen D2 seems to be hit and miss with heat treat. I have Queen D2 that holds a good edge and some that seems to be very soft.
 
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