Testing sharpness

[bikerdoc]

You know those register tape reciepts from the super market.
I find they are a good way to test sharpness, slice the edge on the bias, if it cuts smooth it is shaving sharp.

 

[TMM]

i do almost the same thing - when i sharpen my knife, it only goes back into my pocket if it shaves hair off my arm and cuts a squiggly line through a piece of newsprint (i stab the point in, and as a cut, i rotate the blade one way or another. if it's sharp, it will cut. if it's too dull, it will tear the paper when i rotate the blade.)

tmm

 

[bikerdoc]

good thought, I will try it.

 

[CWL]

A good standard is to place the edge of your knife against your thumbnail at an angle and see whether the blade will slide off or bite onto the nail.

 

[orionhawk]

I'm fond of the receipt paper method. my grandfather used to do the arm-hair shave, or shave some of the "paint" off the side of a pop can.

 

[Rupestris]

A little test I like to use it to remove the clear coating from a magazine cover without removing the color/ink.

 

[hankdatank1362]

I recently splurged for a nice sharpening kit, and have been doing a lot of knife sharpening lately.

My left arm has a LOT of hair missing.

 

[TimboKhan]

I tested the sharpness of my Griptialian when I hit the AXIS lock and the blade fell on my finger. Quite positive, those AXIS locks.

The salesman looked at me like I was the stupidest human on the planet when I said "I guess I will buy this since I am bleeding all over it.".

 

[James T Thomas]

practical testing

Go ahead and laugh away at this. I'm posting it for your information and amusement.

When I have the opportunity such as holdays and that kind of thing and we have a beef roast, turkey, or ham to carve in the kitchen. Then out comes one of my hunting knives!

I just do not do enough out door activities to use those blades, and so I get some idea of the shapness of the blades I have by carving.
It is not as instructive as skinning game, or doing some crazy destructive testing in the garage, but it puts the knives I like to use.

And then I get to eat.
Satisfaction.

 

[Todd A]

I test mine using sticks of butter. I place the butter in the microwave for 15 seconds, then slice it with my knives. If the knife cuts...well then its perfectly sharp to EDC.

 

[Brian Dale]

Using knives to cut food, James T Thomas? Now, that's just crazy talk!