noob sharpener for Case Knives...

S

Schony

Joined
Apr 3, 2007
Messages
60
Hey there, been lurking around for some time and I ended up getting my first case knife last week (well I got 2 of them couldn't decide LOL). I am new to sharpening knives I have some off brand V style sharpener that works ok for my cheaper knives but want to invest in something nicer now. I've been doing some reading and hear that the sharpmaker is nice. Will this work well for my case knives? What angle are you supposed to grind them at? Any input appreciated.

Thanks
 
My sharpmaker puts an edge on my case that I can't believe. I recommend it completely. As for the angle, use the 45 for a utility edge and the 30 for a more precise blade. The beauty of slipjoints is that you can sharpen different blades on one knife for different purposes. My trapper has the wider angle on the clip point and the narrow edge on my Spey blade which I use for very clean precise cuts. You can also use the narrow edge to put a nice back bevel on a 45 degree edge to thin out the blade just ever so slightly and remove the shoulders, but traditional knives have such thin blades that it isn't always needed.

Anyway, the sharpener is great, easy to use, and once you figure it out, it will hit you and you can sharpen them to shaving sharp and beyond easily. I have yet to try the ultra fine stones and want to, but as it comes you will find it to exceed your expectations, especially if you are using a v sharpener:).

I will be happy to answer any questions you may have, but you will have to post pictures of your cases to get another word out of me!!! ;)
 
Thanks so much for the reply Spoutz, very helpful! So the 30 deg will be more sharp but 45 will hold better? What angle do most of these case knives come with from the factory?
 
I really couldnt tell you which angle they come with but I can tell you that your butter knife is probably sharper haha. Some come useable but not great, and some come with very sub-par edges that really do require a sharpening. I wouldnt worry about the edge from the factory cause you will need to put a "real" edge on it to use it.

now about those pictures...
 
One point of correction to the information Spoutz supplied. The Spyderco Sharpmaker does have two angles for knife sharpening. The "Edge" angle is 40 degrees inclusive (you are creating a 20 degree bevel on each side of the knife which adds up to the inclusive angle) and it has a "Back Bevel" angle of 30 degrees inclusive (you are creating a 15 degree bevel on each side of the knife which adds up to the inclusive angle). And I support the rest of Spoutz's reflections on his use of the Sharpmaker system. It is very capable at sharpening!

I evaluate each knife edge I purchase to see if it meets my standard for sharpness regardless of the manufacturer. If the factory edge is sharp enough I use it up before sharpening in my personal effort to save steel. :)

Did you get Case knives with their stainless steel or CV steel? Folders or fixed blades? Just curious.

Cheers,

Doug
 
I do appologise, it is most definitely a 40 degree angle.

As for the back bevel, I use it to back bevel my 40 degree blade, and I use it for a main edge on some of my secondary blades.

My case knife came as dull as a butter knife and was EXTREMELY uneven when I got it but just a few minutes and it came out razor sharp after it met my sharpmaker:)
 
I believe I only have one Case brand knife right now and I purchased it second hand with significant damage to the primary blade. I even sent it back to Case who promptly returned it to me without making any change to it and they included a note that said they could not replace the blade. I modified the blade to remove the damage and I have since sharpened it to a very fine edge. Now I have a very unique Case brand knife. :)
 
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