Who sharp is sharp enough

V

vaj1111

Joined
Dec 27, 2005
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61
I just got a sharpmaker and have played around with it getting a few knives sharper than I ever had before. My question is HOW SHARP IS SHARP ENOUGH? Should I be able to shave with it, What's the definition of "Scary Sharp" which I've heard before..
 
The way I understand it, "shaving sharp" means an edge that will take hair off your forearm (for example) and requires only that the bevels meet properly. Next up is "razor sharp" which means the edge will "pop" hairs like a razor and requires the bevels meet properly and the angle be acute. "Scary sharp" seems to be more of expression of admiration but maybe it's a razor sharp edge that's also highly polished? I don't know.
 
vaj1111,

I've often wondered this very question you ask, and I was going to get the Sharpmaker but I was convinced otherwise to order the Edge Pro (which I will order soon as the $$$ flows again).

To me, it's a good question... although I imagine most will say, "it's personal preference..."
 
You can get most knives very sharp but depending on their quality, they may not hold the edge long. Some knives that are either too hard or too soft (brittle/ductile) will be difficult to get a keen edge on. I am satisfied when a knife shaves my hair off the back of my hand and when it easily slices through a sheet of paperwhen only held at the corner. I think this is a rough benchmark lots of knifemakers use. Look around in public for guys with no hair on one arm.. THEY MUST BE KNIFENUTS/MAKERS
 
When a knife is "sharp enough" it will cut you when looking at the blade sideways. If you can preform any sort of fingering test it is not sharp enough. Beyond shaving sharp is hair popping sharp as Dakki pointed out, when the blade touches the hair it pops it before you even apply any pressure or move the knife. I can often get this sharp but I will have to admit I have yet to get anything as sharp as R.J. Martins zero egde A-2 tantos. Now those things are "sharp enough". One day R.J., one day I will catch up. =P
 
when you face a hurricane with your blade out in front and your hair stays in place.
 
Hm-m-m-m... great answers, all. For me, though, "sharp enough" is when the knife I'm sharpening reaches the point where it's cutting ability and edge retention combine to give me what I consider to be the best all-around performance from that knife. Very subjective, but that's how I do it.

All of my knives will shave hair... even the drawer queens. The users go beyond that but the kind of edge they get and how sharp it is depends on the kind of steel the blade has and what I bought them to do.

BTW, I have both the Edge Pro Apex and a 204. I use both of them regularly. The Edge Pro gets the heavy-duty sharpening / re-beveling work, and the Sharpmaker does the frequent (weekly, or more often) touch ups
 
dalefuller said:
For me, though, "sharp enough" is when the knife I'm sharpening reaches the point where it's cutting ability and edge retention combine to give me what I consider to be the best all-around performance from that knife.
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For me, too. There comes a point when you can overdo sharpness, losing edge strength. You have to match the sharpness and degree of polish against the materials you mean to cut.
 
I take my knives to a leather strop with chromium oxide when im done with my sharpmaker but thats just for fun. edges that fine dont last long when your using it in everyday chores.
Its great for checking out the expression on work mates faces when stuff starts falling apart when you wave your knife over it lol.
for everyday use.. i just leave the edge from the sharpmaker without stropping.
shaving sharp but not what id call scary.
 
Scary sharp is when you are afraid to even get close to the edge. It cuts like a lightsabre. You barely touch it and you bleed..... Sharp enough means you aren't done yet.....
 
I think that the sharpness of a blade should be define by the material that you will be cutting. For example, I were to cut butter, "butter knife" sharp is good enough for me. However, for general utility work, I would like a knife that can hold it's edge for a whole day with out a touch up. In addition the ease of sharpening is also a big factor for me.
 
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When I got my Benchmade 710 D2, I took it into the bathroon, lathered up my face, and shaved with it. That's sharp enough.:thumbup:

I usually use the push-cut test. If it passes that, I know that it will shave.

I guess that, IMHO, "sharp enough" is about the same level of sharpness as a straight razor.:eek:

But OTOH, I use a knife for cutting, not for chopping, prying, spreading peanut butter, etc.:D
 
When I was about 14 (a long time ago) I picked up my dad's pocket knife off the table and opened it to test the edge with my thumb. I had been sharpening my own pocket knife for a while, so I knew to be careful. When I lightly ran my thumb down the edge I felt nothing, no pressure, no friction, just sting! Then came the blood. I've been working on achieving that level of sharpness ever since.

Here is what it says on the instruction sheet for Shapton water stones:
"Sharpening is an attempt at perfection. The most interesting aspect of sharpening is the reflection of the infinite".
 
Ben Dover,

That's an impressive tale (and feat no less) that you were able to accomplish with your 710. I really want my ZDP-189 Leek to be like that and I know it has the capability, but we'll see. I need to look into re-profiling my blades.
 
FliGuyRyan said:
That's an impressive tale (and feat no less) that you were able to accomplish with your 710.
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I've found that a Douk-Douk and a Spydie Adventura will shave very well, and retain that shaving edge. I was real surprised to find a Spydie BG-42 Military did even better.

Of course, the Douk IS a razor, and the others have acute edge angles.
 
my grandpa was and my two uncles are master wood carvers. i dont show them my new knives (they think that the idea of modern folders is kinda dumb) very often. when i do though they aren't really too impressed, but they did say my Kershaw Blur was sharp. it takes alot to impress them. in their book, if it cant shave, then it isnt sharp. shaving sharp seems to be the best all around edge. im ok at sharpening on my own, but one of my uncles has told me that he will get any of my knives so sharp that "i wont know im cut until i see the blood on the floor." im prolly going to take him up on that one. and see if he'll teach me.
 
I think sharp is when a knife will slice cigarette paper, slice or whittle/carve softwood easily, skiv leather and cut/slice thru manial rope. My Benchmade and Spyderco will do this NIB. Traditional pocketknives from Queen and Case have to be resharpened in order to do this although they make a good product. Why these knife companies can't supply a very sharp knife reflects a bad problem to me. Yes, I know we can put an edge we like on them but it should not be that way. Also, my Vic. SAKS come sharp. I prefer my Norton 12 inch coarse fine/India benchstone and my Spyderco sharpmaker with a strop I purchased from KnivesPlus to sharpen and keep my knives sharp.
 
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