On Sat, 20 Jun 2020 06:53:45 -0400, Bud Frede wrote:

Vic Smith writes:

On Mon, 15 Jun 2020 12:13:07 -0700 (PDT), A K wrote:

For years, I have never been able to get a sharp edge using a whetstone.

Especially with Swiss army knives.

Can someone help me?

Thanks,
Andy

Swiss Army knife blades are stainless steel I think.

They normally use Sandvik 12c27, which is a very high-quality stainless
steel. It tends to be pretty easy to sharpen, but doesn't hold an edge
as long as some other steels. (Heat treating affects this as well - it's
not completely the steel.) It is easy to work, is corrosion-resistant,
and takes a mirror finish.

Anyway, cut into the stone at about 30 degrees, alternating the sides of the blade.
You can hone the blade on leather. I used my boots. Should be something on Youtube.
I think the main issue people have is maintaining the same angle, but there's nothing to do
about that except practice or use an angle gizmo. I could shave with my pocket knife.
Stainless steel take 10 times longer to sharpen, so don't use stainless steel blades.

There are a lot of ways to sharpen knives and lots of tools to use to
sharpen them. Everyone has their own preference and it's hard to make a
recommendation. You pretty much have to just try a few and see what
works for you.

I agree that the problem people have with whetstones or bench hones is
maintaining the proper angle. Many years ago I had a few small plastic
wedges that can with a hone that you laid on the hone and then put the
knife on to get you started with the right angle. The wedges came in a
few different angles for different types of edge. I just learned from
there and now the right angle just "feels right."

Some stainless steels, like some non-stainless steels, are hard to
sharpen and some are easy to sharpen.

The Sandvik 12c27 I mentioned above is one of the ones that's easy to
sharpen. I'd recommend it for someone learning to sharpen. Yes, you'll
need to resharpen it more often, but that's a good thing when you're
learning.

I currently like VG-10 for a general-purpose knife steel that will take
and hold an edge well. Spyderco uses this steel in a number of
models.

The only pocket knife I carried was this
https://caseknives.com/collections/k...g-mini-trapper.

Think I bought it in 1964 and used it for my 4 years in the Navy. No idea when it
disappeared. It would come in handy for cutting line, splicing, etc.
No marlinespike though. But since I was a boilerman in a fireroom its use was limited to
sharpening, shaving my forearms and calves, then sharpening again....and again.
Don't think it ever saw a rope, but came in handy for passing the time of many watches.
Bought one for my SIL, an electrician, but don't know if he ever used it. Probably should
have given him some sidecutters.