Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => All Other Gear => Topic started by: magnanimous_j on July 24, 2015, 02:14:57 PM

Title: Keeping Kabar knives sharp
Post by: magnanimous_j on July 24, 2015, 02:14:57 PM: 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?
Title: Re: Keeping Kabar knives sharp
Post by: 2labs on July 24, 2015, 02:17:23 PM: Worksharp will put an edge on it
Title: Re: Keeping Kabar knives sharp
Post by: Jonathan_S on July 24, 2015, 02:19:18 PM: Quote from: magnanimous_j on July 24, 2015, 02:14:57 PM
Don't get me wrong, I still wouldn't want to get stabbed with it

Well that's good! :chuckle:

I have a belt sharpener that my friend used to sharpen his Kabars on. He was happy with it :dunno: Probably not worth buying a $100 sharpening system for a Kabar though
Title: Re: Keeping Kabar knives sharp
Post by: Fl0und3rz on July 24, 2015, 02:21:52 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Keeping Kabar knives sharp
Post by: JimmyHoffa on July 24, 2015, 02:22:24 PM: Is it too thick to get a shallow angle without grinding the blade?
Title: Re: Keeping Kabar knives sharp
Post by: Woodchuck on July 24, 2015, 02:23:19 PM: Quote from: 2labs on July 24, 2015, 02:17:23 PM
Worksharp will put an edge on it
That.
Title: Re: Keeping Kabar knives sharp
Post by: Bean Counter on July 24, 2015, 02:25:57 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Keeping Kabar knives sharp
Post by: Woodchuck on July 24, 2015, 02:27:15 PM: 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
Title: Re: Keeping Kabar knives sharp
Post by: 2labs on July 24, 2015, 02:29:35 PM: Worksharp is an electric belt sander with correct angles. Turn your knife into a razor pretty quick.
Title: Re: Keeping Kabar knives sharp
Post by: Woodchuck on July 24, 2015, 02:30:26 PM: I have this model with the belt attachment. Great tool.
Title: Re: Keeping Kabar knives sharp
Post by: magnanimous_j on July 24, 2015, 04:33:42 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Keeping Kabar knives sharp
Post by: Woodchuck on July 24, 2015, 04:37:52 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Keeping Kabar knives sharp
Post by: Buckmark on July 24, 2015, 04:51:40 PM: Quote from: Woodchuck on July 24, 2015, 04:37:52 PM
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 :chuckle:

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.
Title: Re: Keeping Kabar knives sharp
Post by: Firedogg on July 24, 2015, 04:56:41 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Keeping Kabar knives sharp
Post by: Fl0und3rz on July 24, 2015, 05:42:55 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Keeping Kabar knives sharp
Post by: Bofire on July 24, 2015, 08:39:02 PM: I use whetstones, have no trouble keeping any knife razor sharp, including my Kabar.
Carl
I have a Lansky also but normal whetstones are better.
Carl
Title: Re: Keeping Kabar knives sharp
Post by: Fl0und3rz on July 24, 2015, 08:56:17 PM: I have whetstones, too, but mostly use them for finer honing of things like chisels and plane irons. Diamond is quicker and easier for me and no mess.
Title: Re: Keeping Kabar knives sharp
Post by: T Pearce on July 24, 2015, 09:03:10 PM: Quote from: 2labs on July 24, 2015, 02:29:35 PM
Worksharp is an electric belt sander with correct angles. Turn your knife into a razor pretty quick.
With the Worksharp I've sharpened knives that I have never been able to sharpen before.
I use it on all of my cutting tools.
Ive taken it to work and sharpened co worker's knives as well.

It works.

On this forum....on a different thread, a poster mentioned the worksharp blunting the point of his knife. Ive done this myself and determined it was due to the blade tip being bent prior to sharpening. If I dont use my good blades for prying I have no issues.

I find the worksharp edge to be hardy.... I cut alot of cardboard.
I have an inverter on the truck that will allow the use of this thing in camp too.

Last winter I watched the infomercial out of boredom and Santa left one under the tree.
A great tool for someone who wants sharp blades but doesn't have alot of time.
As you can guess, I like it.
T
Title: Re: Keeping Kabar knives sharp
Post by: Eli346 on July 24, 2015, 09:06:54 PM: Worksharp for everything I own that needs an edge! I use the medium grade belt and use a leather belt as a strop for honing it to a fine edge. Scary sharp.
Title: Re: Keeping Kabar knives sharp
Post by: cookingdaily on July 27, 2015, 12:31:33 AM: I use a commercial kitchen tri stone sharpener on all my blades