[Skunkabilly]

...if I have an Emerson Commander mini, planning on an SOFCK mini (not sure if tanto or spearpoint) and plan on a Strider and that's it, do I need some elaborate (Spyderco 420?) system or will one of those diamondstick thingies be ok?

[hso]

Is the SOCF a chisel or V grind?

[Bruz]

and that's it

Yea, I've heard that before!

If you want a very sharp edge and are not experienced at sharpening I would go with the Spyderco system...

[Ohen Cepel]

I have a Hunter Honer, love it! Simple metal sticks, can fit in your pocket. Used it for years. One of the few items I would highly suggest.

That and a stone is all I use, chisel ground or not. Just takes a little looking to get it right.

Buddy of mine bought the Spyderco thing. I didn't care for it.

Also, I have a Lansky. Good system, but overcomplicated for a knife sharpener. Used it a few times. Wasn't thrilled.

[Navy joe]

Get a basic stone, a cheap knife and learn how to use the stone. Recommend a DMT diamond bench stone or a DMT folding stick. I have a lansky and I use it for previously abused knives that some moron figured out how to put 10 different angles into. I normally use a DMT stick, regular Arkansas stone, diamond pocket stone, side of leathe boot, porcelain sink, bottom of coffe cup(unglazed ceramic ring), whatever. Recent favorite was ceramic core of defunct aquarium heater, it was a foot long ceramic rod with four nice sharpening surfaces. Got my filet knives so sharp I barely felt it when one went halfway through my finger. Dropped rod, it's broke.

I say learn the stone because then you can use anything. The key is consistent angle, the right pressure and good pattern. The heavier the pressure, the more the stone cuts. Lighten up as you finish for finer edge. Pattern. If you make ten passes on one side of the blade you now have a wire edge rolled over the other side, not good. When doing heavy blade repair I sometimes stay on one side awhile, but then do the same on the opposite side.

Break the final wire edge by stropping on leather. If it easily lifts hair, it's sharp. Get into this sharpening thing, and you'll look like a freak as I do. I ran out of hair on my right arm so I had to go after a patch or two on my calf. If I get any more knives I'm gonna lose my eyebrows.

[Don Gwinn]

If you care more about getting done quickly and getting a very good edge than being able to create a really, really good edge with different kinds of equipment, then buy a system. Learning the stone will give you the ability to get that edge anytime you want, but it will also take some time.

Most makers use stones, not jigs or sharpening systems, to sharpen their products.

[gryphon]

I'm new to the whole knife sharpening thing, and a good friend turned me on to the Lanskey stones. After a brief lesson(20) minutes, I learned the proper way to sharpen my blades and get an edge on my knife that I could shave with(after my second attempt).

You get everything you'll need for roughly $30.

[zahc]

I have a lansky--best money I spent last year.

[mete]

Depends on your skill. I have used an Eze- lap diamond , 1/4" rod for most of my sharpening for many years . Two or three strokes on each side and its done.Light strokes are all you need , bear down heavy and you remove lots of material. and diamond will sharpen anything including carbides.

[ahadams]

well I know this is blasphemy to some folks but I not only have some traditional stones, and one of those triangle ceramic things for working on serrated edges, I also have a complete set of ceramic sticks *and* an electric sharpener that I use if I really get frustrated with something. (the gasping and throat clutching you heard was all the purists having a coronary over the mention of an electric sharpener! :neener: )

[Bruz]

I used to use an electric sharpner on my bowie knives...now I have some very nice fillet knives! :neener:

[Navy joe]

Close AH, no heart attack, but I swear I felt an artery burst behind my eyeball. What's next, a self'sharpening sheath?

[ahadams]

Not fair Navy Joe - that was an inside joke that anyone under 30 is NOT going to get.

[For younger folks and folks without a military background the Army, for some reason used to issue a "self sharpening" sheath for the issue machete, which not only did NOT sharpen worth :cuss: but wasn't even allowed to die the death it so richly deserved - I saw several *copies* of that sheath for sale at a recent gun show - right next to all the chinese and indian (as in eastern, not Native American) knives...]

[444]

I don't really have anything to add, but will instead echo what has already been said. Using a stone requires skill. When I was growing up, I used a stone. I never got a really good edge on the knife. Oh, I guess it was adequate, but in reality having a real sharp knife is safer and makes much more efficent use of the tool. I never aquired the skill to get a knife really sharp with a stone, and I must add that I long ago lost interest in trying. I bought a Lansky sharpening system and can now get my knives shaving sharp without the need to learn a new skill. Over the years I added an extra fine stone and a very coarse stone for blades that were either badly abused or for cheap knives that come from the factory with no real edge at all. I also purchased a strop. My goal in this exercise is to sharpen a knife, not learning to use a stone. Whether you use a stone with a jig attached to the blade to maintain the correct angle, or you have the skill to maintain the correct angle freehand, you get the same edge either way.
Another thing I like about the Lansky is that you can choose from several different angles. If I never learned to hold one angle, I certainly never developed the skill to get a variety of angles. Now I can use a very sharp angle for stuff like a straight razor, a medium angle for the run of the mill knife, or a shallow angle for blades used for chopping where the edge needs to be stronger.

[sm]

I grew up using stones, continued when I sharpened gravers in a former life.
I use a steel for tough up, and somewhere I have a set of those ceramic sticks that fits in a block, the steel is easier for me, ceramic breaks, steel doesn't.

I've been in the boonies, sharp knife, stone, and cast iron keeps one alive.

[Gordy Wesen]

I learned how to create a hair popping edge by hand before graduating to Lansky. I used that until I found "Edge Pro". Been using the EP for 9 years and am happy as a clam.

[GlocksRock]

Get the sharpmaker, it is good for sharpening many other things besides knives. It also comes with a good video and instruction manual, and it very easy to use.

[rennaissancemann]

If you are looking for just one sharpening system that gives you the most bang for your buck, I'd recommend the Sharpmaker.

Personally, I use the deluxe set with the diamond speed sleeves, and I added the pocket steel and edge tester from Razor Edge Systems.

HSO's question about the grind of your knife is very important. A knife that uses a chisel grind has the same sharpening considerations as a wood chisel. Us you sharpen the flat side of the knife with any bevel at all you will... well ruin is probably too strong a term, radically degrade your knifes performance would be about right.

Hope this helps,