VERY Cheap FB that will take an edge

W

wetdog1911

Joined
Sep 29, 2002
Messages
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Just ordered a Shapton Pro 1000 waterstone from Japan Woodworkers and after thinking a bit, decided that I don't want to develop my learning curve on my Busse's or Swamp Rats.

Is there anything around that is really cheap (~$10) that will take a good enough edge to tell if I'm doing it right or wrong? Doesn't really have to stay sharp, but it does have to be able to get sharp.

Dulling it is no problem, I'll just give it to my wife to use in the kitchen. She could dull a chainsaw. LOL

Carbon steel prefered as I only have one stainless knife, but quite a few almost stainless like D2 and INFI.

Places to buy would be helpful also. Thanks.

Rob
 
Would you happen to have a link?

Moras sound good. Have always heard good things about how sharp they are and can get.

Rob
 
You could just practice sharpening on your wife's kitchen knives. If she only has serrated knives you can buy dull kitchen knives at a Goodwill or Salvation Army store for $1.00--$3.00. Sometimes you really find high quality knives that have been abandoned. You could look for carbon steel kitchen knives at discount stores. At some sporting goods stores you can find Scandinavian knives like Moras pretty cheap.

http://www.ragweedforge.com/
 
Thanks, I just ordered a #2 and a #3 Mora.

The #2 cause the blade is right at the same size as my EDC and the #3 so my Dad can have another filet knife. He usually uses something like an Old Hickory boning or butcher knife. Regular filet knives are just too wimpy for the big Dolphins and Grouper he gets down in the Keys. A 30# Grouper is a far cry from a 1 1/2# Trout and needs a good stiff blade(more or less).

Rob
 
Grab that old hickory. It'll take one VERY sharp edge.
Frosts are great too, but the grind is wayy different from your swamp rats/ busse and they will EASILY out slice them. (Thin blade and grind)
 
My favorite is the 8 inch blade #749, which I have seen elsewhere listed as a fillet knife!? It is not flexible at all.

I, however, use it as my multipurpose gardening knife. It can do things you would otherwise need larger tools for, but isn't too big for a belt knife. Or, you can choke up and use the clip point for small stuff.
It sharpens up very nicely with my 1000 grit waterstone.
 
If you want a dirt cheap knife that will take an edge, get a SWAK from Ragnar. I'm not too fond of plastic handles, but for 10 bucks you can't ask for more.
 
Nieto (or maybe it's Neito) make fairly cheap outdoor knives. Made in Spain so no import taxes for the UK so might be less of a bargin in the US though.
They use 440C steel and seem quite good
 
Well, I did grab 2 of the Mora's. $28 total shipped. Can't beat that with a stick!

GB

Can't grab the Old Hickory as it's down at my Dad's place in Key Largo. He keeps an old whetstone on the cleaning table when he's cleaning fish to touch it up. That thing will take an edge for sure. Some of those fish skins are well over 1/8" thick and it is more like cutting leather. The funny thing is, even with all the salt around, when he gets done all he does is rinse them in fresh water and dry them off. Very little if any rust between use. No, he doesn't oil them.

I'm sure the Mora's will out slice the majority of the Busse's and Rats, but there are a couple that may compete. One is the Active Duty that is very thin for a Busse (under 1/8") and has a high flat grind and the other is the SR Bog Dog that is 1/8" D2 and will end up with a flat grind after the stone arrives. The bigger ones that are over 1/4" thick were never designed to be slicers. Sharp yes, slicers, no.

I mainly carry my Busse to cut myself out of my SUV in case I go into a canal. Not silly down here, 3 people drowned in cars in canals just last week in 3 seperate incidents. About 50-75 die that way every year. In a 7 mile drive to work there are canals on one side or the other for at least 5 miles. Lots of canals down here.

AKAKK

I was looking at the 8", but decided to go with the 6" first. When I get through playing with it, I'll see what my Dad thinks of it and let him decide if he might like a longer blade. He usually has to work both the top and bottom of a fish as a big un can be from 10 to 14" wide. I've just noticed that most of the knives he uses are in the 6" range.

The big Dolphin (Mahi Mahi to non natives) should be moving in next month and hopefully we'll get a crack at them. Maybe I'll get the 8" before then just to check it out.

Thanks again all, now I'm just waiting on the Fed Up guy.

Rob
 
Well, the stone still hasn't arrived, but the Mora's did. Sharp suckers! I like em. The #3 has already been put to work in the kitchen and the #2 will soon follow as soon as my wife discovers it.

Dulling will be no problem, she was using the #3 to seperate pork ribs, batoning through the cartilege. Just hope the stone arrives while the knife is still in one piece. LOL I think I'd better hide the #2.

Rob
 
35 Bucks at wal mart you can get a Buck 119 that would be great for practice and you'll have a good working knife too boot.
 
I own the 3" version and it is scary sharp. I have it at about 20 degrees and it will cut you if you look at it wrong.
 
Why not get some of Tom O'Dell's cheap beaters from America's Store and pay less than $1.50 a knife - they usually even toss in a long blade "custom made" sword that would give you endless hours of practice ;)
 
I mainly carry my Busse to cut myself out of my SUV in case I go into a canal. Not silly down here, 3 people drowned in cars in canals just last week in 3 seperate incidents. About 50-75 die that way every year. In a 7 mile drive to work there are canals on one side or the other for at least 5 miles. Lots of canals down here.
Click to expand...
Have you tested your knife on seatbelts? Not picking on your choice. But
if you are going to depend upon your knife (any knife) for emergencies, you should.
Try it (or them) a couple of times at the angles you'd use if trapped in the vehicle.
Maybe a trip to the junkyard is in order...could be fun ;)

Have fun with those Moras. Little cuttin' machines :D
 
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