Ok fellas, how do I sharpen a BIG knife? - The Firearms Forum

mule73 · 11-25-2007, 01:32 AM

Got a free United fixed blade from a buddy today.Single edge 9" made of UC460 stainless.Anyone know anything about this steel? I've never heard of it, but seems like a decent knife to be from Taiwan.Problem is it's DULL! All my stones are too small to make a full pass on this monster and I really wanna see if i can get a good edge on it, so I can hunt elephants with it. Have I mentioned it's big?

How do U guys sharpen the big 'uns? Thanks, Matt

358 winchester · 11-25-2007, 03:53 AM

Take it to the gun show and pay the $3.00 or a local knife sharpener. I have a couple of big stones that I use.
Ron

Michael G · 01-11-2008, 02:52 PM

Very carefully.

scottShryock · 04-07-2008, 06:30 PM

Very Carefully is good , However with the current stainless steel content I would recomend . A diamond stone a nickel steel imbedded with diamond ,thats about the only way to sharpen those . Were that knife mine I would have it professionally sharpened to define the edge . Then follow up with the Diamond stone Finally a soft hard arkansaw to finish the edge . Do know how to use a Steel? As thats the best way to preserve an edge (small diamond ones are available ) From an old chef

Popgunner · 05-05-2008, 10:33 PM

I have a smooth grinding wheel on my bench grinder that works great. Stainless is hard & you'll wear stones down before you make progress with a large stainless blade. I keep water handy & use very light pressure & go slow.

berto64 · 05-06-2008, 05:32 AM

With a big knife sharpening doohickey.

(couldn't help it, it's 0435 hrs.)

fedupdon · 07-16-2008, 11:52 AM

i use my wart hog i have not had any trouble sharping the largest bowie that i own

Crpdeth · 07-16-2008, 06:57 PM

Here's what Don is talking about... Wart Hog

Crpdeth

Skipper · 07-17-2008, 10:37 AM

The UC460 is a United Cutlery code for the item number. It's not a type of steel. Your knife is probably 420 stainless.
Considering that it has a max hardness of about 50 RC, I'd recommend a sharpening angle of 25 or more degrees; anything finer and you run the risk of folding over the edge.
Use a file and finish with your choice of stones.

Crpdeth · 07-17-2008, 06:58 PM

Welcome to the forums, Skipper... Good to have ya.

Crpdeth

Skipper · 07-17-2008, 07:27 PM

Thanks!

.........................still holding down the fort behind the lines out here in Commieville.

meatguy · 08-11-2008, 01:08 PM

being a meat cutter for 25yrs , I would suggest buying a "Norton" multi stone . be careful to just use mineral oil in the bath. it will have 3 stones ...coarse, medium and fine . I sharpen all my knives with one . cost will be about 150.00 . or you could also go to your local meat shop and probably borrow thiers. scott

MH2008 · 01-25-2013, 01:34 AM

good information I can use. Got a bigger gerber that needs some work done.

carver · 01-25-2013, 05:26 AM

I wonder what our ancestors used? I know that times have changed, and that are some really good products out there today, but I guess I'm old fashioned. If it worked well for grandpa, it's good enough for me! Soft Arkansas Whetstone, 8"X2"X1/2". http://www.hand-tools.com/product-de...odnum=BRK-AC10

redworm · 01-31-2013, 02:38 AM

The only way I know is us a big stone (bench stone) an for finishing a large crock stick with a handle..........Redworm...............

ozo · 01-31-2013, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carver

I wonder what our ancestors used? I know that times have changed, and that are some really good products out there today, but I guess I'm old fashioned. If it worked well for grandpa, it's good enough for me! Soft Arkansas Whetstone, 8"X2"X1/2". http://www.hand-tools.com/product-de...odnum=BRK-AC10

If it's a really big knife....
Just stab it down in a rock...
whoever pulls it out will have a
good sharp edge to use.
[like Excalibur]

WHSmithIV · 01-31-2013, 01:44 PM

Get yourself some very fine sandpaper - I use 400 grain graphite paper to sharpen my knives. My knives can slice a hair from my arm.

11-25-2007, 01:32 AM	#1
mule73 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8	Ok fellas, how do I sharpen a BIG knife? Got a free United fixed blade from a buddy today.Single edge 9" made of UC460 stainless.Anyone know anything about this steel? I've never heard of it, but seems like a decent knife to be from Taiwan.Problem is it's DULL! All my stones are too small to make a full pass on this monster and I really wanna see if i can get a good edge on it, so I can hunt elephants with it. Have I mentioned it's big? How do U guys sharpen the big 'uns? Thanks, Matt -->

11-25-2007, 03:53 AM	#2
358 winchester TFF Admin Staff Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pensacola Fl. area Posts: 7,335	Re: Ok fellas, how do I sharpen a BIG knife? Take it to the gun show and pay the $3.00 or a local knife sharpener. I have a couple of big stones that I use. Ron __________________ Administrator & Owner RangeDay.com Proud, White, Heterosexual, Gun Owning, Southern American, Christian. Any question about where I stand?

01-11-2008, 02:52 PM	#3
Michael G V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Garland Texas Posts: 366	Re: Ok fellas, how do I sharpen a BIG knife? Very carefully.

04-07-2008, 06:30 PM	#4
scottShryock Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 9	Re: Ok fellas, how do I sharpen a BIG knife? Very Carefully is good , However with the current stainless steel content I would recomend . A diamond stone a nickel steel imbedded with diamond ,thats about the only way to sharpen those . Were that knife mine I would have it professionally sharpened to define the edge . Then follow up with the Diamond stone Finally a soft hard arkansaw to finish the edge . Do know how to use a Steel? As thats the best way to preserve an edge (small diamond ones are available ) From an old chef

05-05-2008, 10:33 PM	#5
Popgunner Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Contributor Posts: 1,764	Re: Ok fellas, how do I sharpen a BIG knife? I have a smooth grinding wheel on my bench grinder that works great. Stainless is hard & you'll wear stones down before you make progress with a large stainless blade. I keep water handy & use very light pressure & go slow.

05-06-2008, 05:32 AM	#6
berto64 VMBB Admin Staff Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Owyhee County, Idaho Contributor Posts: 7,385	Re: Ok fellas, how do I sharpen a BIG knife? With a big knife sharpening doohickey. (couldn't help it, it's 0435 hrs.) __________________ Be who you are & say what you will, Those that matter won't mind and those that mind don't matter. I'm a bitter clinger, One Nation Under God.

07-16-2008, 11:52 AM	#7
fedupdon V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 307	Re: Ok fellas, how do I sharpen a BIG knife? i use my wart hog i have not had any trouble sharping the largest bowie that i own

07-16-2008, 06:57 PM	#8
Crpdeth Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Location: Location Contributor Posts: 8,247	Re: Ok fellas, how do I sharpen a BIG knife? Here's what Don is talking about... Wart Hog Crpdeth __________________ Our greatest pretenses are built up not to hide the evil and the ugly in us, but our emptiness. The hardest thing to hide is something that is not there. ~Eric Hoffer

07-17-2008, 10:37 AM	#9
Skipper V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: People's Republic of Kalifornia Posts: 337	Re: Ok fellas, how do I sharpen a BIG knife? The UC460 is a United Cutlery code for the item number. It's not a type of steel. Your knife is probably 420 stainless. Considering that it has a max hardness of about 50 RC, I'd recommend a sharpening angle of 25 or more degrees; anything finer and you run the risk of folding over the edge. Use a file and finish with your choice of stones. Last edited by Skipper; 07-17-2008 at 10:59 AM..

07-17-2008, 06:58 PM	#10
Crpdeth Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Location: Location Contributor Posts: 8,247	Re: Ok fellas, how do I sharpen a BIG knife? Welcome to the forums, Skipper... Good to have ya. Crpdeth __________________ Our greatest pretenses are built up not to hide the evil and the ugly in us, but our emptiness. The hardest thing to hide is something that is not there. ~Eric Hoffer

07-17-2008, 07:27 PM	#11
Skipper V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: People's Republic of Kalifornia Posts: 337	Re: Ok fellas, how do I sharpen a BIG knife? Thanks! .........................still holding down the fort behind the lines out here in Commieville.

08-11-2008, 01:08 PM	#12
meatguy V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: oklahoma Posts: 134	Re: Ok fellas, how do I sharpen a BIG knife? being a meat cutter for 25yrs , I would suggest buying a "Norton" multi stone . be careful to just use mineral oil in the bath. it will have 3 stones ...coarse, medium and fine . I sharpen all my knives with one . cost will be about 150.00 . or you could also go to your local meat shop and probably borrow thiers. scott

01-25-2013, 01:34 AM	#13
MH2008 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 51	Re: Ok fellas, how do I sharpen a BIG knife? good information I can use. Got a bigger gerber that needs some work done.

01-25-2013, 05:26 AM	#14
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,243	Re: Ok fellas, how do I sharpen a BIG knife? I wonder what our ancestors used? I know that times have changed, and that are some really good products out there today, but I guess I'm old fashioned. If it worked well for grandpa, it's good enough for me! Soft Arkansas Whetstone, 8"X2"X1/2". http://www.hand-tools.com/product-de...odnum=BRK-AC10 __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

01-31-2013, 02:38 AM	#15
redworm V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 58	Re: Ok fellas, how do I sharpen a BIG knife? The only way I know is us a big stone (bench stone) an for finishing a large crock stick with a handle..........Redworm...............

01-31-2013, 01:44 PM	#17
WHSmithIV Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Moore, Idaho contributor Posts: 2,608	Re: Ok fellas, how do I sharpen a BIG knife? Get yourself some very fine sandpaper - I use 400 grain graphite paper to sharpen my knives. My knives can slice a hair from my arm. __________________ We are not sheeple, we will not fade quietly away. We will stand up for Freedom, for our rights, and, we will fight to protect the Constitution and our Freedom. We are the militia, we are the PEOPLE.