what sharpening tools do you carry in the fieald?

[ninjajoe]

This thread: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=437286 got me thinking about not only what tools people use to sharpen there knives, but more so what people carry with them to sharpen there knives. Whether it be daily (in a bag or pocket), in a survival kit, while camping, hunting, etc. I know there have been alot of posts about sharpening tools in general, and specific brands, etc. but I would like to get a little more specific about types you can carry.

So, what do you carry for sharpening? Why that particular tool? What do you like / dislike about it? My main interest with this thread would be sharpening tools for survival situations (which is why I chose to post here), I’d like to focus on talking about sharpening tools that can be easily carried with you and used in the field, mainly without an even surface / bench. but any tools you have with you to sharpen in an urban environment or a campsite with a bench for example would be welcome.

I’ll start. I carry a Norton translucent Arkansas and medium India slip stone in my bag, which is always with me. I like them because I can get a good edge in a relatively short time, their small and portable, they don’t wear out quickly (the Arkansas will probably last my lifetime). I can also sharpen serrations with the small end of the slip. The downside is they don’t cut as fast as some others, like diamond stones for example. And they can clog with steel grit, reducing their cutting ability. The one most likely to clog is the India, and in the field it may be hard to clean (I use a scotchbrite and Ajax at home) the Arkansas doesn’t clog much at all. It also takes some time to master the skill of holding the stone in one hand and the knife with the other, keeping a consistent angle, as opposed to say the sharpmaker. Here is a picture:

 

[Forrie]

i carry the spyderco combo pocket stone, even though the glue has come undone this is always in the bag i have on me at the time i like the fact that it's one of the longest pocket stones i have used and i don't need to find water of oil to use it properly and the fact that i have medium and fine grit at all times is a bonus

 

[ROCK6]

For "survival" you're looking for a working edge. Most decent blades should still be functional after a lot of use over a 5-7 day period...of course, if digging in very rocky terrain or using your blade to cut wires or light metal, then this would definately dull your blade much more rapidly.

For mil-ops, I never worried about sharpening until after the mission was completed...whether it's two-days or two-weeks. Of course my blade useage differs (I'm a commo guy). Now, with that said, I'm a big proponent of the DMT sharpeners. I carry a "fine" mini one in the back pocket of my Leatherman sheath...this one is always on me. For backpacking and camping, I'll keep the larger duo-fold (course and extra course) in my pack for the machete or if really needed, my hatchet. I've started to carry a small lenght of an old leather belt with paste for stropping...I've had great results in maintaining the razor's edge of most of my knives.

Over here in Iraq, I use sharpening as a hobby for down time. I have a leather strop, paste and AG Russell's little diamond rod and ceramic rod sharpener (like a mini-Spyderco Sharpmaker). The little Gatco (or whatever it's named now) cermaic triangular pocket sharpener is nice for serrated edges as well.

ROCK6

 

[SkunkWerX]

One of these:

If it were survival, and a knife that had been used for digging and other "bad" things, I'd use the fine file on my SAK or gerber tool to bring it back to "acceptable" then finish up with with the mini-crok pictured above.

For normal usage, where you aren't abusing, the mini-crok is fine.
Compact, and can be lashed with paracord to darn near anything, waterproof, and pretty simplistic. Cheap too.

 

[runningboar]

i carry the spyderco combo pocket stone, even though the glue has come undone this is always in the bag i have on me at the time i like the fact that it's one of the longest pocket stones i have used and i don't need to find water of oil to use it properly and the fact that i have medium and fine grit at all times is a bonus

+1 I love mine and have carried it for the last 10 years, mine came loose also but a little epoxy fixed it right up. Chris

 

[mete]

An EZE-LAP diamond rod.It fits into the handle so is only 4" closed.It will sharpen anything . I use this for almost all my sharpening and I've had it for many years.

 

[JD Mandrell]

A small diamond hone and a Lansky"dogbone" ceremic stick.

 

[Coldwood]

In the shop I have two big Arkansas stones, a coarse/medium and a fine. For carry, a 3-inch medium India stone and a 1/4 x 3-1/2 ceramic rod. When I was a kid, us kids used spit on an India stone to sharpen pocket knives. I still do that, but not when anybody's watching I use oil on the big stones.

 

[Happy Joe]

To field sharpen my edges I use a short 4"-6" section of a ceramic sharpening stick and the back of my leather belt.
Dress the edge with the crock stick then strop it on the leather (I don't use any dressing /polishing compound on the leather).
Shaving sharp no prob.
This is not a recommended way to reprofile an edge (too slow); that job is best done at home.
I got the sections of crock stick by accidentally dropping one of my sharpeners. Attach to the sheath with sections of bicyle innertube, or wrap with paracord. A couple of those plastic thread protector caps on the ends help prevent abrasion while hiking.
Enjoy!

 

[tarmix101]

Most of the time I carry a True grit diamond rod, some sandpaper (200-400-600) grit, and a piece of mouse pad.

 

[Pritch]

One of these:

If it were survival, and a knife that had been used for digging and other "bad" things, I'd use the fine file on my SAK or gerber tool to bring it back to "acceptable" then finish up with with the mini-crok pictured above.

For normal usage, where you aren't abusing, the mini-crok is fine.
Compact, and can be lashed with paracord to darn near anything, waterproof, and pretty simplistic. Cheap too.

SkunkWerX, do you have a link for that little bobble? Thanks.

-- FLIX

 

[SkunkWerX]

try this. You should be able to snag it around $6, maybe less.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=lansky++mini+ceramic&btnG=Search

 

[Pritch]

Thanks. I'm always looking for additional zipper/draw cord pulls for my survival parka!

 

[SubaruSTi]

My Randalls have a hone in the pocket that I would use (but never have) and my Busses have EZ-Lap rod slots with rods that I sometimes use even in the house.

 

[siguy]

for sharpening, i have the exact same little mini crock gizmo as posted above. i like to take the sticks out and use them independent of the gizmo because i can't get the right angle with the preset angles. it uses the preset angles of most factory grinds, and i like to put decent edge bevels on my knives.

i also strop on the inside of my leather belt, or on the back of another knife or smooth peice of metal. this is usually enough when out and about to keep the edge sharp. i touch up my knives about once a week at home on a large two sided dual grit stone that would be impractical for carry unless taking to a longer term camp or on a longer duration trip when i know i will be using my knives alot.

 

[Boats]

For me it depends on the knife I am carrying.

For the larger ones with flat grind and a decent sheath pouch, I carry my LM Surge with a couple of spare file blades. The fine side is more than adequate to return serviceable edges to carbon blades.

I then also wear one of the "viking whetstone" pendants that sell for about $10.00 over a ragweedforge.com for finishing. The stones are lightweight, don't fracture in actual carry or use, and they beat looking for a decent river stone.

If I am carrying one of my convex Bark Rivers or a puukko, then I carry a double sided strop, charged with Veritas honing compound, and small piece of cardboard backed with thermoglued canvas for touch ups, all in a plastic bag. This kit weighs a little more than a big Leatherman, but the sharpening is so easy and fast that it is worth it. It also floats, so I like this set-up near water.

 

[ninjajoe]

Great posts guys!

I carry the spyderco combo pocket stone, even though the glue has come undone

I’ve been interested in these for a while. Mainly as a less expensive alternative to my Arkansas (I’ve already broken one of the Arkansas in the field, drop it on a rock and that’s it!). Nice to hear good reviews, to bad about the glue. What’s the polish / obtainable edge like on these?

For "survival" you're looking for a working edge. Most decent blades should still be functional after a lot of use over a 5-7 day period

That’s true, however I am pretty anal about my edges, and also like to be prepared for a longer term situation if space / weight allows. I figure the energy I save in cutting effort is worth a little extra weight in stones. For the mil-ops, I'm surprised you guys are able to carry as much stuff as you already do! I'm sure a sharpener would be low on my list too. speaking of military load carrying, I've a friend over there now (EMT) and have talked to him a bit about how loaded down they are and how hot it gets, especially with body armor. (he said he sometimes hooks up a fluid IV for HIMSELF!) so me and several friends are thinking of pooling together to get him one of these if he ends up doing another tour (especially for the ventilation features):
http://www.militarymorons.com/gear/crye3.html
What do you think? I've got no experience whatsoever with that type of stuff (military, tactical, etc.), but the review seemed pretty good.

When I was a kid, us kids used spit on an India stone to sharpen pocket knives

same when I was a kid! Except that none of us could actually get the knife much sharper, we would just grind away, put our thumb to the edge, and then proclaim “its sharp”

For the larger ones with flat grind and a decent sheath pouch, I carry my LM Surge with a couple of spare file blades

where do you get the replacement files for these? Also some interesting choices Boats, I’m interested in what people use to sharpen their convex bevels (I use my regular Arkansas / India)

 

[Daniel Koster]

great thread!

I've been meaning to get one of those DMT folding diamond hones for some time...they do seem to work great "in the field".

 

[GibsonFan]

I then also wear one of the "viking whetstone" pendants that sell for about $10.00 over a ragweedforge.com for finishing. The stones are lightweight, don't fracture in actual carry or use, and they beat looking for a decent river stone.

Those are gorgeous, would you compare them to a fine Arkansas stone for instance?

I've picked up a couple pocket-sized, 2-sided diamond stones, but they all seem to varying degrees of coarse/medium... not medium/fine like I want. I keep coming back to my old medium arkansas and strop on the edge of a sheath or my belt. Works good, but you have to carry a little bottle of oil. I just wrap the bottle and stone in a shop rag and call it good.

 

[Forrie]

Great posts guys!



I’ve been interested in these for a while. Mainly as a less expensive alternative to my Arkansas (I’ve already broken one of the Arkansas in the field, drop it on a rock and that’s it!). Nice to hear good reviews, to bad about the glue. What’s the polish / obtainable edge like on these?

shaving sharp edge easaly

it's the same grades as the medium and fine spyderco bench stones