What does Kershaw use to sharpen knives?

S

speedfan

Joined
Sep 5, 2003
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390
I have sent my avalanche back to Kershaw twice, one because I stabbed it into a piece of granite and couldn't get the blade right (they were able to, and for free), and one because the speedsafe mechanism broke (and when they fixed that it came back faster than it ever was. All I have to do is touch it). Both times the knife came back extremely sharp, literally shaving sharp (I didn't try, but I bet you could shave your face with it). How do they do it? What sharpener do they use?
Richard
 
I'm sure they have a professional set up of wheels akin to those sold by the knife suppliers. They come in all differing diameters, usually utilizing silicon oxide grit on one wheel, and white rouge on the other. They may even have a leather wheel that finishes them off. I doubt seriously if they are done by hand on a stone. They are probably done on machines pretty quickly and just checked by hand and then sent on down the line to the next quality controller.

Try posting this on Ken Onion's forum http://kenonionknives.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi maybe he can tell you more precisely how it is done there since he works so closely with Kershaw.
 
I don't think they just replaced the knife since the TiNi coating and the clip both have marks where they did before and the handle doesn't feel new.
Richard
 
I don't know what Kershaw uses but the very great majority of knife manufacturers use belt grinders. I assume Kershaw would be no different.
 
Is there any cost effective way for me to get a similar level of sharpness? I find that my spyderco sharpener doesn't quite get the knives that sharp.
Richard
 
speedfan said:
Is there any cost effective way for me to get a similar level of sharpness? I find that my spyderco sharpener doesn't quite get the knives that sharp.
Richard
Click to expand...

Practice makes perfect. The secret after raising a burr on both sides and removing the burr with a somewhat greater angle is to then finish off with very light, smooth, alternating strokes on the whites. The lighter your strokes the sharper your edge will be. The problem for me is that control becomes more difficult with very light strokes. If you raise another burr then your are applying way to much preassure. Sometimes I finish of with, and for maintanance, a few alternating strokes on a charged leather strop.

Each of us has to decide for ourselves how sharp is sharp enough. My attitide is that sharpening is a never ending learning process.
 
I found the biggest problem for me while learning to sharpen that I was often not sharpening down to the edge. You may think you're sharpening the edge, but many times you're not. Using a magnifing device and a black marker you need to mark both sides of the edge, take some strokes, and then check and see where you are. If there is still black along the edge then you aren't doing anything to improve the edge.

So you want to make sure you're actually sharpening the edge and not just grinding away at the side of the knife before the edge.

I find I get the quickest and easiest results by reprofiling with the 30 degree setting on the sharpmaker (this can take awhlie) and once I get a decent edge I put a final edge on with the 40 degree setting using the white stones. If you've raised a burr with the 30 degree setting it won't take many swipes to put on a 40 degree micro bevel for your final edge and it should be shaving sharp. I picked up the ultra fine white stones for the Sharpmaker and if I finish on these I really get a hair popping edge. May not be the best edge for all applications though.

Also be sure to use LIGHT pressure when putting the final edge on. If you press to hard you're just going to flop the edge back and forth.
 
I think putting light pressure may have been my issue. Somehow I thought my problem was that I wasn't being agressive enough. I'll have to try the light touch some time.
Richard
 
speedfan said:
I think putting light pressure may have been my issue. Somehow I thought my problem was that I wasn't being agressive enough. I'll have to try the light touch some time.
Richard
Click to expand...

Again, if you're not sharpening the edge light pressure isn't going to help. You can use more pressure if you're simply removing steel to reprofile the edge. Once you go to put the finishing touches on the edge you should use a lighter and lighter stroke.

Check your local Radio Shak to see if they have the pocket / handheld microscope. It should be adjustable up to 100x power and have a built in light that shines down on your subject. I use one like this to inspect the edges of blades that are giving me a hard time. This lets me see the fine scratches I'm making and I can see if I'm getting all the way to the edge or not.
 
Kershaw made a great impression to me. Their knives are really sharp (I guess they use a belt grinder) and their customer service rocks.
 
I know this is an old topic, and i'm not sure how I got here but the first guy said "Kershaw does a great job sharpening"
When I got into sharpening about three years ago my self, it was after I sent a Kershaw Leek into them for sharpening... my GOSH did they do a good job. Sometimes when you get a knife out of the box, especially an import Kershaw, the edge is not great but lemme assure you, when you send in for the free sharpening they offer, the edge comes out very even and VERY smooth. They do one hell of a job.
IF you want an edge like that, you need to learn your way around power grinders. There is something about a belt sander, or power grinder edge that is different from the rest. My EP does great, and my free hand is not bad, but theirs something about that super smooth belt grinder edge that is great... they shave like crazy, yet when you test the edge with your fingers, it feels as though it has no edge.

Don't be afraid to send in your knives to KAI for sharpening if you can't on your own, it'll take about a month but all you gotta pay for is shipping to them!

PS: replacement blades are only 10 bucks!??! They have almost as good customer service as Benchmade... BM just gets the job done in about half the time of Kershaw.
 
12 year old thread and you aren't sure how you got here?

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk
 
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