I don’t do too many book reviews, but I’m going to do one
now.
Let me recommend “A Primer on Folding Knives” by Steven
Roman. I think you’ll enjoy this book. I know I did.
Who is Steven Roman?
He’s a mathematician, currently Emeritus Professor of
Mathematics at California State University, but don’t let that scare you. He’s also a wood worker, pen turner, knife
collector and a knife sharpener. He also
likes to write.
The book covers many knife-related topics, like knife
companies, opening and locking mechanisms, blade finishes as well as handle
materials. That’s a partial list of
chapter one. Chapter two deals with the
complex subject of metallurgy. As best
as I can tell, he’s on pretty solid ground for basic metallurgy. If you want to find out what elements
stabilize austenite or the difference between cementite and aged bainite,
you’re going to need a more advanced guide.
Chapter 3 is an intensive look at sharpening.
Face it, knife sharpeners and knife fanciers come in two
varieties: those interested in a working edge and those who want the ultimate
edge. We all fall somewhere on that
spectrum. For my barbecue knife I want
the ultimate edge. It’s never going to
be used, just shown off. But the blades
I carry, well, they need to be a compromise between sharpness and durability. Sharp enough I can cut, but not so sharp the
first cut dulls the edge.
Steven suggests trying different edges for different steels
and working them to see which edge stays sharp the longest. By matching edge geometry and sharpening
against steels you can obtain the optimal best edge for your use.
Most of us will not do that.
It requires a lot of work, standard cutting tests and plenty of notes about
observation on your part. Most of us don’t
take the time or make the effort. That’s
okay. All we want is a sharp knife. But if you want the best working edge for a
particular knife, you need to put forth the effort.
Oh, just because it’s about folding knives, it doesn’t mean
its sharpening ideas don’t apply to fixed blades!
Find a copy of Steven’s book, “A Primer on Folding Knives”
and read it. I think you’ll enjoy it.
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