The sharpest factory knife out of the box?

Fallkniven, Marbles, and Cold Steel.

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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
I have never EVER seen a Cold Steel that wasn't hair popin' sharp. I have seen other companies achieve this level also, just not with the consistancy as CS. Spyderco is up there also.

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Louis Buccellato
http://www.themartialway.com
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"only the paranoid will survive"
 
In my experience it's awfully hard to beat the new-out-of-the-box edge on Marble's knives, either for initial sharpness or edge retention. My Sebenza was very sharp out of the box, but it seemed to have a somwhat thicker edge than my Marbles' and did not cut quite as easily.

I'll go along with the other posters' experiences with Cold Steel knives. They are extremely sharp, but I've never been particularly impressed with some of the other qualities of their knives...


[This message has been edited by UglyJim (edited 12-11-2000).]
 
I can not answer this question directly. I have seen some really Poor factory edges, and some better ones. I have also seen custom knives with edges that are not bad, but not really good. I am in Gary Graley's camp, there are very few knives made with edges that could not be improved upon by a little tender loving care with good benchstones and a strop.

In the old days, many knives were sold with Dull edges. It was assumed that the owner of he knife would apply the edge himself. After all, if the knife really gets used, the user is going to have to do something to sharpen the knife before too long anyway. No edge will last forever, even if sitting around doing nothing.

Learn to sharpen your knives! Then all that is important is that your steel be made well, and the edge geometry is well designed and executed. Sypderco seems to do a good job of this, although I have always thought their edges could stand a little improvement.

Out of the Box sharpness is a silly idea (imo). It will not last. If you learn to sharpen your knives, the condition of the original edge will not be that much of a concern anymore.

Paracelsus

[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 12-11-2000).]
 
Microtech. Consistantly. OTFs included. 18 times in a row.
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The Microtech LCC's have been wicked sharp from the factory.

CRKT and Spyderco do a good job as well.

Phil

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Off subject post for Darrel
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Last year at at the Chesapeake Knife Show got a Krait auto..it was very sharp (also a carry for some time; NICE PIECE!)

This year got a DR Stiletto (WOW
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); same show, same dealer (seeing a pattern developing), really not so sharp at all
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.

Could it be because of the blade design? The point is wicked sharp!!!

Just as point of note; can't really say I'm disappointed with the sharpness...it's not going to be a user
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and the knife, even if much duller than it is, is one of the high points in my (or most any) collection!!

BTW, both the Krait and the stiletto have such a 'dignified' (ie: smooth and elegant) release; just by the way they release one can tell they are from the same superb maker!

View


$0.02

-Michael

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[This message has been edited by Chefget (edited 12-11-2000).]
 
Ya !!!!!
Looks like CS , spydy, MT , marbles, CR are getting the vote.

Para all of your comments are good . Same to Gary and Dirk.

I feel the same way. I want to produce a sharper custom knife out of the box.

I am looking for the way to get the same consistancy on all the knives , all the steels. This is a tough job. They all take the edge in different ways. Thicker edge different than thinner, one steel to the next.

If you could pick one way of testing the edge for what you say sharp is...... what is it? Im sure each person has a way of checking?




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Web Site At www.darrelralph.com
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Darrel, to check sharpness on a blade that I recently sharpened, but have been using, I lightly hold the knife between my thumb and forefinger and see if it will easily glide through a single piece of newsprint. On a knife that is sharp, but is 'going,' tiny bits of 'fuzz' will stick to the edge at certain points, and the blade will drag. At this point, I strop with horsehide. It brings it back.--OKG
 
I am surprised that no one has yet mentioned this knife, Al Mar SERE 2000. Up until the first MT LCC M/A I got this was without a doubt the sharpest factory knife I had gotten to date! Even now I still think that the Mar is running real close to the LCC.

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Art Sigmon
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"
Php. 4:13

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword"
Heb. 4:12
 
I can only reply based on the knives that I own or have handled.

MicroTech: consistently sharper than other brands that I buy.

Kershaw: I only have one (Starkey Ridge) but I was surprised how sharp it came out of the box.

Notwithstanding the above comments, I think sharpness may be relative to the intended function of the blade design. For example, my Spyderco Bob Lum Tanto did not come very sharp out of the box and I have not attempted to sharpen it further; its intended use is for heavier cutting tasks and a razor sharp edge may not be able to perform that task or last very long used as such. On the other hand, my Spyderco Shabaria came out of the box very sharp. I guess my point is that no one manufacturer should be unfairly rated in this informal survey since some companies make knives for more than one type of use. Just my opinions.
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I have had pretty good luck with my REKATS, but my Spyderco Military was definitely the sharpest knife out of the box.
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It's hard to tell, since I sharpen absolutely every knife I buy on the first day I own it. As best I can tell, my Spydercos and Marble blades were the sharpest out of the box. My sharpest after I work on them have been thin AUS-8 blades from Browning. I haven't finished playing with the 52100 blade I just got from Marble Arms.
 
I think that it's the angle that matters most, not how sharp it is. Most (cheap) factory edges have very large angles.

I would have to Vote for the Kershaw Whirlwind. Perfect angle. Very sharp.

~Whirlwind~

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My Spyderco Military, Delica and Calypso, Jr. are beyond a doubt the sharpest I've ever encountered out of the box. Surprisingly, I just picked up a new Buck 112 Ranger that came real close to the Spydies out of the box sharpness.
 
I'd have to say Victorinox so far. OF all the companies I've boughten from these have been the closest to sharp that I've seen.

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Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me.
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Paracelsus:
Learn to sharpen your knives! Then all that is important is that your steel be made well, and the edge geometry is well designed and executed . . . Out of the Box sharpness is a silly idea (imo). It will not last. If you learn to sharpen your knives, the condition of the original edge will not be that much of a concern anymore.
Paracelsus
</font>
Click to expand...
Good point Paracelsus about learning to sharpen. I would like to stress your point about edge geometry. Even knives which may feel sharp out of the box need the edges completely re-profiled which is a fairly laborious task.
So, don't look for just sharpness out of the box and learn how to sharpen!

edit: I forgot to answer Mr. Ralph's second question. To test for sharpness I see how fast hair jumps off my forearm while shaving. I particularly check near the tip, an area many sharpeners have trouble with.



[This message has been edited by Erikfsn (edited 12-11-2000).]
 
A knife that I just got that is razor sharp is the Al Mar SERE 2000. My Spyderco knives are always very sharp as well. The Buck Strider that I have was not sharo at all.
 
Mark me down as another vote for Cold Steel.
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.

ALL 19 of mine are so sharp that I'm just about afraid to handle 'em without a box of Bandaids nearby!.
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.

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Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
glockman99@hotmail.com
ICQ# 53675663
 
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