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Out of the box...who's the sharpest?
- Thread starter Edgefinder
- Start date
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Kdarmy,
It is interesting. Since a sharp edge is a transient thing, it seems strange to me that it's a selling point on a knife but, obviously, it is. I keep my knives pretty sharp but I have commercial sharpening equipment at my disposal so it only takes about 15 seconds for me to restore an edge. I recently started carrying a little Boker canoe knife that was plain dull out of the box. Didn't bother me at all nor did it make me question Boker's commitment to quality. I just spent the usual 15 seconds on the knife and went on with my day. I can see I'm in a distinct minority. Take care.
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Fred
Knife Outlet
http://www.knifeoutlet.com
It is interesting. Since a sharp edge is a transient thing, it seems strange to me that it's a selling point on a knife but, obviously, it is. I keep my knives pretty sharp but I have commercial sharpening equipment at my disposal so it only takes about 15 seconds for me to restore an edge. I recently started carrying a little Boker canoe knife that was plain dull out of the box. Didn't bother me at all nor did it make me question Boker's commitment to quality. I just spent the usual 15 seconds on the knife and went on with my day. I can see I'm in a distinct minority. Take care.
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Fred
Knife Outlet
http://www.knifeoutlet.com
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2000
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- 186
From my limited experience at the local knifeshop, Kershaw. All of them were subjectively sharper than a Sebenza, and it actually took me about a week of practice after I dulled the knife before I could get the edge on my Ricochet to be as good as the factory edge. My Benchmade AFCK was also super sharp, but I think it was a fluke, all my other BM's had pathetic edges.
Spyderco, Cold Steel, Kershaw and MT (I don't have Sebenza yet) are all consistently sharp out of the box, but the sharpest knife I've personally handled out of the box as been my William Henry Evolution with VG-10 blade steel. It is the SHARPEST knife in my opinion.
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2000
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- 698
CS
My DOVO straight razor was probably as sharp as anything I've ever seen!
Fred,
It matters (in a minor way) to me, as I enjoy feeling and demonstrating how sharp it is right out of the box. If you can simply take 15 seconds and hone/polish/whatever it to make your knife scary sharp, then great! No sarcasm intended, I'm not at that skill level, but I'm working on it! I wish I could say that, I have to use my EdgePro to get a decent edge.
I hope someday to be able to use bench stones free hand, but I'm not even close to that yet. Having said that, I found out that Spyderco has a factory outlet about 10 miles down the road from me, and I'm going down there to check it out! Gonna leave the plastic at home, though...
[This message has been edited by swede79 (edited 03-16-2001).]
Fred,
It matters (in a minor way) to me, as I enjoy feeling and demonstrating how sharp it is right out of the box. If you can simply take 15 seconds and hone/polish/whatever it to make your knife scary sharp, then great! No sarcasm intended, I'm not at that skill level, but I'm working on it! I wish I could say that, I have to use my EdgePro to get a decent edge.
I hope someday to be able to use bench stones free hand, but I'm not even close to that yet. Having said that, I found out that Spyderco has a factory outlet about 10 miles down the road from me, and I'm going down there to check it out! Gonna leave the plastic at home, though...
[This message has been edited by swede79 (edited 03-16-2001).]
I'm pretty sure Tom Mayo's are!!!!!!
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Fred, part of the thing is, have you ever tried re-profiling a hard tool steel blade with a sharpmaker? It's not at all fun...
It's very nice when an edge comes at 20% per side and you only need a few passes to bring an edge back. IMHO all blade aught to be at or near this 'standard' angle.
W.A.
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It's very nice when an edge comes at 20% per side and you only need a few passes to bring an edge back. IMHO all blade aught to be at or near this 'standard' angle.
W.A.
------------------
"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
Tennyson
Ranger motto
A few useful details on UK laws and some nice reviews!
http://members.aol.com/knivesuk/
Certified steel snob!
Founding president and member number 1! Wana join?
stjames
Sebenzanista
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Chris Reeve Knives
Microtech
Spyderco
Fred, I buy knives in order to cut things. They should be able to when I buy them, otherwise they are useless. When I buy something new I expect it to be as good as it is ever going to get. If I can improve something as basic as it's ability to do it's primary job, then it was not properly made in the first place. If you pay your money to come see a production I worked on you can bet your ass that when the curtain rises you will get what you paid for. Or would you prefer if we suggested that you put on a hearing aid if the sound is bad, or maybe shine a flashlight at the stage if you can't see the action?
When I pay for a tune-up, I don't want to be handed a few cans of oil and some spark plugs and have someone tell me that the job is done. If I buy a knife from you and pay for shipping, am I responsible for getting the package to the post office or you?
[This message has been edited by stjames (edited 03-16-2001).]
Microtech
Spyderco
Fred, I buy knives in order to cut things. They should be able to when I buy them, otherwise they are useless. When I buy something new I expect it to be as good as it is ever going to get. If I can improve something as basic as it's ability to do it's primary job, then it was not properly made in the first place. If you pay your money to come see a production I worked on you can bet your ass that when the curtain rises you will get what you paid for. Or would you prefer if we suggested that you put on a hearing aid if the sound is bad, or maybe shine a flashlight at the stage if you can't see the action?
When I pay for a tune-up, I don't want to be handed a few cans of oil and some spark plugs and have someone tell me that the job is done. If I buy a knife from you and pay for shipping, am I responsible for getting the package to the post office or you?
[This message has been edited by stjames (edited 03-16-2001).]
All those blades that uses G.SAKAI steel are the sharpest. Those include cold steel and spyderco. So both brands should be equally sharp. But I know that not all blades from either company uses G.SAKAI steel.
Anyway, there is another kind of steel that can be honed to the 'ultimate sharpness' - the "San Mai" steel, used by Cold Steel to make their "San Mai Tantos". Those blades can split and chop free-standing hair! I do not mean shave, but really sever a strand of hair held by one of its end. And if you are skilled enough, you can place a strand of hair on the edge and blow - the hair will be severed in two.
Now that is what I call sharp.
Anyway, there is another kind of steel that can be honed to the 'ultimate sharpness' - the "San Mai" steel, used by Cold Steel to make their "San Mai Tantos". Those blades can split and chop free-standing hair! I do not mean shave, but really sever a strand of hair held by one of its end. And if you are skilled enough, you can place a strand of hair on the edge and blow - the hair will be severed in two.
Now that is what I call sharp.
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Marbles! And with the convex grind, all you need is a strop to keep em that way! Blackjack knives were/are scarey sharp, too!
- Joined
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Consistantly Sharp.
1. Dalton - but they come in sleeves
2. Microtech
3. Spyderco
But I agree that this is hype. As long as the quality of the knife is good I can always make it more sharp. I've heard that selling sharp knive is an American thing, like cold, weak beer. In Germany and other places years ago knives didn't come sharpened at all, instead you got to put your own edge on them. I like that idea because I like a convex edge best and only handmades on request are done that way anymore. OOps. I forgot about Marbles.
[This message has been edited by jeffa (edited 03-17-2001).]
1. Dalton - but they come in sleeves
2. Microtech
3. Spyderco
But I agree that this is hype. As long as the quality of the knife is good I can always make it more sharp. I've heard that selling sharp knive is an American thing, like cold, weak beer. In Germany and other places years ago knives didn't come sharpened at all, instead you got to put your own edge on them. I like that idea because I like a convex edge best and only handmades on request are done that way anymore. OOps. I forgot about Marbles.
[This message has been edited by jeffa (edited 03-17-2001).]
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Chris Reeve sharpest out of the box; I was happy once I had used it for a week.
Al Mar and Blackjack were bad arses as well.
Things have got better over the years, but so has my sharpening. I can put a keener edge on my Cold Steel Master Tanto than when first new. Then again that was prety awesome too. The best edges seem to stay good for longer too.
Al Mar and Blackjack were bad arses as well.
Things have got better over the years, but so has my sharpening. I can put a keener edge on my Cold Steel Master Tanto than when first new. Then again that was prety awesome too. The best edges seem to stay good for longer too.