Keeping Kabar knives sharp

[magnanimous_j]

I've got a Kabar knife I use outdoors, it's the slightly smaller "Air Force" version I believe. And from day 1 I've had a tough time getting it and keeping it sharp. Out of the box, it was about as sharp an an axe and nothing I've done so far fixes that. I have a Lansky sharpening system, but the Kabar is too thick to fit in the holding clamp. The only thing that kind of works is the steel rod that came with my Wusthofs. But that's hit or miss.

Don't get me wrong, I still wouldn't want to get stabbed with it, but I was having a hard time stripping a stick with it the other day.

Any advice?

[2labs]

Worksharp will put an edge on it

[Jonathan_S]

Don't get me wrong, I still wouldn't want to get stabbed with it

Well that's good!   

I have a belt sharpener that my friend used to sharpen his Kabars on.  He was happy with it    Probably not worth buying a $100 sharpening system for a Kabar though

[Fl0und3rz]

Get a DMT or Smith dual grit diamond sharpener (coarse/fine).   If you can't get it sharp with the same edge geometry, change it.

By default I use this on most knives, indoor or outdoor, unless I am dressing a factory edge that has different geometry. Strop on coarse about 20 degrees to the stone each side several times until you get a clean edge.  Switch to fine, same angle.  Then switch to about 25 degrees on the fine until you get a nice even edge.

[JimmyHoffa]

Is it too thick to get a shallow angle without grinding the blade?

[Woodchuck]

Worksharp will put an edge on it

That.

[Bean Counter]

What is Worksharp?

 A coworker of mine finds old street lights (don't ask) and grabs the sodium filament. looks like a grey cigarette and feels like ceramic. He uses those and can sharpen darn near anything with 'em.

[Woodchuck]

http://www.amazon.com/Work-Sharp-WSKTS-KO-Knife-Sharpener/dp/B00EJ9CQKA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1437773196&sr=8-3&keywords=worksharp

[2labs]

Worksharp is an electric belt sander with correct angles. Turn your knife into a razor pretty quick.

[Woodchuck]

I have this model with the belt attachment. Great tool.

[magnanimous_j]

Thanks guys. That worksharp looks pretty slick, but I probably can't justify the cost.

There is a knife sharpening shop near my place, maybe I'll have the guy take a look at it.

[Woodchuck]

Dude, buy it, thank me later. You will be sharpening stuff that you never knew should be sharp. You should see the ulu I made out of a bowling ball.

[Buckmark]

Dude, buy it, thank me later. You will be sharpening stuff that you never knew should be sharp. You should see the ulu I made out of a bowling ball.

ulu out of a bowling ball, made me laugh out loud 

Hey mags once you hit 15hr you will only have to work about 6hrs for the basic unit, figure 12hrs if you really want to splurge.

[Firedogg]

  The Worksharp will handle it. You will have to be patient doing it for the first time as it will be slightly changing the bevel in the edge, for the better I feel, but once you've done that it will be no problem to get it razor sharp. Just goneasy and don't rush to get to the next finest grit. After that you can get by with several honings on a pocket ceramic sharpener before you have to touch it up on the Worksharp again. A good leather strop will really finish the edge off.

  I have taken a lot of metal off blades experimenting with the worksharp and have yet to overheat a blade.

[Fl0und3rz]

You seriously owe it to yourself to learn to put an edge on that thing.

Low cost, and you can throw it in your pack or kitchen utility drawer. 

http://www.amazon.com/Smiths-DCS4-4-Inch-Diamond-Sharpening/dp/B00009YV6L

I have lost count on how many knives I have maintained and restored with it.