how to sharpen my kbar?

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phantomak47

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Can someone please give me a simple answer to this question, I dont really want to spend $100 on a sharpening stone, I know that what I put into a knife is what I get out of it, but I am looking for a simple way to sharpen my Kbar. Its not a collectors knife, its a tool I use ever day. thanks

I have an extra honing stick, could I use that?
 
I get asked this same question everyday. A client sees my sharpening stand with a few thousand dollars worth of tools and custom built equipment, likes the edge I put on knives, then stands there and asks how he can do the same thing for five bucks. And I answer these guys the same way each time.

Go to your public library, and get a book on sharpening.

Once you understand the procedures and principles, you'll be able to sharpen on any system or stone.

However, this is just one aspect of craftsmanship that has no short cuts. At some point you're going to be an apprentice rubbing things with a wet rock.
 
Good advice. Once you learn to keep a consistent angle on your edge you will be able to do it. But nothing teaches like doing.
 
There's a stickie on sharpening (Sharpening FAQ) at the top of this forum. Let us know if that helps or if we can answer specific questions.
 
Lansky sharpening system is not bad, but it just helps you do what you need to learn to do anyway, which is what others have said: Maintain a constant sharpening angle.

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice.
 
Wet-dry sandpaper.

Get a few sheets of 320-400-600-1000 grits (maybe 1600 or 2000 if you want a mirror polish). Use a glue stick to fix them to either a sheet of glass, or an old PC mousepad. Start with the lowest grit and match you knife edge bevel with the sandpaper, drag it towards you a few times, repeat for the other side. Work your way up to 1000 grit for a polished edge. Depending on how dull the edge is, you can start with with a higher grit.

This is all you need to maintain scary-sharp edges on your knives.
 
1KPerDay said:
"a mirror finish on my Emerson"

Cool. So how can I do that for 5 bucks?
Click to expand...

Well, I'm a sucker for really good bacon cheeseburgers. I guess you could show up at the sharpening stand about 4:00PM when my stomach is growling and I am putty under the power of suggestion.

Maybe buy five bucks worth of Pig's Snot and polish my chrome.

A shot of blue agave tequila.

Tell Mickey Foster he dresses funny. Use five bucks for splints.

Or in reality:

...give it to me as a down payment while you go and get the other 55 bucks...
 
Wet-dry sandpaper.

Get a few sheets of 320-400-600-1000 grits (maybe 1600 or 2000 if you want a mirror polish). Use a glue stick to fix them to either a sheet of glass, or an old PC mousepad. Start with the lowest grit and match you knife edge bevel with the sandpaper, drag it towards you a few times, repeat for the other side. Work your way up to 1000 grit for a polished edge. Depending on how dull the edge is, you can start with with a higher grit.

This is all you need to maintain scary-sharp edges on your knives.
Click to expand...

With a little ingenuity the above system is around 5 bucks.
 
1KPerDay said:
Cool. So how can I do that for 5 bucks?
Click to expand...

1. Buy emery cake.

2. Apply to leather.

3. Strop knife.


Of course, whether or not it'll be shiny and sharp depends in the condition of the edge prior to stropping. 440c and the 1000 series carbon steels take a polish really well.
 
Gatco sharpeners

You cannot go wrong with Gatco. Where-as with Lansky, sometimes after
much and heavy use, where the tightening-screw will crack the plastic
and separate from the sharpening section, Gatco has no
problem with that at all.

I would recommend the 5-stone set, consisting of Extra Course, Course,
Medium, and Fine, plus Medium-serrated.
 
Well, I'm a sucker for really good bacon cheeseburgers. I guess you could show up at the sharpening stand about 4:00PM when my stomach is growling and I am putty under the power of suggestion.

Maybe buy five bucks worth of Pig's Snot and polish my chrome.

A shot of blue agave tequila.

Tell Mickey Foster he dresses funny. Use five bucks for splints.

Or in reality:

...give it to me as a down payment while you go and get the other 55 bucks...
Click to expand...
LOL Well played, sir. :D
 
Atlanta cuterly shoppe carries the sharpening device call Accursharp and it cost about $10 ,this give a very good working edge .:)
 
The Tourist and hso both give great advice as always.

Last time I sharpened one for someone, I used a Norton IB6, a coarse/fine India stone.
Dry.
Standing up, leaning with my butt against a workbench with stone in weak hand, knife in the other, smoking a cigarette. Marlboro Red, lit with a Zippo since this sometimes seem to be pertinent information. *grin*

I then stropped this knife on cleanest part of a Valvoline 10w 30 oil case cardboard box I cut off and just sat atop the workbench.

Then again what do I know?

The Tourist and hso like I said gives good advice around here.


Steve
 
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