What accounts for the huge variability in sharpness out of box between different brands and even across the same brand's products? I'm sure everyone has their stories about getting random lemons (in terms of sharpness) from manufacturers who normally have great QC, and vice versa. Is sharpening that complex and subtle of a job that the same manufacturer can release knives both dull as butter knives and hair-splitting sharp?
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Sharpness differences out of box
- Thread starter asdf12345
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The human factor. It's a person who does the sharpening so there will inevitably be a range.
Number two, a dull knife out of the box doesn't mean it's a lemon.
Number two, a dull knife out of the box doesn't mean it's a lemon.
While I can appreciate a manufacturer putting a good edge on their knives, I don't consider lack of initial sharpness a sign of a poor knife. Some of the best knives I own came dull as butter knives, literally. I'm thinking Queen Cutlery right off the top of my head. Superb knives but mostly poor edges.
Being able to sharpen a knife is a skill too few people want to learn. It's really not so hard to do but a lot of people will buy a nice knife that's sharp when new, use it 'til it goes dull and then put it away in a drawer and go out and buy another knife.
Being able to sharpen a knife is a skill too few people want to learn. It's really not so hard to do but a lot of people will buy a nice knife that's sharp when new, use it 'til it goes dull and then put it away in a drawer and go out and buy another knife.
Sonnydaze
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Whenever possible, try to buy a knife with the FACTORY edge.
Beware of blades that have been sharpened to a mirror-finish by the owner. So many times, these are blades that are quite different in bevel-angle from one side of the edge to the other. Occasionally, you may see a mirror-polished edge that is NOT even sharp,
Make certain that you have some kind of inspection and "return" privilege when you buy a used knife that has been "owner-sharpened."
There are many newbies that have expensive sharpening systems and are learning at the expense of other folks. (I'm not so hot either.)
I have run into a few of these "ruined" blades, where re-profiling was not even a reasonable alternative.
The last one cost me a brand new blade, for a $300 mid-tech intended to use for a relative's gift, and a resulting loss of over one hundred dollars.
Sonnydaze
Beware of blades that have been sharpened to a mirror-finish by the owner. So many times, these are blades that are quite different in bevel-angle from one side of the edge to the other. Occasionally, you may see a mirror-polished edge that is NOT even sharp,
Make certain that you have some kind of inspection and "return" privilege when you buy a used knife that has been "owner-sharpened."
There are many newbies that have expensive sharpening systems and are learning at the expense of other folks. (I'm not so hot either.)
I have run into a few of these "ruined" blades, where re-profiling was not even a reasonable alternative.
The last one cost me a brand new blade, for a $300 mid-tech intended to use for a relative's gift, and a resulting loss of over one hundred dollars.
Sonnydaze
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- Jul 20, 2014
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- 2,700
I got my Hogue EX01 in a couple of days ago, and it was no where near the sharpest factory blade I've received. However, it wasn't dull by any means and had the best factory polish I've ever seen. Like it has been said, a factory edge is in no way a fair representation of a knifes overall quality.