Photos Terrible Factory Edges

The factory edges are usually ground so that the knife is safe from stupidity. All i care is that its atleast somewhat even because I'm going to reprofile it anyway. For some reason the cheap chinese knives manufacturers don't have problems accomplishing it.
 
I think that is because the cheap chinese knives are ground by machine rather than by hand.

Actually my Kershaw Emerson CQC 7K which is a cheap 35$ knife came with one of the best edge geometries I have ever had on any knife in any price point. The thing just cuts like a friggin' laz0r beam. Somehow the edge angles came out much less obtuse than most my factory edges came. So if most my factory grinds came at about 35 degrees inclusive then this Kershaw Emerson seems to be coming in at about 28 degrees inclusive. As the steel is 8cr14Mov it is very easy for me to touch it up and bring it back to a rediculous sharpness.

If you guys are looking for some mirror edged knives which come that way in a decent price point then please take a look at Hogue Knives offerings. My knives from them came with a mirror edge.
 
If there is one thing that bothers me more than a scratchy Edge it's a giant ass bevel sitting at like 50 degrees inclusive just to see a whole oil painting in the reflection of your bevel lol. Yeah some people probabaly think I'm dumb for getting a "Mirror" like Edge on my edcs but at least I keep my bevels around 28-30 inclusive haha.
Lapedog Lapedog
 
Almost all knives are sharpened by hand on a belt grinder in the factory. They're always going to be a little uneven. How much so depends on the skill of the person doing it and what's within spec for that manufacturer.

They certainly aren't going to spend an hour per blade. They don't even spend the 3 minutes mentioned in the OP. It's more like 45 seconds. 2-3 passes per side on the belt and then one or two on a felt wheel.

I actually think most of them do a pretty good job. They're sharp the full length of the blade and the bevels are in the realm of even.

Compare your Bradford to most of Queen Cutlery's stuff and its night and day. I've got a large Congress from Queen where the edges were more chamferred than sharpened. You could stand on the edge and not be cut.
 
Mirror edges also apparently stay sharp longer. The scratch pattern on the edge makes it more likely to grab at the material being cut, causing the edge to wear away. A mirror edge resists wear better. Mirror edges resist rust better too, as do all mirror finishes.
 
T.L.E. Sharp said:
Almost all knives are sharpened by hand on a belt grinder in the factory. They're always going to be a little uneven. How much so depends on the skill of the person doing it and what's within spec for that manufacturer.

They certainly aren't going to spend an hour per blade. They don't even spend the 3 minutes mentioned in the OP. It's more like 45 seconds. 2-3 passes per side on the belt and then one or two on a felt wheel.

I actually think most of them do a pretty good job. They're sharp the full length of the blade and the bevels are in the realm of even.

Compare your Bradford to most of Queen Cutlery's stuff and its night and day. I've got a large Congress from Queen where the edges were more chamferred than sharpened. You could stand on the edge and not be cut.
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I guess I do have to give credit where it's due..if what you say is true about spending so little time on the Edge vs what hey produce it's actually not too bad. Obviously some worse than others haha.
 
Edges are temporary anyway. If there's only a certain amount of labor allotted for each knife, I'd rather have most of it go to fit and finish than into a mirror polished edge.
 
T.L.E. Sharp said:
Edges are temporary anyway. If there's only a certain amount of labor allotted for each knife, I'd rather have most of it go to fit and finish than into a mirror polished edge.
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Oh hell yah, I couldn't agree more man. I just think if ANYTHING as stated before I'm surprised these "high end" companies don't have a option when purchasing a blade ? Main argument: "Ohhh but imagine how expensive it would be now for the companies who would have to staff that sort of service"
I mean yes they would have to hire maybe 1 or 2 guys who knew what they were doing and that's it ?
Counter argument: "If what everyone says is true about not carrying about the polished edges, then it sounds like they could bring these guys in part time"??
 
Aquaholicc said:
Hahaha, I imagine you just gave it a microbevel and called it a day?! o_O
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LOL. Like I said, I bought it as a pattern. With the steels that I plan to use on my little 4-4.5 inch Kepharts like 115W8 AEB-L, 15N20, damascus made from 1084/15N20 and maybe some squished down CruForgeV and W2 done for kitchen knife projects, suffice to say that my starting edge will be a lot closer .015 than .050!!!!!! Hell, I normally don't even leave the edge of big bowies at .050 BEFORE HT!!!!!
 
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Here is a CPM 3V knife that I just finished. It is not easy to see the finish on the edge, but it is pretty fine. What I want to point out is the HEIGHT of the edge bevel compared to a lot of factory knives. This blade is 4 inches long by 1 3/16 high by about .177 at the ricasso. That is a FFG with no real convexing.
 
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My standards for a factory edge is this, it needs to be even and symmetrical. The edge needs to be sharp enough to slice paper. Looks aren't everything. I see the point that it looks course but how does it cut? How does the factory edge perform?
 
jdm61 said:
View attachment 704073
Here is a CPM 3V knife that I just finished. It is not easy to see the finish on the edge, but it is pretty fine. What I want to point out is the HEIGHT of the edge bevel compared to a lot of factory knives. This blade is 4 inches long by 1 3/16 high by about .177 at the ricasso. That is a FFG with no real convexing.
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Wow..if you didn't tell their was a secondary bevel on that grind then I would have no idea it was even there! You have redefined "wire Edge" my friend hahah.

How is Damascus by the way? Fun to work with? Sadly I'm fairly new to the knife game and have only been able to work with a handful of steels. I'm trying desperately to get all my buddies into knives but most are resistant and don't see the need to own a knife that is even 50 bucks, it really sucks. I will add though..the friends I have convinced to purchase say..a BM or Spydie absolutely love it. And can now understand why I have 1000 wrapped up into knives and maintenance tools lol.
 
115Italian said:
My standards for a factory edge is this, it needs to be even and symmetrical. The edge needs to be sharp enough to slice paper. Looks aren't everything. I see the point that it looks course but how does it cut? How does the factory edge perform?
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Aye, the 2 Cold steels I have both have fairly ugly edges - they're in the realm of even as another poster said, but they're rough and wouldn't serve to display to anyone. But aesthetics aside, they're both incredibly sharp. Far beyond any reasonable amount that they need to be compared to most factory edges. They're the only knives where I'm waiting until they become too dull to cut, before I reprofile the blade. There's a laundry list of things CS can be torn apart for, but damn if everything edge I've felt from them isn't scary sharp(have a couple buddies that exclusively buy CS).

Usually I can't stand a factory edge and put up with it for about a week, then do what I feel is best for the steel, knife and my use of it.
 
JenWrath said:
Aye, the 2 Cold steels I have both have fairly ugly edges - they're in the realm of even as another poster said, but they're rough and wouldn't serve to display to anyone. But aesthetics aside, they're both incredibly sharp. Far beyond any reasonable amount that they need to be compared to most factory edges. They're the only knives where I'm waiting until they become too dull to cut, before I reprofile the blade. There's a laundry list of things CS can be torn apart for, but damn if everything edge I've felt from them isn't scary sharp(have a couple buddies that exclusively buy CS).

Usually I can't stand a factory edge and put up with it for about a week, then do what I feel is best for the steel, knife and my use of it.
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Hey man..it's funny how companies that aren't very "renown" not saying CS isn't a good company or anything so don't take my statement and get super butt hurt. But all I'm saying is if someone ask for a recommendation on a knife 70% of the members here will say something like Spydie,BM, ect..I don't see CS too often. Glad to know they take their time to produce a nicer edge on their knives if anything haha.
 
115Italian said:
My standards for a factory edge is this, it needs to be even and symmetrical. The edge needs to be sharp enough to slice paper. Looks aren't everything. I see the point that it looks course but how does it cut? How does the factory edge perform?
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The only thing I used the factory edge on was to prep dinner; onion and tomato and that's all I can't handle lol. Not saying it's not sharp but I just can't stand seeing a scratched the hell edge haha.
 
Aquaholicc said:
Hey man..it's funny how companies that aren't very "renown" not saying CS isn't a good company or anything so don't take my statement and get super butt hurt. But all I'm saying is if someone ask for a recommendation on a knife 70% of the members here will say something like Spydie,BM, ect..I don't see CS too often. Glad to know they take their time to produce a nicer edge on their knives if anything haha.
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Oh, not at all man. I looked down on CS for years and only recently gained respect for them. My buddy took his folding khukri on a camping trip and we beat the heck out of it - he literally was smashing a rock onto it to help it baton something it had no business batoning. Held up just fine and CS tried to fix the spine as best they could when he sent it in(for free, I believe they sent him an email asking if it was okay if they did) - he doesn't sharpen his own knives, has CS do it for him. After that, had to give them a try on my own.

Yeah, I agree with yah on that lol. We got these $250+ a knife companies where 1 out of 10 threads are a few pages complaining about factory edges, then "lesser" companies silently putting out blades you can shave with, out of the box.
 
That's a pretty nice factory edge in my opinion. The most important thing to me is that the bevel is consistent from heel to tip and that it's as close to 15dps as possible.

Polishing the bevel up a little is easier than having to grind a whole new one because it came all wonky.
 
JenWrath said:
Oh, not at all man. I looked down on CS for years and only recently gained respect for them. My buddy took his folding khukri on a camping trip and we beat the heck out of it - he literally was smashing a rock onto it to help it baton something it had no business batoning. Held up just fine and CS tried to fix the spine as best they could when he sent it in(for free, I believe they sent him an email asking if it was okay if they did) - he doesn't sharpen his own knives, has CS do it for him. After that, had to give them a try on my own.

Yeah, I agree with yah on that lol. We got these $250+ a knife companies where 1 out of 10 threads are a few pages complaining about factory edges, then "lesser" companies silently putting out blades you can shave with, out of the box.
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Lol a folding multi khukri just sounds ridiculous I'm glad it got the job done out in the wilderness for you guys. Glad to know CS has such a good policy though when it comes to their products I may check out their website and see if anything spikes my interest.


ejames13 said:
That's a pretty nice factory edge in my opinion. The most important thing to me is that the bevel is consistent from heel to tip and that it's as close to 15dps as possible.

Polishing the bevel up a little is easier than having to grind a whole new one because it came all wonky.
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Ehhh I just through the factory bevel out the window and re-grind my own so I know it's done to my standards, even if the Edge seems symectrically okay on both sides. I also am a bit over thetop and use a loupe to look at my bevel when I sharpen. I think I've got a mild case of OCD ..lol
 
Aquaholicc said:
Lol a folding multi khukri just sounds ridiculous I'm glad it got the job done out in the wilderness for you guys. Glad to know CS has such a good policy though when it comes to their products I may check out their website and see if anything spikes my interest.




Ehhh I just through the factory bevel out the window and re-grind my own so I know it's done to my standards, even if the Edge seems symectrically okay on both sides. I also am a bit over thetop and use a loupe to look at my bevel when I sharpen. I think I've got a mild case of OCD ..lol
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Yes, but even if you regrind your own edge as soon as you unbox the knife, it's still much easier and takes far less time if the factory bevel is decent to begin with. Taking an obtuse factory edge down to 15dps (especially on high wear resistance steels) isn't a fun time.
 
JenWrath said:
Oh, not at all man. I looked down on CS for years and only recently gained respect for them. My buddy took his folding khukri on a camping trip and we beat the heck out of it - he literally was smashing a rock onto it to help it baton something it had no business batoning. Held up just fine and CS tried to fix the spine as best they could when he sent it in(for free, I believe they sent him an email asking if it was okay if they did) - he doesn't sharpen his own knives, has CS do it for him. After that, had to give them a try on my own.

Yeah, I agree with yah on that lol. We got these $250+ a knife companies where 1 out of 10 threads are a few pages complaining about factory edges, then "lesser" companies silently putting out blades you can shave with, out of the box.
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Well, the Cold Steel Finn Wolf I got ended up with the edge rolling and chipping from cutting wood.
Not batonning, just cutting.

I got it because it is one of the few Scandi grind folders out there, and the version I got had the true "zero grind" edge; no secondary bevel.

Now if you get one, it has a secondary bevel.

It was sharp as hell, and it sure looked nice (shiny even)...but wasn't great for the purpose it was built for.

And Cold Steel's serrations are quite fragile; those little "teeth" like to bust off if you use it much (found that out with my Voyager, and some other models as well).

I still have some Cold Steel products, but don't be fooled into thinking they are superior to the competition.

That "folding kukri" you are referring to is most likely the Rajah 2, and it is one of their better offerings in the toughness department.
It was priced great too till they switched to the newer steel; now it is priced okay, but is not the value it once was.

And most knives I buy from most companies show up sharp.
 
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