Sharp knife

[sticshooter]

Was talking with Tippit last night(Great talking with ya Doc) And for some reason knives came up   :rolleyes:   . He told me that him and Mr.Campbell discussed how sharp should a hunting / skinning knife be? So let's hear what some of you think? Just so everyone knows I can make a knife but sharpen one will ...let's just say I'm still learning       . Thanks<><

[robtattoo]

For me it depends. A knife solely for skinning doesn't need to be that sharp, really. Certainly not shaving sharp. Whereas a knife for field dressing/gutting should be as sharp as I can possibly get it.

[tippit]

I've had this discussion with Doug, the guys at our Bear Quest, and all the guides at the Solana Hunt...where they skin more deer and hogs in a year than any of us would shoot in a life time!  It's not how sharp an edge should be but what type of edge holds up best.

Previously, I would get my edge scary sharp to a mirror polish.  That edge seems to dull quicker than one that has a slight burr.  I now sharpen to a fine diamond stone on my Gatco system instead of going to extra fine-ceramic-leather.

I'd be interested to hear other opinions...Doc

[vermonster13]

I think it has a lot to do with the angle you sharpen at also and the metal of the blade's ability to take/hold an edge. I like wicked sharp but durable is important to. I have a Ol Timer that has done a lot of deer and has never needed to even be touched up.

[Doug Campbell]

Hmmmm.... this should be interesting...

It wasn't really "how" sharp the knife shoud be but how "honed" the edge should be. I know Jeff likes to take his knife down to a very shaving sharp honed edge. In my experience, which is mostly dressing upwards of 40 critters a year and cutting thousands of pieces of baler twine and such here on the ranch. I've come to the conclusion that a "rougher" edge holds up much longer than the finer "honed" edge.

Basically I'll do a quickie on my belt grinder or use a guided stone like my Gatco for a precision edge angle. Either way I seldom go past a fine stone or wore out 320 belt. These edges will certainly "pop" hair off your arm but are nowhere near the honed shaving quality edge some swear too. I've found a couple hits with a good steel and it's ready to go again where the much sharper in the beginning honed edge takes considerable longer to "bring back around".

Now some guys enjoy sharpening and will sit honing a blade for hours, more power to em. That's the way I was taught years ago by Grandpa and have done it plenty myself but anymore the quicker I can get a good edge on my knife or any cutting tool and get back at it the better.

[Doug Campbell]

Oops guess I too slow a typer  

[jgbennett6]

Yep. like Doc and Mr. Campbell said I like a little burr on both my hunting knive and broadheads!.. to me they last longer for their intended purpose

[JEFF B]

i just have em sharp enough to do the job at hand what ever that may be at the time.

[sticshooter]

I'm feeeling better now. I been trying to sharpen knives to a razor edge. I can get mine to cut paper with ease and leather. I always thought that was sharp enough for a hunting knife.<><

[Dirty Bill]

If a knife won't shave the hair off my arm easily,I won't carry it.  

[tippit]

As you get older the hair comes back slower  :eek:  so I use my thumb nail to test sharpness.  It's kinda like a wash board now   :D

[Doug Campbell]

Hmmm... still like buffalo hide for testing mine Doc  

[OzarkRamblr]

I'm with Dirty Bill, it's gotta shave or it doesn't go with me.  I usually end up re profiling any blade I buy 'cause I'm a knife user, not a collector & I know what I like when it comes to sharpness.  

Here's what I use to sharpen.

 

Hey Frank, here's one of yours.  Plenty sharp now bubba. When I run out of arm hair...I switch to my legs, but don't tell anyone...

 

[sticshooter]

CheatR knife?<><

[RGK]

I shave my shins because I was tired of my forearms looking like I have mange. I now mostly use my thumb nail. I love to sharpen. I use diamond and ceramic. I like em scary sharp.        

I once sharpened a knife so well that I cut myself on the shadow of the blade.    

[OzarkRamblr]

I love to sharpen too, it's what I do when I'm bored.  Doesn't matter what it is either.  Knife, hatchet, broadheads, just whatever I get my hands on first.

My wife has come to accept my mangey forearms...'cause I sharpen her knives too.  

[RGK]

Wives are great. She asked me to sharpen her knives this summer, when I asked which one? She said "All of them" BIG MISTAKE. I set out around the house to find all my knives and this is what I found.

I need help.   :eek:

 

[OzarkRamblr]

   

[Dirty Bill]

I like to sit and sharpen my knives and broadheads and axes and..well.I like to sharpen stuff. Kind of a meditation thing..