The Stalking Show & knife Sharpening .

[Bowland blades]

During the Stalking show ( not far away now at all) . I will be doing some hand sharpening on the stand on and off ( I still need to be moving product ) . Most Clients cannot adequately carry out the task of sharpening , and with the laws in place and postage of knives its becoming harder for a stalker to maintain their knife . So such teaching in use of sharpening stones can be a great asset to many .
I am doing all the sharpening on a really cheap easily available set of industrial diamond stones and stropping blocks and will have some of these tools on sale at the stand . Partly I am using cheap kit to show you can do this with the inexpensive kit - because spending a big wedge of cash on kit is IMHO crazy for the average user - SO CHEAP AND CHEERFUL . I wont be able to take large chips out of a blade with this kit in any reasonable time The kit I am bringing is just not up to doing this without using up too much time . I will give BB customers knives priority but anyone but if i can fit in other brands i will , I also have to be spending most of my time moving my product ( THE KNIVES) so please respect the fact I can only do so many each day those who already own BB knives will get first priority and heavy chipping etc normally will need to take a trip to the workshop and that involves time and costs .
Please DM me so I can Judge if you are interested in bringing in a knife for sharpening

 

[VSS]

Last year I visited your stand but you were too busy to talk to me so I had nice long chat with your wife instead, who seemed a lovely person.
Maybe this year, while I'm chatting to your good lady, you could sharpen my knife for me?

 

[Rich morgan]

Hi what method do you prefer for sharpening skandi grind knives? I’ve been using ice bear stones with good results

 

[Jamouk]

Good idea! ,there was no one doing this last year , I had a knife with me last year and I asked another knife maker who's on here if he would be able to do it and he was quite rude to Me asit wasn't one of his I wouldn't Pxss on one of his knives now

 

[Bowland blades]

Hi what method do you prefer for sharpening skandi grind knives? I’ve been using ice bear stones with good results

Hardly ever do I make Scandi knives . However the true scandi is pretty easy, you just follow the original grind , this can even be done using a flat wooden block with sandpaper glued to it .
The only mistake that is commonly made is putting a smaller bevel , then its too steep an angle
Best example is in a film of ray Mears using a scandI grind knife to fillet a salmon ( it looked like he wrestled it out of a bears mouth in the end ) LOL
Its not a great choice for deer and its at its best as a green woodworking tool. Splitting and feather sticking for a fire or building a shelter etc .

 

[Rich morgan]

Thanks for the advice, it was originally bought as a general purpose bushcraft knife. What grind would you recommend for a deer processing knife? I’ve always used a basic mora. Look forward to speaking at the show

 

[Bowland blades]

Thanks for the advice, it was originally bought as a general purpose bushcraft knife. What grind would you recommend for a deer processing knife? I’ve always used a basic mora. Look forward to speaking at the show

Processing ( as in Larder work) victorinox (or similar ) boning knives , as very much lardering knives they are cheap / semi disposable and flexible it can be brought back with a steel . A stalking knife used in a field gralloch is not flexible and a fair bit harder and should hold its edge better for gralloching and bleeding . An experienced user with a worthy stalking knife , its possible to go through a lot more beasts without it needing attention in the field and will be expected to last for years . A Larder knife is semi disposable item so much so busy larders keep a load in stock and a bin full of those that are passed the "usable"

 

[weblyish]

Processing ( as in Larder work) victorinox (or similar ) boning knives , as very much lardering knives they are cheap / semi disposable and flexible it can be brought back with a steel . A stalking knife used in a field gralloch is not flexible and a fair bit harder and should hold its edge better for gralloching and bleeding . An experienced user with a worthy stalking knife , its possible to go through a lot more beasts without it needing attention in the field and will be expected to last for years . A Larder knife is semi disposable item so much so busy larders keep a load in stock and a bin full of those that are passed the "usable"

^this^

theres a lot to be said for the entry level commercial kit
the own brand 6" boning knives from Nisbets are very decent and cost about £15
they come razor sharp
you dont feel guilty throwing them in the dishwasher
you can touch them up with a steel and they will actually take a decent edge off a stone but you can just get a new one

https://www.nisbets.co.uk/hygiplas-boning-knife-125mm/c267

splash out and get the soft grip ones

https://www.nisbets.co.uk/vogue-soft-grip-boning-knife-130mm/gd754

that's different to a high quality chefs knife, but it's been a long time since I've seen anyone in the kitchen with an expensive boning knife, or fillet knife

 

[Bowland blades]

^this^

theres a lot to be said for the entry level commercial kit
the own brand 6" boning knives from Nisbets are very decent and cost about £15
they come razor sharp
you dont feel guilty throwing them in the dishwasher
you can touch them up with a steel and they will actually take a decent edge off a stone but you can just get a new one

https://www.nisbets.co.uk/hygiplas-boning-knife-125mm/c267

splash out and get the soft grip ones

https://www.nisbets.co.uk/vogue-soft-grip-boning-knife-130mm/gd754

that's different to a high quality chefs knife, but it's been a long time since I've seen anyone in the kitchen with an expensive boning knife, or fillet knife

I have a fair few Chefs on my client list , often they want the very best and are not shy of spending for quality. likewise the keen home cook . I don't remember ever having even a mention about a boning knife
I used to stock and sell Victoinox boners and made kydex belt sheaths with them . One guy was a butcher who also stalked and just needed the sheaths for use in stalking

 

[Automan]

There's enough bollocks talked about knife sharpening as there is about changing chokes in shotguns, does it cut yes end of.

 

[Bowland blades]

There's enough bollocks talked about knife sharpening as there is about changing chokes in shotguns, does it cut yes end of.

While I agree that there is a lot of contraptions designed to catch those that have never mastered using simple flat stones or the cheaper modern diamond stones . Changing out a choke tube can make a fair old difference on what and how a shotgun patterns at various ranges or shot sizes and sharpening your own can save you a lot over just changing to another knife.
Sharpening by hand after a pretty short lesson on how to , can save you continuously buying yest another knife as the edge rolls over or chipping that catches and drags
Its not difficult to learn with some initial instruction and then building some muscle memory so you can speed up , even chat face to face with someone while working on a knife . Heck a time or two I have done after a fair few drinks ( not to be advised ) but just to show its nothing like hand engraving etc
If you come to the Stalking show ( this applies to all ) I will be breaking off now and again to demonstrate on some customers knives . Also allowing some to get hands on and help them get over any difficulties they have come across.
Its now becoming a big task to send a knife in the post lawfully , so being able to maintain an edge on your knives is pretty much going to be paramount through the years

 

[Bowland blades]

Well a just a few Stalkers too me up on the free sharpening with inexpensive kit ( with tuition ) , I assume that all the others are already truly capable ? ( though from personal experience I seriously doubt it )