Spyderco Tri-AngleSharpmaker...

Carter Leffen

Carter Leffen

Joined
Sep 21, 2005
Messages
105
Folks, I'm now a very happy Khukuri fanatic. I spend most of my time over at Sword Forum International, but will be spending some time here. Khukuris are the reason... No offense to the Bowie knife crowd, but to me, the Khukuri is the greatest combat and all around knife in the world...

I've an H.I. Chiruwa Ang Khola (16.5") on order, have one Khukuri House Operation Iraqi Freedom Khukuri (with another on order), and will soon be ordering other Khukuris... Sort of like eating peanuts, isn't it? :)

First off, I'm not a collector, so don't try and give me a 12 step program to stop me, please... ;) My B.O.B.s (Bug Out Bags) will all have Khukuris, replacing the Bowies, and other knives, I trade up from... In switching to Khukuris, I am not having to carry machettes, Bowie knives, entrenching tools, or pry bars. To me, the Khukuri is a force multiplier...

Secondly, I like knives SHARP! A dull knife tears and drags through whatever it cuts into... A sharp knife CUTS! So, here I am with, to me, a question of major importance.

I use, and have used for quite some time, sharpening kits from Spyderco. Right now, I'm using the Spyderco Tri-AngleSharpmaker. This fine kit came with a wonderful handbook, and I've used it assiduously with all of my knives and with my axes...

For the most optimum edge, do you recommend 30 or 40 degrees? Right now I'm at 30 degrees, and that SEEMS adequate, but I'd like to draw upon your experience, and get your opinions...

Thanks for your time and consideration.

Take care, stay safe, and have fun....

Carter
 
Good to see you, Carter.

A lot of the folks here prefer a convex edge, or at least a convex micro bevel. The Sharpmaker won't do this but one could apply such an edge with the stones freehand, with care. The preferred methods are to either use a belt sander or increasingly finer grades of sandpaper backed by a mousepad for give.

But, since you asked about the Sharpmaker...I was actually using one of these when I got my first khuk and went with 30 degrees. It wasn't a performance question or anything like that; I was doing my rough sharpening with a file and it just so happened that I was sharpening at about 30 degrees, so 30 degrees it was. Watch that the weight of the khuk against the hones doesn't warp the plastic sand and throw your angle off. The Sharpmaker has been successfully used on khuks and swords and such but I don't think that's what Spyderco had in mind when they designed it. ;)

If you want to know more about convex edges and how best to apply one, run a few searches on it here and ask if anything isn't clear. I didn't know what sharp was until the fine folks here taught me.

I can't help you with your new addiction - I'm a bit of an enabler, actually.

Again, good to see you.
 
welcome fellow SFI'er.

stick around, nice having another sword guy 'round.

what area do you favour? I generally stick to the 14th century European arms and armour.

My collection mainly consists of large two handers, XIIa's, XVII's, XVIa's
 
I've never been able to use the sharpmaker on a khukuri. I think my hands want to go all over the place or the weight of the makes holding the blade difficult. :(

Maybe I should drink coffee. :rolleyes:
 
Hi Dave,

I'm a fan of the swords of Gus Trim... Right now, I'm the very happy owner of a DN1506 Swedish Longsword, and an AT1542, which keeps company with an A&A English Buckler. On order, I have one of Gus' new AT1572 LPM Long Sabres... Gus is going to make a special sword for me, probably for the years between Crecy and Agincourt, and the advent of gunpowder- all for an archer... As for my present swords, they're actually "What If?" swords... History has a tendency to repeat itself, and if "the wheels fall off" for Western Civilization, I want alternatives available for when the ammo runs out... So, I study MS I.33, and German Longsword... My favorite, however, is George Silver... Seen through the eyes of Terry Brown, all is made clear...

Don't know if this says too much, or too little... We'll have time for more "talks" if you like...

Take care, stay safe, and have fun...

Carter
 
BruiseLeee,

Thanks for sharing... Obviously if you use Satori's methodology, you don't need either the Tri-AngelShapmaker, or coffee... Keep on, keeping on...

Take care, stay safe, and have fun...

Carter
 
Carter Leffen said:
I want alternatives available for when the ammo runs out... My favorite, however, is George Silver... Seen through the eyes of Terry Brown, all is made clear...

Carter
Click to expand...

Welcome to the Cantina/Psycho Ward Carter.:D
How about some pix of your alternative *what if* swords?
I for one would be very interested as I know the rest of the bunch here would be as well. HI Does make some kick ass swords that might fall into the *what if* category.:D ;) :cool:
 
Hi Carter
I personally use the sharpmaker at 40 degrees for my Khuks and then finish off with a wood-backed leather strop loaded with the green(chromium dioxide?) compound. This works just great...the only advice I would offer is don't oversharpen towards the cho or the tip. As the edge is slightly softer here you'll get a wire edge much quicker than you will at the "sweet spot". I find that if I let the wire edge overdevelop in the softer areas ,it's a real pain in the #ss to get rid of properly. As regards the stropping, I follow Dan Kostners advice and "strop the knife, not knife the strop".

I too love Gus's swords. I currently own a Type X (Viking style) sword and am eagerly looking forward to receiving a Mainz type gladius from John Lundemo, hopefully next month. Incidentally, the Everest Katana (also made shaving sharp using the sharpmaker and strop!) cuts like a laser and seems to have the harmonic balance at the monouchi that Gus would be pleased with.

All the best!

Steve.
 
Ya don't say, Carter...Gus is about 40 miles from me as the crow flies and I still haven't tried one of his swords. I should just order a sword one of these days and be done with it. I've always been a sucker for a good saber; let me know how that one works out for you.

I'm studying Talhoffer myself. Funny, how things work out.

Stick around. You'll fit right in.
 
Steve G. said:
"strop the knife, not knife the strop".
Click to expand...

Dang...well put. I like that one! Can I use it? :D


Can't add much to what's already been said. Just, if you understand what Steve said, then do the same with your Spyderco triangle hones (if they're removable).
 
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