Keeping your knife sharp

[tritonl]

Just saw this on tv, very small and very light, worth taking a look

http://vablade.com/

[SunnyWalker]

Don't these gadgets just put a feather edge on the blade? Under a microscope one that you can see and "bend". Easily blunted, broken off and then you return to the dull edge? I'm just asking. Always thought the only to truly sharpen a blade was use a stone.

[Tha Wookie]

sandpaper.

2 grits. 400 then 600

sharp as all hell

[Tha Wookie]

http://www.m4040.com/Survival/10_Cen...ival_Knife.htm

kewl

[JP]

I use an empty Advil botle that I glued fine grit emery cloth to the outside. I keep my strike anywhere matches in it. The emery doubles as a stryker and to toutch up the edge on your knife.

[Gumbi]

You can also sharpen a blade on the top egde of a car window! Just roll the window down halfway, and sharpen on the top edge of the window.

[Gumbi]

Just have to bring your car with you on your hike, and you have the perfect solution!

[BrianLe]

I think there are differences in hiking style, philosophy, whatever at work here. On the trail I use a knife blade infrequently for limited cutting, and for opening resupply boxes in trail towns. I thru-hiked the PCT last year with a 0.8 oz knife/scissors unit and it never occurred to me to sharpen it, nor did I encounter any downside to that, or feel like it was dangerous to use it without it being frequently sharpened.

I wonder what kinds of things people are cutting that requires such frequent sharpening?

One person commented "if youre gonna be out for a complete THRU-HIKE...bring the sharpening stone..." (else leave it home). I really can't see bringing a sharpening stone or even having one in a bounce box. To be clear, I don't purport to represent all hiking approaches with that comment, I just don't see how it would help me to have my maybe 1-1/2" whimpy knife blade made extra razor sharp on a regular basis.

Perhaps this thread is best left to those who *can* see the reason in the first place !

[SunnyWalker]

JP: hey that's a great idea. Thanks. I'll use THAT one. Great!!!

[SunnyWalker]

JP: sure a lot lighter than a stone.