two questions regarding the edge on a battle mistress...

B

bm11

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Nov 28, 2011
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Just got my first Battle Mistress, a CGFBM (love the corrugations.) Anyhow, it is a sweet blade and paper cutting sharp from the factory, but not shaving sharp. I would like to sharpen it up, but I have no experience with asymmetrical edges.

So, first question:

1: Would it be blasphemous to reprofile to a traditional, non asymmetric blade? I was thinking 40 degrees inclusive or so.

2: is it possible to sharpen a blade this massive in a Wicked Edge? I prefer to use it whenever possible, as my results have been solid so far.
 
You have a CGFBM with an asymmetric edge? :eek: I would love to see pics of it before you do anything to it.

I am curious if you are referring to a standard v-edge that is just slightly uneven, and therefore technically described as asymmetric, rather than having a different type of grind on each side of the edge ie, large convex on one side, small flat v on the other as a Busse asymmetric grind is known to be? If the Busse Asymmetric edge was described as a letter, it would be the left half of an uppercase U combined with the right half of a lowercase v on the asym B11 as looking at it from the tip down the edge as you can sort of see in these pics.

Asym B11 convex side that is almost a 1/4" wide (above a thinly convexed cgfbm)
jqs3ee.jpg


The other side of the same blade looks like a standard v-edge and is about 1/16" wide, if that.
avkfoz.jpg


An asym CGFBM would be a pretty rare blade since they were almost all V-edges so I am not sure I would want to reprofile it due to the rarity of it, but you could sharpen just the v-edged side with an edge pro or the like and leave the convex side alone if you want it sharper. On top of that the Asym is a superior cutting edge to either a v-edge or a convex due to it having the versatility of both and being stronger than either, but that is usually only discovered after using them side by side. ;)

If it is just a slightly off center v-edge than I say knock yourself out and do whatever you like to make it sharp enough for you, but perhaps try it out first before you do. It may just need to be stropped a bit to make it sharper. Shaving sharp isn't going to help it chop any better than non shaving paper slicing sharp will.
 
I thought all Battle Mistresses were a v/convex asymmetric edge? In any case, this may just be that the edge isn't centered on this one. It doesn't look like the b11 in your pics.
 
Hmm. Didn't know any of the Mistresses had an asymmetric edge.

Me, personally ... I'd preserve that edge. Assuming it cuts as well on a BM as it does on an old Basic 9!:)

However -- it IS a Busse, and that makes it a 'user.' Therefore, do with it what you will!!
 
If you, or a friend, or a relative has a belt sander...that is your best bet by far. If she is already somewhat sharp, purchase a strop with some green & black compound and you should be good to go :thumbup:
 
CGFBM is a great blade, congrats.

40* inclusive should work well. If the edge is not completely stable in your application, try a slightly steeper microbevel at the very edge.

Wicked Sharp should work fine, especially as that is what you like to use. You may have to sharpen the edge in sections, and reposition the clamp a few times. Tedious but doable. Somebody here did a sword with a similar sharpener.


Old Pigsics, weren't there a few early SHBM with the asym edge?
 
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