Posts Tagged ‘knife sharpeners’
Gerber Knives & Sharpeners in the Field
Gerber knives are especially well-known among hunters. Gerber offers many knives designed particularly for hunting purposes. One of the most popular Gerber hunting knives is the Freeman Hunter, with a polished Pear wood handle and high-quality grip with finger grooves for rugged outdoor use. The Freeman knife is relatively short with a 4 inch, plain edged AUS8 stainless steel drop point blade, so it is recommended for skinning smaller animals.
To sharpen your Gerber knife out in the field, the hunters favorite is their Diamond sharpener with a pocket clip. It retracts into its handle for easy accessibility and is great for putting a quick edge on your fishing hook or blade in the field.
Honing Your Sharpening Skills
We’ve all heard the expression “there is more than one way to skin a cat,” but there is also more than one way to sharpen that knife. Many people utilize the classic rod design, which is perfect for straight edged knives. One alternative to this basic sharpener is a versatile sharpening stone.
Many sharpening stones are small enough that they can be carried with you on your hunting or fishing trip. While these stones won’t be able to revitalize a completely worn blade, they will be able to hone the edge and put a final finish on your knife. Look for sharpening stones that come with honing oil and instructions to ensure the best results.
Knife Safety (cont.)
The simplest of all knife safety guidelines is to always cut away from your body, never toward it. When you’re using a knife, be attentive to the job at hand. You should always be aware of where your knife is pointed.
Do not run with a knife and do not sleep with a knife. You are not Daniel Boone, nor are there bears in your neighborhood that might disrupt your sleep (if there are, calling 911 is the safest response). If you drop your knife, don’t try and catch it. Use your knife for appropriate tasks, not opening bottles or loosening screws. Use your knife for it’s intended purpose. A skinning knife is for skinning, not poking or prying. Use the proper knife sharpener for the type of blade (is your knife serrated or does it have a plain edge?)
Knife safety is about respect: respect for yourself and for the knife. Maintain that respect, and you’ll use your knife safely.
Knife Safety 0
Most knife safety tips are appropriately related to the manner in which a knife is used. But knife safety is about far more than simply handling a blade with caution. Regular cleaning and preventive maintenance play a role in knife safety, as does a proper understanding and respect for the type of knife you are using.
Learning as much as you can about your knife and how to care for it is the basis of all knife safety. A good sharpening stone – properly used will reduce the chance of a knife accident caused by a dull blade. Regular lubrication of folding knives will reduce the chance of mishaps due to malfunctioning parts. In addition, regular cleaning and preventive maintenance play a role in knife safety, as does a proper understanding and respect for the type of knife you are using.
Understanding your knife’s design can also be a factor in reducing accidents. If you own a knife with a fixed blade, always keep it sheathed when not in use. As for folding blade knives, familiarize yourself thoroughly with the blade’s strength and locking features. Also consider the different handle materials when you shop for a new knife. Although most knife manufacturers will offer the proper grip for the knife’s most common use (ie. a hunting knife will have a handle most suitable for that purpose), many knives have multiples uses and therefor many different handle materials.
Knife safety means knowing what your knife is capable of. A knife is a tool, but mishandled, it can quickly become a weapon. It’s said that familiarity breeds contempt, but with knives, familiarity breeds safety.
Sharpening Tactical Folding Knives
You can sharpen tactical folding knives by holding them at 22 degrees for a sharp knife or 12-15 degrees for a very sharp knife. The type of sharpening stone
used can also affect the sharpness of the blade. Many prefer to use a clamp-style system that has pre-defined angles to ensure accurate sharpening but any quality stone will do the job.
Traditional stones can be used to sharpen tactical folding knives and they are known as Arkansas stones, which come in soft (coarse) and hard (fine) varieties. Some prefer to use ceramic stones due to the fact that they do not wear like natural stones and they do not require oil like the Arkansas stone does.
Adding oil may be necessary to lift the metal dust off of the stone when sharpening tactical folding knives. If you use ceramic stones you won’t need to add oil as they can be cleaned with detergent. Never use soap or detergent to clean a natural sharpening stone.
When you are done sharpening a tactical folding knife you may want to use a technique called “stropping.” This is performed with a leather strap that has abrasive compounds in it. This can be used on a tactical folding knife that is still sharp, but not as sharp as it once was.
Stay Sharp
A dull knife is a useless knife. Testing a knife can help you tell whether it’s sharp enough. Try cutting through a ripe tomato; if the knife is sharp it will cut through the tomato with ease, if it’s not it will smash the tomato. But don’t throw a dull knife away because it can be easily sharpened.
There are two main types of knife sharpeners; metal sharpeners and ceramic sharpeners. Knives made of harder metal require more sharpening but will stay sharp longer.
Metal sharpeners offer a great finish to an already sharp knife because of their fine grains. Professional chefs and butchers are likely to use these sharpeners. Ceramic sharpeners on the other hand, are used primarily to sharpen stainless steel knives. Sharpeners of this type are good at thinning knife points.
Diamonds: Not Just for Jewelry
Keeping your blade sharp is important for any knife owner, especially if you are using your knife on a consistent basis. There are several options for knife sharpeners on the market, and the one you pick will determine the sharpness of your edge. If money is not an obstacle and you are looking for the best quality, the clear choice is a diamond knife sharpener.
Diamonds are the hardest natural material known to man, rating a 10 out of 10 on the Mohs scale. As such, diamond sharpeners are the best option for creating a razor sharp edge. You can find great diamond sharpening kits that include safety holders, oil and everything else you need to sharpen like a pro.