intentionally dulling a blade...

Mr.BadExample

Mr.BadExample

Joined
Sep 11, 2002
Messages
3,548
Hey guys,
I have a Cold Steel katana that one of my younger cousins has his eyes on. With his parents' permission, I'd like to give it to him. The "problem" is that it is quite sharp.
Should I intentionally dull it without ruining the blade forever (and what would be the best way to do this?) or should I leave it sharp and give him the talk about respecting dangerous tools, so he learns that it's not a toy?
He is 14, and is level-headed (doesn't get into fights, isn't destructive) so I think he can handle it. I had Bowies, swords, and kukris at that age and still have all my fingers. :)
 
I vote for giving him plenty of training, ground rules and knife care instruction followed by presentation of sharp blade. They say a dull knife is a dangerous knife. If he damages property or pets take it back.

PJG
 
I would give it to him sharp with a good talking to.
I had sharp knives and 3 or 4 guns by that age, one hand gun a Ruger 22 cal.
Also my 12 year old son has sharp swords and knives, he's old enough to respect a sharp edge.

Don Hanson lll
 
I agree with everyone else. A knife is not a toy and even a dull knife can do a lot of damage. He has to learn sometime, better with a good knife and good supervision!
 
depends on how sharp it is. If it's crazy sharp, tone it down a bit to "working sharp". This can be done very easily and won't scratch the blade - just go through a bunch of cardboard with a sawing motion and it will dull the blade down to "working sharp". Don't use any impact hits, if you don't want to risk hurting the blade. Cardboard is full of dirt, etc., and will wear it down without putting scratches on it - like sandpaper.


Rope works too....some better than others, think coarse.
 
Give him the sharp knife and teach him how to use it and care for it including sharpening. I had pocket knives from the time I was 6 years old and most of the cuts I got as a kid were caused by the knife being dull. My grandfather taught me how to use a stone when I was 12, but it took several years to get good at sharpening.

Confucius say:
If you give a kid a dull knife, he will just learn how to use a dull knife. If you teach him to sharpen his knife, he will always have a sharp knife.
 
Thanks guys. You're right. I was given a razor sharp Western M49 Bowie at age 10 and once removed a fingerprint with it while oiling it... no blood, but I've always respected knives since!
The cardboard idea is great, Dan. That will take the wickedness out of it but still leave it garnering plenty of respect.
 
I agree with Dan.

There is some sharpness that is just too sharp (even for me and the wifey.) This is where touching it lightly will split the skin. Also known as tree-top shaving sharp. For a kid, it can be dangerous... putting the blade down on a bed, and then sliding it forward could result in two half-sized sheets.

I'd dull it back down a little so it's working sharp. You can always strop it back.

-j
 
Daniel Koster said:
depends on how sharp it is. If it's crazy sharp, tone it down a bit to "working sharp".
Click to expand...

LMAO....I met Daniel at IG's hammerin. This man knows what "Crazy Sharp" is all about. I'll never forget the look on his face cutting things up, i.e. Rope (lots of it :cool: ), wood (after the 2X 4's he looked at the tree, and the leaves started shaking :eek: ), beer cans (line um up :D ).

Credit due, there were several people there with crazy sharp knives.

Larry T

Member of NECKA & NCCA
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top