Photos Slippies, Stones and Strops!

Eli Chaps

Eli Chaps

Joined
Apr 20, 2018
Messages
4,458
So how's about some pictures of our beautiful knives along with our tools for maintaining them? The stones don't have to be "traditional". If you use diamonds or a system or whatever, post it up. Maybe we'll get to see some great pics and have some good discussion along the way. Oh and by all means, post up back locks and fixed blades too. They just didn't make for a catchy title. :D

I'll start us off...

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This soft Arkansas is really very pretty. It's full of purples and light grays. Arkansas can vary quite a bit and this one produces a rather course edge and I like that on the main blade of this Medium Stockman.


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I use all kinds of sharpening methods. Many different freehand stones, edge pro, lansky, sharpmaker. I only have one strop though.

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Small files are an essential part of sharpening so the choils and kicks can be maintained. I was very thrilled when I found this full set of like new USA made nicholson files in the container; the bottom two came with it as extras and they happen to be the two types I needed and use most. I can't find any company that makes files in the USA anymore. You can get swiss made but...$$$

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While the Bolus is at a new home, the Boker still rides along and the stones beneath help keep things on edge, hand held both stone and knife while sharpening. They were designed to fit the Edge Pro but I've long since parted with that fixture and kept a few choice stones and find it a good way to sharpen.

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

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TheChunk91 said:
I use all kinds of sharpening methods. Many different freehand stones, edge pro, lansky, sharpmaker. I only have one strop though.

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Small files are an essential part of sharpening so the choils and kicks can be maintained. I was very thrilled when I found this full set of like new USA made nicholson files in the container; the bottom two came with it as extras and they happen to be the two types I needed and use most. I can't find any company that makes files in the USA anymore. You can get swiss made but...$$$

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Just coming back around to these knives, kicks are something I've not yet had to deal with and am surely interested in learning more.
 
Eli Chaps said:
Got that same knife recently and really like it. I hope you're enjoying yours as well!
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I really am, thank you! I just got this one last week and it's been with me every day since.

This thing is so classy. I hope Case will expand their use of this handle scale. Smaller offerings would be great. The mini trapper they already do looks nice but not my favorite pattern. A medium stockman 32 or pen knife 87 would be super slick!
 
This is my carry kit,
DMT coarse, Fallkniven dc4, Opinel natural stone
Usually the coarse is enough followed by a little stropping for general use.
the others are for polishing the whittling blades.
The Opinel stone leaves a great polished edge
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lutejones said:
This is my carry kit,
DMT coarse, Fallkniven dc4, Opinel natural stone
Usually the coarse is enough followed by a little stropping for general use.
the others are for polishing the whittling blades.
The Opinel stone leaves a great polished edge
2-EE82-D82-1653-400-E-902-F-34-CA05-BDDCE1.jpg

7-D2-BD35-A-1-C06-4-DF1-B023-A5676246-E67-D.jpg
Click to expand...

I didn't even know Opinel offered stones. Learning has transpired! :) And that's a beauty of a Case.
 
Eli Chaps said:
I didn't even know Opinel offered stones. Learning has transpired! :) And that's a beauty of a Case.
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It really is a beauty, I don’t carry it a lot because is a tad too much weight and bulk for what I like in the pocket and the pen blade spring is a little bit stiff but is one of the prettiest I own.
The stone is a natural stone from Lombardía a part of Italy at the foot of the alps, is kind of rough until it breaks in but then the finish is comparable to a 2-3000 grit Japanese WS
https://www.opinel.com/en/accessories/sharpening-tools/sharpening-stone-10-cm
 
peanutsxx said:
ETA: I just noticed that you have attached leather to a 800 grit stone for a strop? Stone no good but flat for the strop or ?
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The strop is an old Hand American unit, bought a long time ago when they sold directly to customers. What you see is a model with reversible plates. One side has leather for 800 grit Aluminum oxide powder, the other side 1200 grit AO. I have another plate with smooth leather, one treated with chromium oxide and the other left bare. What you refer to stone is actually Corian. Both the base and the plates are made from it.
 
peanutsxx said:
Definitely nothing fancy here, but my amateur sharpening would be wasted on much else. :p I do need a good strop so if anyone has recommendations please PM me. :cool:
full
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You can strop on a broad range of mediums. Especially with the softer steels that are typical to our traditionals. Folded cardboard with some compound works great. If you cut up cardboard for disposal, I always recommend a few stropping passes on the bare surface before tossing it. I mean it's there so why not right? Rolled cardboard can be used kind of like a steel.

Denim also works really well. For a looooong time I used a jeans pant leg that I cut off at the knee and would then slide a piece if 2x4 inside and wrap tight. Can use it bare or with some compound.

Use a light touch and try to maintain the bevel angle as the softer materials like these and leather give a bit and can convex the edge a bit. But nothing to really stress over.

You can also put a little compound on a paint stick.

Just some ideas for quick and easy strops.
 
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