Which angle for which use?

[Elmgrovegnome]

I have used a stone and strop for years. I can get a razor edge on most knives but I generally use one angle (approx. 22.5 degrees).

I had a friend ask me not to sharpen his survival knife anymore because he was told the edge will fold at the angle I use.

Is there a general rule on angles/purpose?

 

[Roger999]

For pocket knives I do 10-15degrees, and for chopping blades/batoning I would do 25degrees, all the angles are per side.

 

[dalefuller]

I assume you're talking about 22.5 dps, which would be a 45 degree inclusive angle. I don't think that's so acute that it's going to "fold" under hard field use if the blade steel is a good one and the HT is well done.

I gave an S30V FB to my best mate when he moved to AK working with the FAA in the field. It had a 15 dps edge with a 20dps microbevel on it and it's served him well for a year now. I still use 15dps on my smaller FBs that get some woods/camp use and they do fine, although they aren't survival knives and I don't baton with them

 

[initb2009]

I think it may be his knife and not your sharpening.It's 50% technique and 50% the properties blade steel.From what you say it's not your technique so we can rule that out.The only thing left to ponder is your friend's knife.What steel might that be? What brand/model of knife is it?

 

[Sep]

A survival knife that folds at 22.5 degrees per side (45 degrees inclusive) is made from steel so poor it's not worth keeping. If it's a decent knife then what's not worth keeping is the advice.

 

[cbwx34]

I had a friend ask me not to sharpen his survival knife anymore because he was told the edge will fold at the angle I use.

So, your friend was happy with your sharpening until someone told him he shouldn't be??? I think I would ask him how he uses the blade, and if he ever had any problems to begin with. There's no set angle... as most have mentioned it depends on steel type, use, etc. If it does actually "fold", you can sharpen as you normally do, then raise the angle and add a higher bevel at the very edge. What you're doing now though, should be fine. 22 deg. should hold up.... if the edge is actually folding, (and it's a decent knife), you also may want to check and make sure you're not leaving a burr or wire edge.

cbw