The Knife Edge: One Man, So Many Knives©: How Sharp an Edge?

Face it, you could use a knife until it goes dull, then send it back for sharpening, or just use a different knife until it goes dull. Let's ignore those knives with a thin replaceable blade. I've always thought that was a limited-use knife.

There's another option. You could resharpen it. God alone knows how many sharpening philosophies and systems exist. We all have our favorite.

Work Sharp: simple, two surfacves, angle guide, pocket clip

I was surprised by Work Sharp's Folding Field Sharpener. It's a simple but elegant system that resembles a thick carpenter's pencil. There's a pocket clip on the end by the pivot. Open the unit, and you'll find the basics, a 400-grit diamond surface, and a fine-grit ceramic stone. At the end of each sharpening surface is an inclined surface which serves as a guide.

Guides at each edge, folds together, clips in your pocket

Here's the tricky part. The guides at either end of the coarse 400-grit are set at 20 degrees. On the fine ceramic side, the angle changes to 25 degrees. Work Sharp claims the 20-degree angle produces an aggressive functional sharp edge for heavy-duty tasks. The 25-degree (ceramic plate) results in a polished edge, making it incredibly sharp and durable for everyday tasks. I drew a few sketches and convinced myself it produces a compound edge that was the rage in the 1980s.

The directions are simple to follow, you don't need oil or water, and you clean the system with soap and water. It boils down to setting the blade at the angle and lightly pulling it across the surface as if you were trying to slice a thin strip of material. Don't let the knife tip come off the surface; it always gets damaged on the stone's edge, no matter which system you use. Repeat that movement from the other edge, pulling it toward you.

I rest on end on a something to stablize the system. I like enough space so my hand withthe knife doesn't get tangled up

I do it a little differently. I do it in one direction until I feel a wire edge across the entire blade. Then I flip it over and repeat that until I feel a similar wire edge.

A nice little knife from custom maker Skip Begeot on the course side

Then I move to the fine ceramic.

A little work converts the coarse edge to a fine cutting surface

You'll be surprised by how sharp an edge you can get with it. Many people just hold it in their hand, but I like to rest the edge away from me on a solid surface. It gives me more control.

It's an excellent field sharpener. Like many things, having one on you when you need it is better than the best sitting on your workbench. No, you're not going to get a mirror finish or an edge polished with a 0.5-micron chrome oxide finish. But you can cut rope, shave wood to build a fire, prepare dinner with that knife, and keep it sharp as you work.

I sharpened an ordinary folder with it at the Blade Show last June and it worked well. I needed to sharpen a small blade we use in the office. It worked fine. Remember to use a light touch; you're not grinding a crowbar in half. You get a sharp usable edge in the field when you need it.

In both cases, I was working with a small to three-inch blade. You could sharpen longer blades if needed, but it might take practice. Give it a couple of test runs before you go hunting Dali sheep in the Rockies for three weeks.