Sharpening knives

Bugsy

Well-Known Member
I’m butchering a lot more deer now for family consumption now and wondering what’s the best sharpener for my knives . All my other gralloching knives I do on my Lansky and I know there not everybody’s cup of tea but I get on ok with this system but the butchering knives are different and somehow take longer to get an edge . Any pointers , thanks .
 
I’m butchering a lot more deer now for family consumption now and wondering what’s the best sharpener for my knives . All my other gralloching knives I do on my Lansky and I know there not everybody’s cup of tea but I get on ok with this system but the butchering knives are different and somehow take longer to get an edge . Any pointers , thanks .
The lansky was not for me also, I am used to putting an edge back on a lathe tool (HHS) also drills in a very short time for them to cut steel many times over so fiddling around with a blade in a poorly made clamp "I am out" lol
I use a course stone (400) then just steel the blade.
 
Used to try and get a perfect edge now I use victorinox knives and a victorinox steel. Rough as, but sharp enough.

I use an electric worksharp to redo my knives when blunt.
 
If you are stuck Bugsy you can try my worksharp electric sharpener I’ll leave it at Danny’s house or ill be down kennacraig way within the next 2-3 weeks
 
If your going to The Stalking Show , visit my stand and I will demonstrate the process of stropping and free-hand sharpening with low cost commercially available diamond stones at our stand . FOC
I will also be bringing a fair few of my wooden backed leather strops and compound , these used regular and you don't honestly require a stone for a very long time. Stones are really mainly about repairing damages or lack of stropping for a longer period of use and frequency . Sometimes the Knifes grinder is required (I wont be bringing these)
 
Stropping and a good swipe on a steel usually does the trick on thin grind butcher knives. Have a look at the Spyderco Sharpmaker though, a really effective sharpening system.
 
Stropping and a good swipe on a steel usually does the trick on thin grind butcher knives. Have a look at the Spyderco Sharpmaker though, a really effective sharpening system.
They are both doing the same thing , which is straightening and polishing. Consider if you need to use both one of them is maybe not working just right . Now that said there are some weird ones that are primarily to sell folks useless extra kit
A sharpening is different that is "to remove metal" . You would finish with a strop and start ( if it was required) with a sharpener .
Whatever the pedanticism the most common issues people get is switching around flipping backwards and forward , commonly after sharpening the knife gets a blunt feel and that's actually not bad - its good ! The burr has now flipped over and the strop will finish it " striking off the burr "
If what your doing works for you in the end , great! just saying you can speed and improve
Commercial Butchers knives are made from thinner section and a lower hardness and you can get an edge sorted with no more than a steel , used frequently but only for a window in time .
 
I’m butchering a lot more deer now for family consumption now and wondering what’s the best sharpener for my knives . All my other gralloching knives I do on my Lansky and I know there not everybody’s cup of tea but I get on ok with this system but the butchering knives are different and somehow take longer to get an edge . Any pointers , thanks .

 
I meant to type or instead of and! A steel for quick touch ups and will typically use a Longstrider with Smurf poo to refine a sharp edge. Depends - I have a lot of knives with different profiles, blade steels etc. Shapton glass for reprofiling and new edges - the Spyderco can also reprofile but it’s ideal for touching up 20 degree edges
 
Cheers for the replies lads , I do use a steel but it’s when there needing a grind with something quick to put some edge on them before I steel them , and thanks for the offers of a steel Stewart.
 
homemade leather strop with (important) diamond compound. i use 6 micron and it take a semi sharp knife back to a razor in quick time as long as the edge is still intact.
 
If you are stuck Bugsy you can try my worksharp electric sharpener I’ll leave it at Danny’s house or ill be down kennacraig way within the next 2-3 weeks
Thanks Dave 👍I’ll look into a ‘Worksharp ‘ , I won’t put you to any bother and thanks for the offer . I’m going to need something for next week . Thanks
 
The lansky was not for me also, I am used to putting an edge back on a lathe tool (HHS) also drills in a very short time for them to cut steel many times over so fiddling around with a blade in a poorly made clamp "I am out" lol
I use a course stone (400) then just steel the blade.
I can appreciate what you have written here. I have one and the clamp is fine for a thin blade but my PHK has a thick (5mm+) blade which it struggles with.
You also have to make sure you put it into the clamp in the same position each time you sharpen it else the angle of the stones in the blade changes and you end up putting a new edge on it each time.
Now I use a photo to get the positioning right!!
IMG_7945.webp

But deal with those two issues and the results are good and nowadays I use the lanky once every 6-8 weeks and the strop every time I go out - keeps it shaving sharp.
 
Cheers for the replies lads , I do use a steel but it’s when there needing a grind with something quick to put some edge on them before I steel them , and thanks for the offers of a steel Stewart.
No worries mate, the offer is there.

If you already have one though, it is likely more suited to you than these small ones.
 
I can appreciate what you have written here. I have one and the clamp is fine for a thin blade but my PHK has a thick (5mm+) blade which it struggles with.
You also have to make sure you put it into the clamp in the same position each time you sharpen it else the angle of the stones in the blade changes and you end up putting a new edge on it each time.
Now I use a photo to get the positioning right!!
View attachment 410501

But deal with those two issues and the results are good and nowadays I use the lanky once every 6-8 weeks and the strop every time I go out - keeps it shaving sharp.
I made a wider clamp on my milling machine from mild steel using double side tape for the soft jaws. Rock solid but not my thing fiddling with the rods and stone, also they are not I would call a stone with the way the grain of them acts.
But people like them just not for me.
 
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