Who DOESN'T sharpen their new carry blade?

The only knives I tend to sharpen out of the box are GECs. They are often referred to as coming "GEC sharp" which is Quite the misnomer. I have had butter knives that were able to cut easier than my O1 sodbusters when BNIT.

Aside from that, I tend to use them as they are si I can get a feel for how the steel wears. Since I like to think I put a better performing edge on a knife than a stock one, I like to know what to expect feom the knife as it dulls.
 
I see a new knife as a blank. There's no way a manufacturer is going to spend the time on the edge that I'm going to. I enjoy it - so far.
 
I always hope that a new knife is already sharp. Some are. My knives come and go, and I seldom use a knife other than my EDC. It's much easier to sell a knife again, when I can state that the blade is "factory." And, that "factory" edge is the only way that I'll buy one also. There are too many folks out there who experiment with sharpening...screw it up...and then resell it to get rid of it.
 
Most of my knives came sharp enough out of the box. However, the factory edge was also more or less rough ground and it's not the edge I want. Second, (almost) all the time, the bevels needed reprofiling. Once the reprofiling was done and the edge was polished, I got the most easy to maintain knives (whatever the steel and/or brand) you can imagine. An occasional strop on the belt or the finest stone was enough to keep them (really) shaving sharp.
 
I never sharpen a new knife that is already very sharp, and most are that I've gotten.
I do often strop a new knife that I plan the use.
If I do get a knife that isn't a sharp as I like I'll sharpen it.
 
Sharpness is subjective. I always strop new edges on compounds or CBNs to make them screaming.
 
I prefer a convex edge on most all my knives, so typically I'll use it a few times to reconfirm my dislike for v edges and proceed to convex it...after that it's merely stropping to maintain and maybe a light sharpening here and there unless I have damage.
 
I always sharpen new knives. "Sharp out of the box" is a term that is so subjective it is totally meaningless. There have been very few knives I've bought that had factory edges that could not be made any sharper. I don't like convex edges or any edge that doesn't fit in with the way I sharpen. That means I have had to thin and reprofile the edges on new knives.

I also like the process of leisurely sharpening freehand. It's whittling. You're just not whittlin' on a piece of wood.
 
I sharpen a new knife that I know I'm going to keep. I like to make sure the bevels are at the proper angle for me, so I can use my sharpening set-ups (mostly sharpmaker or small stone) if I have to sharpen it while away from home. I also like to round the edge of the bevel off a little on V grind knives.
 
I don't usually sharpen something that is already sharp. I will however strop a new knife most of the time just to remove any burs and just kinda clean up that factory edge
 
Depends on the individual knife. If it comes sharp enough, I leave it alone. If it needs sharpening, I sharpen. Some only need light honing or stropping to remove a factory burr. Some have well apexed blades but the grind is coarser than I like and needs some smoothing up. The worst are the ones with uneven bevels (25° on one side and 10° on the other for example) or just very obtuse bevels that need thinning out. Those take some real work, and I would really prefer that the factory had done a better job in the first place. Refining an edge is one thing, but re-profiling because of sloppy work at the factory is another.

I don't especially enjoy sharpening per se, particularly on a multi-blade knife. I just don't always have time to mess with it. So I'd rather they come at least close to sharp.
 
I usually carry a new knife without sharpening it. If I find that I really don't like carrying that particular knife, then I won't sharpen it. On the other hand, if I really like to pocket carry it, I will sharpen it if I think it needs it. I always carry a sharp knife.
 
It's been a long time since I got a knife that I didn't feel was sharp enough (my idea of sharp) out of the box.

I guess that's really the thing here, what's sharp?

I personally prefer a solid working edge vs a hair splitter.
I have never found an edge that can cut hairs in half to have any useable longevity....
 
I typically will strop a new knife, to polish the roughness of the grind. I find stropping very therapeutic. I will also strop whatever knife I carried, used before I put it away & do a few passes on whatever my next planned edc is.
 
If it's a collector, I don't touch it.
If it's a user, I'll sharpen it to my liking.
 
stabman said:
If it's sharp, then I use it till it's dull.
Then I sharpen it.
I don't cringe from sharpening, but it ain't gonna replace sex on the pleasure scale, either. ;)
Click to expand...

This is pretty much where I am too. I occasionally get a knife that isn't dull and I will sharpen it, otherwise I don't sharpen. I don't mind sharpening but it seems that most knives I get have bad angles and I'm spending a lot more time reprofiling than sharpening.
 
I will sharpen a new knife if it is not up to my standards from the factory, but I like to try the factory edge for awhile, to see what it's all about.

It seldom takes more than 5 minutes.
 
I want all my knives shaving sharp. If they come that way fine. If not, then I'll work on them. Most haven't taken much work. I have had a few shaving sharp and I think the grind is too steep. For me. I'll hit it a little to cut the shoulder down. Strop it afterwards, or fine stone. My carry knives I enjoy working on just a few minutes every few days. It's kinda satisfying to get you knife where all you have to do is hit the leather every few days.

Out of the box production the best edge I've had, larger fixed blade, is a SOG Seal Pup elite. Haven't had to do anything but strop really. Best folder out of the box is a Chinese clone of a well known mid tech in S-30V. Yes, believe it or not. Best custom fixed blade edge is from Mr. Larry Withrow who I haven't seen posting blades lately. I hope he is OK? He does a laminated blade that is just pretty cool. And easy to play with.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top