A larger show hall, more exhibitors, some of the world’s best makers and knives, entertaining seminars, awards and other sharp stuff beckon you to attend BLADE Show West Oct. 4-5 in the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
A move to the Salt Palace’s exhibit hall No. 4 adds 15,000 square feet to this year’s show, and along with the added space come 30 more exhibitors to join the hundreds of knifemakers, bladesmiths, knife companies, knife suppliers and other knife professionals at the third annual rendition of the BLADE Show West held in Utah.
Among the top custom makers set to exhibit is an unbridled posse of South Texas Slipjoint Cartel members that includes BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bill Ruple, award-winning makers Luke Swenson, Enrique Pena and Tim Robertson and others. An all-star list of ABS bladesmiths features Bill Burke, Shane Taylor, Steven Koster, Seth Lopez, Shayne Carter and Trevor Morgan, to name a few. Other top award-winning makers include Johnny Stout, Princeton Wong, Mick Strider, Duane Dwyer, Evan Nicolaides, Mike Tyre, Jared Oeser and Brian Nadeau. There are many more.
2024 BLADE Show West Classes And Demos
Let The Pro Critique Your Knife
While the full seminar slate had not been set at press time, the popular Let the Pros Critique Your Knife session was set to return, with some of the leading custom maker show exhibitors expected to examine and critique knives made by assorted show attendees. As usual, it will be a limited-seating event and attendees can bring one knife only.
Select show attendees will have their knives examined by the world’s best custom makers in the popular “Let The Pros Critique Your Knife” seminar. Luke Swenson (right) inspects a patron’s knife at last year’s show. The makers participating in this year’s seminar were being assembled at press time. See the free BLADE Show West program at the show for more info.
Basecamp Essentials
Basecamp Essentials by Survival University will be a 30-to-45 minute demonstration designed to introduce essentials of wilderness living. “We will demo how to create various camp comforts such as benches, chairs, and other useful camp tools, using materials found in the natural environment,” a company spokesperson wrote. “This demo goes beyond the basics of survival, focusing on enhancing comfort and fostering a sense of community in the wilderness.”
West Coast Flipping Championships
Also set to return is the West Coast Flipping Championships hosted by Squid Industries. It will be the fifth annual version of the championships, with head-to-head/live balisong flipping matchups in an elimination/bracket-style competition. Awards and prizes will go to the top finishers. For the complete seminar schedule, see the free BLADE Show Program distributed at the show.
2024 BLADE Show West Awards
The show’s best custom and factory knives will be determined by a panel of judges assembled by the BLADE Show West staff. This year’s custom knife categories: Best in Show; Best Hunter; Best Kitchen Knife; Best Damascus; Best Slip Joint; Best Fixed Blade; Best Folder; Best M.A.C.K. (Machine Assisted Custom Knife); and Best of the Rest.
Winner of Best Fighter at BLADE Show 2024, bladesmith Seth Lopez will showcase his curvaceous creations. His recurve fighter boasts a compound-ground blade of a damascus of 1080 carbon and 15N20 carbon steels. Handle: desert ironwood burl. Overall length: 8.75 inches. (SharpByCoop image)
On the factory side, the award categories are Best American Made, Best Imported, Best EDC, Best Fixed Blade, Best Folder and Best in Show.
For the times and locations for the judging, signs and schedules will be prominently placed in and around the show hall. Also, see the free BLADE Show West Program distributed at the show for updates.
The winners will be announced and presented their awards in a special ceremony the Friday night of the show. See the free BLADE Show West Program for the time and venue.
2024 BLADE Show West Hidden Gems
The factory knife section is always a beehive of activity at BLADE Show West, and this year’s rendition promises more of the same. Leading exhibiting knife companies include CRKT; Emerson Knives, Inc.; Fox Knives; GiantMouse; Heretic; Hogue; Lionsteel; Pro-Tech; SOG; Spyderco; Squid Industries; McNees Knives; Suprlativ Knives; Tactile Knife Co.; TOPS Knives; WE Knife; White River Knife & Tool; and others. For the complete exhibitor list, visit bladeshowwest.com.
CRKT will host custom knifemaker/designer Richard Rogers and his wife Sally to answer questions about Richard’s latest CRKT designs. CRKT’s Doug Flagg (center) talks knives with Cutlery Shoppe’s Jeff Loffer (right) and two patrons at BLADE Show West 2023.
One of the hidden gems of the factory section is you never know who might show up, including custom makers who engage in collaborations with select companies. For example, the CRKT booth will feature award-winning custom knifemaker Richard Rogers, along with his wife Sally, to answer questions about Richard’s latest CRKT designs. Other CRKT maker/designers exhibiting at the show will be Eric Ochs, TJ Schwarz and Princeton Wong. Ochs will exhibit under Ochs Worx, Wong under Prince Customs and Schwarz under Schwarz Knives.
Danish knifemaker Jens Anso, along with fellow Danish maker Jesper Voxnaes the design team behind most if not all of GiantMouse knives, will be stationed at the GiantMouse booth. Knife designer Tony Sentmanat will be based at the WE Knives booth. WE maker/collaborators Ben Petersen and Zac Whitmore also will attend the show and may appear at the company’s booth at times.
While TOPS Knives won’t have any custom knifemaker designers on hand, it will have headman/head knife designer Leo Espinoza in attendance, as always. Case will continue showcasing its first Bill Ruple collaboration, and Bill will have a table at the show, too, so chances are he will make an appearance at the Case booth as well. There no doubt will be other company booths serving as the destination of custom makers/designers, custom makers in general, and more.
Honing Rods. Honing Steel. Sharpening Steel. Here are our top picks.
Whether it’s in your knife block or you saw Gordon Ramsay using it on TV, you’ve probably seen a honing rod. While it’s a ubiquitous piece of kit in the kitchen, it’s a bit of an enigma. Many think that this long steel rod is meant to sharpen your knives, but that’s not the case. Beyond that, contemporary rods are made from materials other than stainless steel like ceramic and diamond-coated steel.
It isn’t known when honing steels were first invented, but there are records from the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire making honing steels in Sheffield, UK as far back as the early 1600’s.
With such a long history of use by knife owners, it’s important to know what a honing rod is, how to use it, and how to find the right one for you.
What Is A Honing Rod?
While many people call it a sharpening rod, a honing rod or steel hones your blade rather than sharpens it. With regular use, your knives will start to lose their edge. Standard wear and tear such as cutting through fibrous meats or knicking the cutting board will eventually bend your knife’s edge at the microscopic level.
By using your honing rod, you fix those small deformations to keep your knife’s edge like new. It’s important to note that you’re not removing material like you do when sharpening on a stone. A honing rod won’t help you if a knife has a totally blunt edge.
The best way to think about it is that your honing steel should be used a few times a week, or even daily, while a proper sharpening of your knives should be done once or twice a year.
Honing Rod Vs. Kitchen Sharpener
Traditional honing steel will help keep your knives sharper longer. Newer honing rods made from ceramic and diamond-coated steel do remove a minimal amount of steel when honing, usually tiny bits hanging onto your blade by a thread. No matter what material rod you use, it is healthier for your knives to use them regularly to maintain the edge for as long as possible.
Popular YouTuber Ethan Chlebowski goes in-depth on honing and how to hone to keep your knives fit for daily use.
Best Honing Rods
Whether they’re made from steel, ceramic, or even coated in diamond, honing rods come in all sizes, materials, and even shapes. These stand out from the rest.
Best Honing Rods Comparison
Rod
Weight (Ounces)
Rod Material
Handle Material
Country of Origin
MSRP
Wusthof 9-Inch Classic Ikon Honing Steel
11.6
Stainless Steel
Polyoxymethylene
Germany
$200
Zwilling 12-Inch Professional Oval Sharpening Steel
14.4
Stainless Steel
Polyoxymethylene
Germany
$60
JB Prince Mac Black Ceramic Honing Rod With Grooves 10.5-Inch
13.4
Ceramic, Steel Core
Polypropylene
Taiwan
$64
Opinel 10-Inch Diamond Steel Sharpening Rod
24
Diamond-Coated Stainless Steel
Wood
China
$60
Green Elephant Ceramic Sharpening Rod
7.2
White Ceramic
Polypropylene
Taiwan
$30
Friedr Dick 10-Inch Honing/Polishing Rod
4.9
Stainless Steel
Plastic
Germany
$83
Kuma Kitchen Knife Sharpener
8.6
Stainless Steel
Polyoxymethylene
Japan
$48
Friedr Dick Multicut Steel
15
Stainless Steel
Plastic
Germany
$150
Wusthof 9-Inch Classic Ikon Honing Steel
Wusthof 9-Inch Honing Steel
A classic honing steel by any measure, the Wusthof 9-inch steel is a great honing rod to have in your kitchen. Made of stainless steel, this is everything you want from a honing rod. It’s light and tough and made by a company with more than two centuries of history making knives.
A strong, robust honing rod is what every knife owner should be looking for, and this one checks the boxes.
Classic Ikon Honing Steel Specs Weight: 11.6 ounces Rod Material: Stainless Steel Handle Material: Polyoxymethylene Country of Origin: Germany MSRP: $200
Zwilling 12-Inch Professional Oval Sharpening Steel
Zwilling 12-Inch Professional Oval Sharpening Steel
Sometimes you just need something a little bigger and heartier. This steel from Zwilling is up to the task. Its oval shape and longer length make it great for bigger knives. The chrome-plated steel is hard enough to hone most types of steel with ease and is easy to clean.
The loop at the end lets you hang it up easily too. Weighing in at just under a pound, don’t let that fool you. This is a heavyweight rod that will withstand years of use in your kitchen.
Professional Oval Sharpening Steel Specs Weight: 14.4 ounces Rod Material: Stainless Steel Handle Material: Polyoxymethylene Country of Origin: Germany MSRP: $60
JB Prince Mac Black Ceramic Honing Rod With Grooves 10.5-Inch
With a fine 1200 grit, this ceramic rod from JB Prince is incredibly hard and durable. Its black ceramic coating is harder than both white ceramic and steel, and it’s also resistant to breaking so it can handle whatever you throw at it. Since it’s ceramic, it has the benefit of being completely rust-resistant, unlike traditional steel rods.
Most knife blocks that come with a honing rod will have a steel varietal, but looking beyond the block can lead you to quality rods like this one that can last a lifetime.
Mac Black Ceramic Honing Rod With Grooves 10.5-Inch Specs Weight: 13.4 ounces Rod Material: Ceramic, steel core Handle Material: Polypropylene Country of Origin: Taiwan MSRP: $64
Opinel 10-Inch Diamond Steel Sharpening Rod
Opinel 10-Inch Diamond Steel Sharpening Rod
When it comes to rods that also sharpen, you can’t go better than diamond steel. This Opinel rod has a coating embedded with diamonds that sharpens as it hones. It’s good for both kitchen and pocket knives so you sharpen your EDC with it as well.
With a beechwood handle, and weighing 21 ounces, this rod feels good in the hand and will leave a pristine edge on your knives. Worth the price in every way for the discerning knife owner.
10-Inch Diamond Steel Sharpening Rod Specs Weight: 24 ounces Rod Material: Diamond-coated stainless steel Handle Material: Wood Country of Origin: China MSRP: $60
Green Elephant Ceramic Sharpening Rod
Yes, there are many ceramic rods on the market today, but you’d have a hard time finding one as robust and durable as this one from Green Elephant. With a grit of 1500, the rod is fine enough to lightly sharpen along with honing and realigning your blade. It’s also suitable for Japanese knives which may come with only one cutting edge instead of a Western, or German, style double-edged knife.
The silicone seal between the rod and the handle is designed to absorb vibrations and the whole construction is built to withstand being dropped without cracking. Lightweight and fairly-priced, this 11-inch rod is worth a look.
Ceramic Sharpening Rod Specs Weight: 7.2 ounces Rod Material: White ceramic Handle Material: Polypropylene Country of Origin: Taiwan MSRP: $30
Friedr Dick 10-Inch Honing/Polishing Rod
It is almost impossible to chip this rod thanks to being coated in diamond dust. From German maker Friedr Dick, this 10-inch rod is diamond-coated steel is designed for the heavy knife user in mind.
An oval shape allows more of the blade to contact the rod with each pass which means each knife takes less passes to hone. The ergonomic, dual-density polymer grip keeps everything safe and secure when passing the blade down the rod.
The catch-22 is the diamond itself. Yes, it will return your knife’s edge quicker, but use the rod too often and it’ll scrape off material far faster than other types of rods.
10-Inch Honing/Polishing Rod Specs Weight: 4.9 Rod Material: Stainless Steel Handle Material: Plastic Country of Origin: Germany MSRP: $83
Kuma Kitchen Knife Sharpener
Some rods are designed for only one type or knife or are too short to properly hone long chef’s or slicing knives. This honing steel from Kuma is the consummate all-arounder. The steel reliably restores your knife’s edge thanks to its carbon steel construction. The triple-riveted ergonomic handle is slip resistant so even honing wet knives (although you shouldn’t do that on a honing rod) can be done safely.
Unlike most of the other rods on this list, this steel will need more hands-on maintenance due to its carbon steel construction otherwise it will rust.
Kitchen Knife Sharpener Specs Item Weight: 8.6 ounces Rod Material: Carbon Steel Handle Material: Polyoxymethylene Country of Origin: Japan MSRP: $48
Friedr Dick Multicut Steel
Another entry on this list from the German maker, this honing steel looks unlike anything else out there today. At first glance it’s easy to think this is a misplaced paddle, but in reality it’s a multi-dimensional honing steel.
The flat 11-inch blade has six parallel grooves running through it. Slide your knife down the main body of the steel and it’ll hone like any other rod. However, slide down one of the grooves and you can more precisely remove burrs and imperfections from the blade.
This is far and away the priciest honing steel on the list so you’ll need to determine if it’s worth the investment or if you would be better served using one of the other rods to hone your knives.
Multicut Steel Specs Weight: 15 ounces Rod Material: Stainless Steel Handle Material: Plastic Country of Origin: Germany MSRP: $150
Editor’s Note: This article was written by Mike Ableson.
Blade Magazine‘s Editor-in-Chief reflects on why receiving the Posner Award proves so meaningful.
I was talking to knifemaker Edmund Davidson at his table during the BLADE Show when he and Gary Langley handed me a white cardboard box and told me to open it. When I did so, I found it contained a most beautiful plaque. It was the Nate Posner Award, and on it in big letters was my name as the latest recipient.
I must admit, I was equal parts astonished and delighted. Presented by The Knifemakers’ Guild, the Posner Award is one I’ve always wanted. The list of those who have won it is long and among others includes Mrs. Betty Dowell, Admiral Steel’s Terry Summers, photographer David Darom, KNIFE editor Mark Zalesky, knifemaker Bill Herndon, French knife writer Francis Anglade, BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Dan and Mrs. Pam Delavan, and Cutlery Hall-of-Famers Bruce Voyles and Edda and Aldo Lorenzi.
Steve Shackleford proudly mugs with his Nate Posner Memorial Award at the 2024 BLADE Show in Atlanta. Photo: Gary Langley
As the words on the plaque read, the award recognizes “outstanding service in the promotion of handcrafted cutlery.” And those words pretty much say it all in terms of why I’ve always wanted the Posner, because promoting handcrafted cutlery has been a monumental part of what I’ve been doing for BLADE® for almost four decades now.
Who exactly was Nate Posner and why did the Guild name an award after him? If you reference the December 1981 American Blade, the original name of BLADE, you will find a most informative story by Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Bernard Levine about the San Francisco Gun Exchange and its proprietor, Nate Posner.
Mr. Posner started his business in 1948. Through the years he built it into what he called the “Firearms Center of the West.” It had most everything firearm-related, including inexpensive rifles and shotguns, collector’s cartridges, reloading equipment, rare and unusual guns, a whole wall of de-activated submachine guns, posters, cartridge boards and more. He even had an authentic Gatling gun in the back of the store.
As all-encompassing as his array of firearms and equipment was, it was his displays of knives, both factory and custom, that pertain here. At one time he had over 350 custom knives on display, with at least that many others in stock. (In subsequent years those numbers no doubt grew even more.) At first, in 1975 or ’76, he ordered knives from dozens of makers, most either active or past Guild members. Eventually he culled his list to about 25 or 30 makers, including one of his favorites, D. E. Henry, whom Posner reportedly called “the Van Gogh of knifemakers.” Others included Tommy Lee, Jess Horn, Herman Schneider, Corbet Sigman, the-then-team of Scott Sawby and Steve Mullin, and Cutlery Hall-of-Famers Frank Centofante, Jimmy Lile, Bob Loveless, George Herron, Bo Randall and more.
Nate Posner in his San Francisco Gun Exchange circa 1980 leaning on his authentic Gatling gun and admiring a D. E. Henry bowie.
Along with Dan Delavan at Plaza Cutlery, Bob Gaddis and Dave Harvey of Nordic Knives, and Cutlery Hall-of-Famer A.G. Russell, Posner was among the first custom knife purveyors. His approach was a most honest and forthright one. He was known for telling his customers that to get the best price, instead of buying custom knives from middlemen such as him, they should buy directly from the maker. Of course, if the customers wanted the custom knife in question immediately, they often had to buy it from Nate to avoid spending what might be months or even years on a maker’s waiting list.
However, it was being up front that put Nate in good stead not only with his knife customers but the Guild, too—for both buying/selling the makers’ knives and treating what often were the makers’ customers/prospective customers in a professional manner. Add the high store profile he gave custom knives and knifemakers to knife buyers and gun buyers alike, and Nate became one of the most important custom knife promoters of his or any time—and thus the Guild award in his name.
To be mentioned in the same breath as those who have won the award before me and, of course, Nate Posner himself, is a privilege and an honor. To any and all who were involved in my selection, I cannot thank you enough.
And thanks to Nate Posner for setting a standard for all in the knife community to emulate.
We outline how to put an edge back on a recurve knife, both by manual and automated systems.
Editor’s note: In addition to holding down a full-time job, being a BLADE® field editor for many years and conducting several sharpening seminars and BLADE University classes on the subject, the author also runs a sharpening service. All the sharpeners illustrated in the story are in his collection.
Face it—recurve blades are just plain sexy. The way the cutting edge adopts a sinewy figure is unlike most any other blade pattern and definitely catches the eye.
A fun fact about recurve blades: the cutting edge is always longer than a standard blade of the exact same size. How? If you were to take the recurve edge and straighten it out and compare it with a more conventional blade of the same length, the recurve cutting edge would always be longer. Why? The curves pack in more steel real estate in the same overall blade length. Recurves are practical as well, as the curved part presents itself at an angle to whatever is being cut and therefore slices it more efficiently.
While recurves are attractive and functional, some folks tend to steer clear of them because they assume the edges must be difficult to sharpen. It’s the curvature that throws them off. I’m here to tell you that recurves are not hard to sharpen at all if you have the right sharpener. Once you have the right sharpener, the steps you follow are exactly the same as if you were sharpening a standard blade.
Type Of Recurve Sharpeners
These manual sharpeners with rounded profiles not only are good for serrations but are for recurve blades as well. From top: DMT FSKC Diafold Serrations Sharpener Coarse Grit, Coast SP245 and GATCO Scepter 2.0.
What sharpener do you use for recurve blades? There are actually quite a few sharpeners that are best suited. Some you may already have and didn’t know they would do the job. The appropriate sharpener has a round profile, as the round part always makes contact with the cutting edge regardless of how recurved the blade gets. I recommend that the sharpener be diamond coated since diamond works exceptionally well with the harder, more wear-resistant steels popular today such as—though not limited to—the CPMs of S30V, 20CV, S35VN, S45VN and MagnaCut.
The “V” approach of the Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker is another effective way to sharpen recurves manually.
In this article, I first show you how to properly sharpen recurve knives using a manual sharpener. The technique is the same regardless of which sharpener you use. Then I demonstrate how I sharpen recurve blades using a powered method. As the editor was so kind to point out, I run a sharpening service on the side as well, and I have years of experience sharpening all sorts of blades. My way is reserved for more advanced and more accomplished sharpening skills only.
How To Sharpen Recurve Knives
Manual Sharpening
Manual Step 1: Using a black permanent marker, preferably with a chisel tip, color in the entire length of the cutting edge on both sides of the blade.
Manual Step 2: Take a round profile sharpener—the author uses the EZE-Lap folding diamond sharpener—and, holding the blade to it at approximately a 20-degree angle, start at the tang and move your way down to the tip in one fluid motion.
Manual Step 3: Stop after a few strokes and look to see where the marker ink remains. This is an indicator of the need to adjust your angle more or adjust it less. And that, my friends, is pretty much how to sharpen recurves. Simple, safe and effective. This is a failproof method.
Automated Sharpening
Automated Step 1: The author uses his Ken Onion Elite Sharpener from Work Sharp with the blade grinding attachment to sharpen recurves. The illustrated belt deflection helps the belt to conform to the cutting edge as it curves.
Automated Step 2: The author sharpens the recurve blade as he would any standard blade by pulling it across the belt from choil to tip on both sides. Use the same motion when sharpening a recurve on a manual sharpener.
Automated Step 3: After sharpening, the author strops the edge using a leather strop to wipe off any micro burrs that form.
Automated Step 4: After stropping, the author gives the recurve a few swipes on a hanging kitchen knife steel to give the edge extra bite.
Need to keep your edge? These top knife sharpeners are sure to keep your blades sharp and in good working order in no time at all.
It’s not much of a knife if it doesn’t have a sharp edge. To that end, 2024’s hottest sharpeners will make your favorite tool cut like it ought to. Plain to serrated, short blades to long, kitchen to deer camp and just about any blade worth using can get keen quick with one or more of this year’s fresh edge makers.
Spyderco Golden Stone and Webfoot Set
The Spyderco Golden Stone and Webfoot Set includes a Golden Stone (right), Webfoot (left), two suede pouches, one plastic base (lower left), and an illustrated instruction book that explains how to use the sharpeners to put an edge on practically any home cutting tool.
One of the coolest studies in sharp is the Spyderco Golden Stone and Webfoot Set. “The set offers a uniquely different approach to knife and tool sharpening,” began Michael Janich, Spyderco special projects coordinator. “Of similar design, they can be used anywhere, set up in seconds, and do not require oil, water, electricity or any complicated clamps or fixtures.”
Both sharpeners feature a distinctive “duck foot” design tapered on one end and that has twin scallops on the other. To use either sharpener, hold the narrow end in one hand and rest the wide end on a flat surface. The center point of the wide end, between the scallops, acts as a fulcrum.
“Rocking the sharpener from side to side until the outer points contact the surface aligns its outer edges to create a perfect 40-degree included angle,” Michael noted. “Simply keep the plane of your blade vertical and draw it from heel to tip down the outer edge. Then, rock the sharpener in the other direction and repeat the process on the other side of the stone. Alternating from side to side quickly creates a sharp, utilitarian 40-degree edge.”
For a thinner edge, the Webfoot and Golden Stone can also be used with the included ABS plastic base. Steps in the cavity of the base limit the rock from side to side, reducing the sharpening angle to 30 degrees. Laid on their sides, the sharpeners also offer a 12.5-degree angle for easily sharpening scissors and shears.
“The long edges of both sharpeners are tapered, so they naturally follow the contours of all blade shapes—even hawkbills and recurves—and can be used to easily sharpen serrated edges using the same sharpening technique,” Michael explained. “Their innovative designs also include rounded edges, grooves, and flat areas that provide multiple abrasive surfaces to sharpen tools of all shapes and sizes.”
The Webfoot is coated in an aggressive 600-mesh cubic boron nitride (CBN) abrasive. A form of synthetic diamond, CBN removes steel quickly and is ideal for reprofiling edges or sharpening very dull knives to a utility edge. For touch ups or to achieve a more refined edge after using the Webfoot, the Golden Stone features a fine-grit ceramic abrasive that is the equivalent of a 1,200 grit. Both sharpeners are supplied with suede pouches that protect them when not in use and do double duty as non-slip mats during the sharpening process.
The set includes one Golden Stone, one Webfoot, two suede pouches, one plastic base, and an illustrated instruction book that explains how to use the sharpeners to put an edge on practically any home cutting tool.
Spyderco Webfoot Specs Sharpener Type: Proprietary “rocking” design Blades sharpened: All, including scissors, pointed tools, gouges and serrated edges Abrasive Type: Cubic boron nitride Grit: 600 mesh Dimensions: 7” x 3” x 0.25” Construction Materials: One-piece carbon steel embryo Weight: 6.05 ozs. SPECIAL FEATURES: Includes multiple abrasive surfaces and shapes Country of origin: China MSRP: $89 ($270 in a set w/Golden Stone) Available: Now
Spyderco Golden Stone Specs Sharpener Type: Proprietary “rocking” design Blades sharpened: All, including scissors, pointed tools and serrated edges Abrasive type: High-alumina ceramic Grit: 1,200 grit equivalent Dimensions: 7.2” x 3” x 0.25” Construction materials: One-piece fine-grit ceramic Weight: 7.6 ozs. SPECIAL FEATURES: Includes multiple abrasive surfaces and shapes Country of Origin: USA MSRP: $210 ($270 in a set w/Webfoot) Available: Now
Work Sharp Ken Onion MK.2
The Ken Onion MK.2 comes as a stand-alone sharpener or as one of the company’s Elite packages that includes the base sharpener along with a fully featured blade grinding attachment.
The new Ken Onion MK.2 from Work Sharp comes as a stand-alone sharpener or as one of the company’s Elite packages that include the base sharpener along with a fully featured blade grinding attachment.
The sharpener sports a fresh new look and improved ergonomics to make it feel better in the hand during use. A new motor speed control offers seven pre-set settings to provide a consistent and repeatable sharpening experience, while the new torque control delivers consistent power, even under load. Positioned prominently atop the unit, amber LED indicator lights make selecting belt speed fast and easy.
A sharpening guide has a scope click adjustment knob. Detent clicks in half degree increments from 15 to 30 degrees along the dial allow for improved precision, consistency and repeatability, meaning you get the exact same edge angle every time you sharpen.
New leather-lined angle guides offer protection for knives during sharpening, while the sharpener’s improved guide design allows for knives with thumb studs. A lock-out belt tensioner on the sharpening cassette helps make changing abrasive belts fast and simple. Five grits accommodate the full spectrum of sharpening, from repair to ultra-fine polishing.
The system includes the standard triangle cassette sharpener along with a complementary blade grinding attachment for those who want to elevate their sharpening game. It’s built on a rigid metal chassis designed to offer a stable platform and features metal components engineered to last.
An adjustable, three-position convex pulley system enables you to customize grind profiles depending on personal preference or the type of knives being sharpened. Grind profiles can be set to low, medium or high convex quick and easy, again without tools. An angle adjustment knob, now located in a more visible position, makes setting grind angles faster and easier than ever. At the turn of the knob, you can rotate the dial anywhere from 10 to 30 degrees to set your preferred angle and can even make precise adjustments while the machine is running.
Work Sharp Ken Onion MK.2 Specs Sharpener Type: Electric benchtop w/grinding attachment Blades sharpened: Pocketknife, kitchen knife, hunting knife, serrated, axe and scissors Grit Selection: ¾” x 12” Belt Kit: (1 ea.) P120 (extra coarse), X65 (coarse), X22 (medium), X4 (fine), 6000 (extra fine); also 1” x 18” Belt Kit (for grinder): P120, X65, X22, X4, 12000 and cloth belt for stropping. Dimensions: Stand-alone sharpener: 9 ¾” long x 5 ¾” wide x 5 ½” tall; w/blade grinding attachment: 10” long x 6 ¼” wide x 6 ½” tall Construction materials: Metal, plastic and tactile rubber; grinding attachment is built on a rigid metal chassis designed to offer a stable platform and features metal components throughout that are engineered to last. Weight: 7 lbs. SPECIAL FEATURES 7-speed motor control with LED display; Sharpening guide w/scope click adjustment knob. Detent clicks in half degree increments from 15 to 30 degrees along the dial; Leather-lined angle guides offer protection for knives during sharpening; Tool sharpening cassette with 65-degree angle scissor guide; Blade grinding attachment quickly and easily mounts to the MK.2 power base without tools or calibration. Once attached, the grinder boasts on-the-fly motor speed control and continuous run time with LED indicator lights that make selecting belt speed fast and easy; An adjustable, three-position convex pulley system enables you to customize the grind profile depending on personal preference or the type of knives being sharpened; Graphic user guide along with a quick start guide helps you understand and operate the sharpener successfully, and; Flexible abrasive belts and angle guides provide precision results on just about anything that needs sharpening. Country of origin: Made of foreign parts; designed, calibrated and quality checked in Ashland, Oregon MSRP: $300 Available: Now
Wicked Edge Cobalt WE64
Wicked Edge’s patented Dual-Sided Sharpening Technology, DualCam Vise and more highlight the new Cobalt WE64.
The Wicked Edge Cobalt WE64 features easy clamping ability with the company’s DualCam Vise to the portable form factor of the company’s GO-WE60 sharpening unit.
According to Wicked Edge, the result is the fastest sharpening experience in the 60 Series line, including both standard edge maintenance and touchups.
The WE64 is lightweight and compact for storage and travel and can be secured to a hard, flat surface with the included C-clamp, or directly mounted to a work surface through the predrilled holes in the base. It is compatible with all Wicked Edge sharpening stones and strops and assorted other of the company’s sharpening accessories.
Wicked Edge Cobalt WE64 Specs Sharpener Type: Precision guided manual Edges sharpened: All but serrated Abrasive Type: Monocrystalline diamond stones Grit Selection: 200/600 diamond stones (2 each) Dimensions: 11.5” x 4” x 4.75” Construction Materials: Type 2 anodized aluminum, stainless steel and Delrin Weight: 3.5 lbs. SPECIAL FEATURES Patented Dual-Sided Sharpening Technology; DualCam Vise, included repeatability tools, lightweight, portable design, C-Clamp, standard alignment guide, guide rod shields, practice knife, limited lifetime warranty Sharpens blades up to 15” long Angle range: 13-31 degrees per side (26-62 degrees inclusive) Angle markings in 1-degree increments Able to clamp blades up to 3/16” thick and able to clamp thicker blades with the unit’s .25-inch jaws Country of Origin: USA MSRP: $499 Available: Now
AccuSharp Explorer Knife & Tool Sharpener and Outdoor Survival Tool
The AccuSharp Explorer Knife & Tool Sharpener and Outdoor Survival Tool not only sharpens serrated and plain edge blades, it also boasts a selection of survival/emergency tools
The AccuSharp Explorer Knife & Tool Sharpener and Outdoor Survival Tool has a wealth of sharpening and survival tools for outdoor enthusiasts. Diamond-honed tungsten carbide blades and fine ceramic rods address plain edges. The diamond-tapered rod sharpens serrations and gut hooks, while a center groove sharpens fishhooks and various pointed objects. The multifunctional tool also features a fire starter, compass, emergency whistle and SOS mirror for survival situations.
AccuSharp Explorer Knife & Tool Sharpener and Outdoor Survival Tool Specs Sharpener Type: Knife and tool w/survival tools Edges sharpened: Plain and serrated Sharpening Angle: Preset at 21 degrees Abrasives/Grits: Tungsten carbide and fine ceramic/1500; diamond coated rod/400 SPECIAL FEATURES: 2 V-notched sharpening slots; Reversible tungsten carbide blades preset at 21-degree angle; Fine ceramic finishing rods preset at 21-degree angle; Compact design; Retractable diamond tapered rod to sharpen serrations and gut-hook blades; A groove to sharpen fishhooks; SOS mirror; Compass; Fire-Starter; Emergency whistle; Sharpener Dimensions: 5” wide x 1.25” long x .5” deep Construction Materials: Hard plastic body, diamond-coated steel rod, fine ceramic rods, and tungsten carbide and metal screws Carry: A lanyard hole for easy attachment Weight: 1.6 ozs. Country of Origin: China MSRP: $16.99 Available: Now
AccuSharp 4-in-1 Knife and Tool Sharpener
The AccuSharp 4-in-1 Knife & Tool Sharpener’s retractable diamond-tapered rod handles deep serrations.
The AccuSharp 4-in-1 Knife and Tool Sharpener is a keen companion for outdoor enthusiasts. The pocket-sized edge maintenance tool features pre-angled coarse tungsten carbide blades for initial sharpening and fine ceramic rods for refining the edge. A retractable diamond-tapered rod sharpens serrations and also features a groove for hooks and darts. If you prefer working on a flat surface, flip out the retractable diamond file for continuous sharpening. The unit’s rubber-molded feet ensure stability during use. Color options are black and blaze orange.
AccuSharp 4-in-1 Knife & Tool Sharpener Specs Edges sharpened: Plain and serrated Abrasive Type: Tungsten carbide, fine ceramic and diamond coated Grit Selection: Diamond rod: 400; diamond file: 400; ceramic fine: 1500 Dimensions: 1.5” wide x 4” long x 0.75” deep (closed) and 1.5” wide x 8.75“ long x 0.75” deep (open) Construction Materials: Hard plastic body, diamond-coated steel rod & file, fine ceramic rods, and tungsten carbide Weight: 1.6 ozs. SPECIAL FEATURES 2 V-notched sharpening slots; Reversible tungsten carbide blades preset at 21-degree angle; Fine ceramic finishing rods preset at 21-degree angle; Rubber-molded feet for stability; Compact design; Retractable diamond tapered rod; Groove to sharpen hooks and darts; Retractable diamond flat file Country of origin: China MSRP: $16.99 Available: Now
Cold Steel Benchtop Sharpener
The Cold Steel Benchtop Sharpener has an ambidextrous clamp with a non-marring grip, and 180-degree rotation for sharpening two edges without removing the knife from the clamp.
The Cold Steel Benchtop Sharpener is angle adjustable from 15 to 30 degrees, and comes with four diamond sharpening grits. It has an ambidextrous clamp with a non-marring grip and 180-degree rotation for sharpening two edges without removing the knife from the clamp. The base is weighted with non-slip feet providing a stable pedestal for benchtop sharpening. The unit includes a hardshell carrying case.
Cold Steel Benchtop Knife Sharpener Specs Sharpener type: Adjustable benchtop stone Edges sharpened: Plain Abrasive Type: Diamond Grit Selection: 300, 600, 800 and 1000 Dimensions: 5” long x .95” wide x .82” thick Construction materials: Metal SPECIAL FEATURES: Adjustable sharpening stone; 15-30 degree angle; Ambidextrous clamp with even clamping force; 180-degree rotation for sharpening two edges without removing knife from clamp, and; Hard shell carry case Country of Origin: China MSRP: $149.99 Available: Now
Dunn and Miller left lasting impressions on ABS, students and custom knifemaking.
The American Bladesmith Society lost two of its finest leaders and bladesmithing instructors recently with the passing of ABS master smiths Steve Dunn and Hanford J. Miller.
Steve Dunn
Steve died on May 21. He was 68. Outgoing chairman of the ABS, he was a longtime Society member, receiving his master smith stamp in 1994 before going on to serve on the ABS board of directors and eventually being elected chairman.
“He was a craftsman of the highest level, as evident in the exceptional blades he made, and unsurpassed as an engraver, which he passed on to so many with his teaching,” americanbladesmith.org reported.
Many in the ABS were still recovering from the shock of the news as BLADE® was going to press, ABS master smith Billy Bob Sowell among them.
“I was stunned,” he wrote. “Steve was one of my judges for my master smith stamp. I took his engraving class and his folder class. I’ll miss him.”
According to his bio on the ABS website, Steve began making knives as a hobby in 1988. In 1990 he enrolled in the basic forging class at the Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing, where he started forging damascus. After achieving master smith, it wasn’t long before he began teaching at the Moran School. In 2003 he was selected to serve on the Society’s board of directors.
A strong believer in sole authorship of his knives, he enrolled in a basic engraving class at GRS Tools in 2002. He later studied with Chris DeCamillus on Bulino style engraving and was asked to be an instructor at the GRS school in 2005.
Hanford Dunn
Hanford passed away on March 25. He sold his first knife in 1968. He made knives in the Moran style, including bowies, fighters, camp knives and other large fixed blades, and also period pieces such as reproductions of the cinquedea. His mark was his initials or name within a bowie logo.
In addition to being an outstanding maker of forged knives, Hanford served on the ABS board of directors as treasurer for many years. According to americanbladesmith.org, he was best of friends with BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bill Moran, with the pair being “like two peas in a pod.”
They first met in 1974 in Bill’s shop. Hanford read about Bill in a library book about knives and realized he was only a short drive away from Hanford’s home in Randallstown, Maryland.
“Bill was a great mentor,” the site observed, “and their friendship lasted long after Hanford moved to Colorado in 1976.”
Four knife industry pros share the secrets of how they keep their edge when sharpening.
A knife is made to perform its function as a tool, and job number one is to cut.
It follows that the development and maintenance of the edge is the most important aspect of knife ownership and use. When users are in the shop, around the house, at the office or in the field, keeping the edge in top form and working order makes the task at hand easier and often saves time and effort.
Custom Knifemaker: Chris Berry
Chris Berry sharpens freehand, holding the DMT bench stone in one hand and his modified cleaver in the other. (Chris Berry image)
A custom knifemaker for 15 years, Chris Berry has made a name for himself in heavy-use choppers with blades of high-wear-resistant steel.
“When I finish a knife and get ready to sharpen it, I break the edges on the grinder to start the process and then work freehand after that,” he explained. “I’ll start with an extra-coarse DMT diamond stone and then go from extra coarse black to red medium and then green extra fine.”
In the field Berry carries a Spyderco cubic boron nitride (CBN) sharpening stone along with a Spyderco Double Stuff pocket stone.
“It has medium and fine ceramic for the edge,” Berry continued, “and then I’ll have some piece of leather to strop the blade and remove the burr.”
Chris knows it’s time to touch up an edge when it starts to drag through the cut.
“A blade is dull when it won’t cut printer paper,” he said, “so I’ll sharpen it before it reaches that point. I’m not obsessively sharpening a knife blade, but I’m just hitting the medium edge of the Double Stuff and going to the strop to bring back that popping edge. I usually only go back to the grinder if the edge is damaged, but, if the blade is really dull, starting with the extra coarse diamond and going through the grits will make it like a new knife.”
As Berry noted, the burr is the little, fine piece of steel that rolls up to the edge of the blade and is rough on one side and smooth on the other.
“If the burr isn’t gone after sharpening [the edge is] not sharp,” he advised. “In my opinion, it is the key to whether a knife is sharp or not. I tell people on social media that sharpening a blade is broken down to apexing the edge to raise the burr, refining the edge with progressively finer grits, and then removing the burr by stropping. If you progress through the grits and have the burr removed, you should be able to cut newsprint, phone book paper and even paper towels. That is as sharp as you are going to get.”
Knob Creek Forge: James Gibson
James Gibson of Knob Creek Forge designs knives for ESEE and teaches classes on bushcraft and survival.
Some of the favorite field sharpeners of Joe Flowers include the EZE-Lap 530 Super Fine Diamond/Ceramic Folding Sharpener (top) with a folding handle. “The Spyderco Double Stuff [middle] is a fantastic field sharpener,” Joe wrote. “It and the EZE-Lap Double Sided Sharpening Stone [bottom] both have a leather sleeve which can work as a strop.” (Joe Flowers image)
“I like a full flat grind with a convex edge,” he remarked. “They say the convex edge is the best, and when I have an extremely dull blade I use these little diamond files and then a ceramic rod or stone that will stand the edge up.”
An ABS journeyman smith, Gibson cautioned, “A dull knife will hurt you quicker than a sharp knife because you tend to lose control when you apply more pressure to get a job done. Most of the time I will sharpen a knife at the end of the day, but if it is not performing I will touch it up right then and there. If you ever watch a carver, they will carve for 15 minutes or so and then strop the blade to bring the edge back right quick. After a few days of stropping, they will have to do a bit of sharpening.”
Gibson sometimes uses a marker to spot the blade about a quarter inch up from the edge and then “floats” the edge up and down the diamond sharpener. He then moves to the leather strop and notes that if a compound has been used to keep the leather in shape the process will turn the leather black.
A Brazilian bushman files his machete on a stone, taking out the burrs and nicks in the edge. (Joe Flowers image)
“That means you are pulling steel off the edge,” he commented, “and where the two polished edges meet that will give you the sharpest blade you can get.”
Safety is a constant concern for Gibson and he stresses this aspect of knife use in his classes.
“We train people on the knife, and one of the first things we tell them is never to cut toward yourself. Keep everything out in front of you, or use a bench, log or stump so that everything is out of the way.”
CRKT: Russ Kommer
As a knife designer for Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT) and a hunting guide, Russ Kommer keeps blades sharp on a regular basis.
“When I finish up a custom knife, I run the blade on a brand new 400 grit slack belt with a real slight radius,” he remarked. “Then I will take it over a used 400 grit belt so that when the edge is curled and there is a little white line, I can use a leather strop or a 10-inch wheel and break off the burrs.”
Kommer carries a diamond sharpener in the field to touch up an edge.
“That will stand that line back up and remove some steel to get the edge back to infinity,” he said. “The only way to get a blade sharp is to remove enough steel. In the field you can use a leather strop or even the leather heel of your boot or something to help. When guiding, I have done two moose and a caribou in one day, and working on big animals is a big job. Sometimes I will carry two knives and touch both up to be ready for the next week, and I carry a pocketknife for cutting rope or other camp chores. It’s not good to use your hunting knife to cut burlap and dull it up on something like that.”
Testing for sharpness is a varied exercise, and Russ likes the simple standard.
“Guys like to shave their arms and that is all cool and dandy,” he smiled. “I just rake it across the back of my head, and when I feel it grab that hair I know the blade is sharp. There is also the fingernail task—if you feel the blade grab right there on the fingernail, then it is sharp. If you have practiced sharpening a blade enough, then you know quickly just how sharp a knife blade is.”
Condor Tool & Knife: Joe Flowers
As a knife designer for Condor Tool & Knife, Joe Flowers has sharpened thousands of blades through the years. The sharpening process is dependent largely on the work at hand.
This combination of an EZE-Lap ceramic and diamond stone tucks into the JC Messer strop, providing Joe Flowers with a large range of media in a small package. The large strop helps balance out the smaller stone. (Joe Flowers image)
“It can vary between jobs,” he explained. “I just have a 2×42 grinder that I do edge modification on—with every belt imaginable—but by far I use the leather belt the most because I am always using the blades and getting a fast strop. Most of the time, I try and use my field sharpeners and also complement them with the finer stones like my King stones or Spyderco ceramics.”
When Flowers ventures into the field, he is prepared for the occasional sharpening task.
“I really like EZE-Lap’s double sharpener,” he advised. “The files really bite down on carbon steel, and the ceramic on the other side keeps a finer edge. I’ve even used the sheath as a strop. That and the Spyderco Double Stuff are my two favorite compact sharpeners, although Work Sharp’s setup is great, too.”
Chris Berry cuts a figure 6 in a sheet of paper. “A blade is dull when it won’t cut printer paper,” he said, “so I’ll sharpen it before it reaches that point.” (Chris Berry images)
When in the field, Flowers likes to settle down before taking on the sharpening of his knives.
“Normally, in camp situations, unless I’m working hours on a game animal or on a bushcraft project, I leave my sharpening to nighttime around the campfire. I also have my field sharpeners around my desk at work to use to understand how they work on different steels more. I like using EZE-Lap and diamond stones with harder-use bushcraft [carbon] steels like 1095. It can get an edge fast and you can go about your day.
“For machetes,” Joe continued, “I stick with what the locals use, and that’s a file. Generally, I’m working with softer steels for machetes so a triangular single cut bastard or double cut bastard file about 6 inches long is a nice addition to my sheath. I’m finding better results in super steels on diamond stones until I move into these new crazy preloaded diamond powder strops. Those look incredible to try.”
These items are extremely handy if you do anything with knives. The fingertip bandages are good anywhere on the bop, aka a survival experience, and bleed control Band-Aids® can also be handy. They have a coagulant. Besides a tourniquet, noninvasive wound closure devices coupled with a tape adherent like Skin Tac™ can save a trip to the emergency room for those annoying cuts. (Joe Flowers image)
When sharpening a dull blade, Flowers is known to use 60- to 80-grit belts to re-form edges when large chunks have been taken out of a machete, for example. He maintains that it can take the steel off the blade fast but there must be a bucket of water or a spray bottle handy to keep the grinding surface cool.
Bringing a knife back from dead dull involves a proven process.
“At home I would reprofile gently on a 1×30 Harbor Freight special I’ve had from the old days,” Joe commented. “Depending on the steel and use and the comfort of the hardness, I’ve reprofiled knives from dead dull with homemade sandpaper and mouse pad backing and keep heavier grits there as well. You can definitely over sharpen a knife by stropping so much you roll the edge. In the technique, you need to be able to tell when you have just the right amount of pressure.”
Hari, a Huitoto tribesman from Colombia, uses a common triangular file on the axes and machetes on Bushcraft Global (bushcraftglobal.com) trips. For the final edge, the file is drawn from the edge to the poll. (Joe Flowers image)
Sometimes the type of sharpening medium used depends on the blade steel, the style of blade and the common utility of the knife.
“On many higher-end-steel kitchen knives, I stick with King stones because they are tried and true,” Joe related. “However, I like many different media for various steels, going for the extra-fine edges or a strop loaded with compounds for the final edge. For things like serrations, I use thinner round diamond rods for getting the radius, but I don’t deal with them much. I really like the flattest surface possible when I sharpen Scandi as it helps keep the angle straight.”
Retaining a sharp edge makes life easier wherever and whenever a knife is needed. A few minutes to shape up a blade is always time well spent.
