Ever thought about what sets apart a professional hunter from the rest? It’s their hunting knife. A sharp hunting knife is more than just a simple basic tool. It can be used in various tasks such as field dressing, preparing meals, and much more. However, here’s the paradox: can a dull blade knife be useful when it comes to field dressing, skinning, or navigating survival situations? To answer this question, let’s delve into this interesting guide that will take you through the steps that will help you sharpen your hunting knife like a pro. Furthermore, it will also prepare you for your next hunting session.
What are the essential tools required for sharpening hunting knives?
- Coarse stone (Knifewear 220 grit) to start with the sharpening process.
- Medium grit stone ((Knifewear 1000) to go ahead with the refining process.
- Compact field stones like the Hultafors puck stone for on-the-go sharpening.
- Ceramic honing rod to avoid the burrs and maintenance.
- Rubber thimble to get that extra protection and grip over the knife
- Stone holder, preferably a sink bridge, is best to ensure stability during your sharpening process.
- Water for lubrication and to enhance the efficiency of sharpening.
- Nickels to achieve the correct sharpening angle.
Steps Of Sharpening a Hunting Knife
Before getting into the detailed process of sharpening handmade fixed-blade hunting knives, let’s learn what steps are included in it.
Truing: In this step, the sharpening stone is generally flattened using a coarse known as truing stone. Over time the stone’s surface develops a concave shape known as “dishing out” As a result, to restore it, truing stone is rubbed against it to level it and make it flat as new. This step is carried out specially for the rough and medium grit stones.
Burr: Also known as ‘wire ridge’, a burr is a small ridge that is created against the cutting edge of a knife during the sharpening process.
Honing: Honing refers to the removal of excess burrs that are formed during the sharpening or the realignment of microscopic burrs. It is used to refine the cutting edges. To carry out honing, a ceramic rod is rubbed along the blade that helps restore the hunting knife’s sharpness and alignment.
Strop/stropping: Stropping is referred to the motion that is used during the polishing and deburring process. The motion helps refine and smooth out the edges and remove the remaining burr that is left.
Detailed Process
To start with the process of sharpening your hunting knife, you need to start by soaking the 220 and 1000 grit stones in water for about 10-15 minutes. Following that, set up a stone holder or sink bridge to ensure the stability. You can then start the process with the coarse grit (220) stone, then gradually progress to the medium grit (1000) stone. Try to maintain a consistent pressure and angle on the blade. You are required to pay close attention to the formation of a burr along the cutting edge. Once this is done, you can then repeat the process as you need.
How To Test Your Newly Sharpened Hunting Knife?
- With the help of a ceramic rod gently hone the knife and run it across a leather strop for a polished edge.
- Now gently glide the knife along the newsprint to check if the sharpness is as you need. If the newspaper tears, it means that more honing or stropping is needed.
- Continue honing and stropping along with testing it along the newsprint until you get your required sharpness.
Sharpening a knife by yourself can be a daunting task. However, with proper knowledge you can make this whole process an easy one. If you are searching for the perfect hunting knives, then Perkin Knives is here to help you meet all your hunting needs. With years of experience, they have successfully ranked themselves amongst the top custom knives sellers. Their team of professionals can tailor to all your needs associated with knives. With a keen eye, they ensure all their knives are made with precision and attention to detail. They believe in delivering the best quality knives to their customers. Get your hands on the best custom-made hunting knives. Place an order with Perkin Knives today.
