Would it be foolish to sharpen my Kershaw Trooper?

[TheMightyGoat]

I don't care if I ruin it's value as a collector's piece or show knife, but I'm not sure it would do any good to sharpen it, since it's a dagger.

 

[Walking Man]

Why do you think it would be foolish?
Don't you use it to cut things, as a knife should?
Do we not sharpen our knives when they are dull?
It might help if you clerified things a bit.

 

[TheMightyGoat]

Well it's such a thick blade that it's difficult to improve the edge. It's not dull, really, just a high bevel, and I'm not sure if it's worth trying to work on since it's a stabbing weapon, not a cutter, and I always carry several other cutting knives with me.

 

[NGK-Webmaster]

This seems like one of those things that just depend on what you want. Do whatever makes you happy with it.

 

[Bruz]

If I don't like the bevel of a blade I change it...would'nt think it would greatly reduce it's stabbing ability, and if you are not concerned about value, do it.

 

[Morgoth412]

Actually reducing the bevel would increase its stabbing ability. Which is a good thing. =)

Goat,
Never leave yourself just one option. Why just leave it as a stabbing weapon? Sharpen it so you can stab and slash. In the end just do whatever makes you happy cause you are never gonna use the thing as a weapon most likely anyway.
-Kevin

 

[Roadrunner]

You can at least make it sharper by polishing the existing bevels, and if you want to increase the cutting performance, you can lower them a little as well. Even an edge with a fairly obtuse angle will cut as long as the bevels meet and have a decent polish.

 

[glockman99]

I've owned a couple Kershaw Troopers, and although both were "ok sharp", neither would get as sharp as something like my Cold Steel Tanto, Camillus Cuda CQB-1, or Gerber Yari. If it's sharp enough to cut (not tear) paper, I'd leave it alone.