What is the best field sharpener?

Crayola

Crayola

Joined
Sep 23, 1999
Messages
3,831
Last time I was out in the bush, I took my Sharpmaker 203 with me. What do you think is the best field sharpener, and why?

Oh, telling me to get a knife made of 420V or some other steel that NEVER needs sharpening doesn't count!


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"Come What May..."
 
I've got a pocket diamond rod that fits into a tube with a pocket clip. I think it's made buy EZ-lap. I got it at Woodworks. The tube and the rod are around 4 inches each. The combination is long enough that I can do some good honing without the edge being too close to my hand. The rod is round with a flat surface on one side. The grit is medium (coarser than I use when I sharpen at home). This hone cuts well enough to get me going if I wreck an edge accidently whacking something like barbed wire. The medium grit quickly gives an edge that cuts meat and hide agressively.
 
I like the Spyderco Double Stuff (med and fine grit) in its leather sheath. Works very well for free hand sharpening and under $25. Sleek and compact, you can easily throw it in your rucksack. As a matter of fact it is an excellent first flat stone (or ceramic in this case) for newbies.

Regards,

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~Greg Mete~
Kodiak Alaska
 
If your field knife has plain edge only (no serration, no recurve) go to DMT Double Sided Diafold with one side coarse and another - fine (blue/red). On the coarse (blue) surface you will be able to restore quickly a damaged edge on your knife and to sharpen axe or shovel as well. Fine (red) surface will help you to sharpen your knife to excellent working sharpness if not to shaving sharpness.
Diafold is very easy to use working free hand, without stable base. The package measures only 130x30x6 millimeters (sorry, the largest part of the world uses metric measures) and is not heavier than similarly sized folding knife.
It's also extremely durable - I'm torturing mine more than year and it serves me flawlessly. You may say - one year is not too long time to make conclusions, but please note - I'm using mine almost daily. I'm testing knives and I'm resharpening them frequently and sometimes from very dull or damaged condition.

If your knife has serration or recurved edge go to DMT Diafold Serrated Knife Sharpener. It is built similarly but has the diamond powder coated conical rod instead of flat sharpening surface. Matching rod diameter with particular serrations you can sharpen them one by one. You can also use it as sharpening steel on the plain or recurved part of your edge.

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Sergiusz Mitin
gunwriter
Lodz, Poland
 
DMT, fine, (GREEN).......NEW, not worn out!!
I find these to be BY FAR the best, even on Talonite!
I may be partial to them because we use them by the dozen at my full time job to touch up carbide tooling and tool steel components. I think one must develope a feel for whatever device or stone they use.
Also, I now the topic is field sharpening and your not going to study the edge of your knife with one in the woods but...... A good jewellers loupe is the best piece of sharpening equipment you can buy!!
Neil

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Blackwood Knives
Talonite knives in stock!!
http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Meeting/5520/index.html
 
Neil, I've heard about using a jeweler's loupe before and it sounds like a great idea, but where might I go to buy one? I'm thinking catalogs or websites if you don't mind. TIA.

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Just because I talk to myself does not make me crazy. Now, when I listen to myself, that makes me crazy.
 
Roadrunner,
They are available from any of the machine tool catologs including MSC. I have been dealing with Penn Tool Co. lately and they can be found at www.penntoolco.com. There catalog is excellent!
The more powerfull loupes are harder to focus but realy show the edge well. I would buy at least 3 of them. Start our with the cheap ones!! Also important is a good lamp! They have GREAT ($$$$) work lamps in those catologs too
smile.gif

Neil


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Blackwood Knives
Talonite knives in stock!!
http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Meeting/5520/index.html
 
Ah yes... I can picture myself now, climbing Window mountain with a kukri in my hand, dirt on my face and scraped up knees, as I pull out my jeweller's loupe!!! Definitely a kodak moment!!!
Actually, if I ever come across a loupe, I'll pick it up! Thanks Neil.




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"Come What May..."
 
I prefer a steel in the field! With a steel you can quickly touch up a knife and straighten the edge. Ultimate Edge makes a fine diamond steel that works well.
 
I like the DMT double-sided Diafold. I like the Blue/Red combination, although I think I'd like Blue/Green better, if that exists. If space and weight are an issue, I'd go with the DMT Mini-Fold, or whatever it's called--probably the red one (fine). It's small enough to carry on a key ring. I also often carry one of those pen-sized Eze-Lap sharpeners, as it fits perfectly along with a Victorinox SwissTool in one of the older style Benchmade AFO pouches.

For a field sharpener I prefer diamonds over ceramics, as the ceramic sharpeners get loaded up rather quickly and lose much of their effectiveness if you have to do more than just a light touch-up

David Rock

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AKTI Member # A000846
Stop when you get to bone.
 
In case of emergency, any decent stone will do. (don't try it with 420-V, it may take a while).

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D.T. UTZINGER

[This message has been edited by ZUT&ZUT (edited 04-04-2000).]
 
I believe I have the same Eze-Lap "pen-sharpener" as Jeff Clark, but mine is definitely not 4". Actual rod itself only measures 2.25"; OAL opened is 5-5/8" and 4" closed. Very nifty for touching up and quick re-aligning, as Jeff notes.

Also decent is the fine diamond file on the Leatherman Wave or PST II. For quick work, it works!

Glen

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Thank me -- my posts make yours sound smarter.
 
Well I had the Lansky triangle sharpener as a keychain, but I lost the stupid thing! so now I'm looking for a pocket arcansause stone

and a spell checker
biggrin.gif
 
I have carried an EZ Lap diamond steel (1" x 3"),600 grit in my pocket for about 16 years. It is still flat (bonded on steel) and it still sharpens. It is a touch up steel and I would never try to use it for anything but touching up an edge. It came on a flat stick (which was quickly discarded) and cost about $6.00. It will touch up any type of steel and if you pay attention, you can almost tell the hardness of the blade when you sharpen it.

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Ray Kirk
http://www.tah-usa.net/raker
 
I picked up a fiskars sharpener for $1.99 it has a coarse and fine set of ceramic rods set into a plastic guard about 1 1/2 by 2 inches and fits on the key chain. it does a nice job of getting blades if not scary sharp then at least razor sharp ( the blades will shave.)
oh and it sharpens serrations as well.
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a man is no fool to give up that which he cannot keep to gain what he cannever lose.

[This message has been edited by ohoisin (edited 04-11-2000).]
 
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