Suppressors knife and sharpener selection

[partisan1911]

This is the year that I finally fill my need for decent knives and sharpening systems. When I hunt I have been using a large folding knife and scalpels for the caping with a small flat diamond stone.

I have been looking at getting the ESEE 3 and 6 with the spyderco doublestuff sharpener for the field and the spyderco sharpmaker.

How well does the doublestuff sharpener work? Any other better options for a good field sharpener? I don't want to get one that is too big or heavy.

 

[madd0c]

Re: knife and sharpener selection

the Esse is a great knife for the cash.

Also, I wouldn't spend a great deal of money on the field sharpenener. I am not familiar with the Doublestuff one, but you can find a bunch of different small ceramic stick sharpeners small enough to fit in a pouch on the sheath from alot of sources. Gerber makes one I carry as a backup.

Instead spend the money on a good bench sharpening system and put the edge on your knife BEFORE you go out to use it. Much better results, save the portable ones for touchups.

I would look at the Lansky sharpenenr system, I use it and it works well. You can find them a bunch of places including Walmart and Sears. Just because they sell them there doesn't mean it isn't any good

hope that helps,
madd0c

 

[partisan1911]

Re: knife and sharpener selection

I will take a look at walmart for the lansky. My knife gets used alot in the field so I definately need a touch up sharpener. I think a flat stone would work better than the rod style, especially the short ones I have been looking at? Price really isn't the deciding factor. I just want to get the best tool for the job and have it last. I was given a couple striders and they are no doubt durable but neither really fill my need so they sit in the safe.

 

[Redmanss]

Re: knife and sharpener selection

For sharpeners, I prefer either ceramic or stone, and stay away from all diamond and steel based sharpeners. The steel and diamond always leave scratches that I don't like on the edge. I always finish off by strapping the edge across the cardboard back of a pad of paper.

Lanskey stones are my favorite, but I don't use it in the system, just free hand. For the field, a ceramic Gatco Triseps is what I use for touchups.

 

[Redmanss]

Re: knife and sharpener selection

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hattori Hanz&#333;</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The cardboard stropping method is great! +1

Ceramic is great, but has a very smooth grit. For heavy work, you need to step up to diamond. I suspect that is why the last poster saw scratches... After diamond is used, ceramic is there to finish off.</div></div> True on the diamond being for heavy work. I use a large diamond stone on my axe and hatchets to get the edge back in a hurry, but on my knives with even the fine diamond stones I would get the scratches and haven't touched one in a decade plus. I may have not used the diamond stones enough to get them broken in, but I don't know about that.

I never let my knives get overly worn down and dull, so it's just constant touch-ups for them on the ceramics and the occasional soft Arkansas stone.

 

[partisan1911]

Re: knife and sharpener selection

I was going to order an ESEE 3 and 5 tonight online but I couldn't tell what kind of sheath they come with. They all mention some kind of molle attachment. I am looking to wear them on my belt and from the looks of thier molle setup they can come undone if used on a belt.

Can anyone confirm the kydex sheaths on these knives come with regular belt attachment points?

 

[stefan73]

Re: knife and sharpener selection

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Redmanss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For sharpeners, I prefer either ceramic or stone, and stay away from all diamond and steel based sharpeners. The steel and diamond always leave scratches that I don't like on the edge. I always finish off by strapping the edge across the cardboard back of a pad of paper.

Lanskey stones are my favorite, but I don't use it in the system, just free hand. For the field, a ceramic Gatco Triseps is what I use for touchups. </div></div>
The tri gatco sharpener is great! I bought a number of those and can maintian a fine edge, it does take a little longer on blades with screwed up edges since it is a bit of a finer hone, sharpener. For my straits (razors) and finer blades I have a couple of barbers stones, a swatty and some others which I use to hone the razors up.

Cardboard or newspaper works for "stropping" the blades after hitting the hone. You could also apply some diamond paste to the paper or cardboard for an even finer edge. I have two leather stropes that I use for finishing (a leather belt pulled tight will also work).

 

[Fred_C_Dobbs]

Re: knife and sharpener selection

With my Lansky, I can put a razor's edge on a raindrop.

 

[partisan1911]

Re: knife and sharpener selection

I was hoping they had attachments that you could slip your belt through. I will have to see if I can modify it a little to my liking.

 

[partisan1911]

Re: knife and sharpener selection

So I called several distributors as well as ESEE. I told them I what I was looking for and they all just read the description off the website. I am not sure if that counts as good customer service or not? I got to talk to someone but they couldn't tell me about their product other than a cut and paste answer.

Can anyone tell me one the ESEE distributors that actually looks at the product?

 

[Redmanss]

Re: knife and sharpener selection

Contact these guys and ask for the sales floor: Smokey Mountain Knife Works

I live not too far from this place, when I'm home that is, and the guys that work the sales floor really know their knives and have a lot of good ol' southern hospitality to boot. Keep in mind that the place is probably 150k sqft, so you might have to be specific with what dealer area you want. If they can't help you, I don't know who can as the salesman will likely grab the knife out of the case while answering your questions.

 

[Shrike]

Re: knife and sharpener selection

You don't need a big knife for skinning/caping. A scalpel with a 1" (or slightly longer) exposed blade will do the trick. I've seen people whip out a 6 or 8 knife and start whackin' away at the cape and they end up cutting into the abdominal cavity or destroying the hide.

Keep a few extra blades along with a universal handle and forget the sharpener all together. You'll end up packing around less weight too.

The same can't be said if you're wanting your skinning knife to double as a survival knife (hatchet) too.

If you're going with an experienced guide, they will just laugh when they see your shark knife strapped to your thigh. FWIW

http://media.photobucket.com/image/knife%20mall%20ninja/8thRay/sharkknife.jpg

 

[RTH1800]

Re: knife and sharpener selection

Unless you are going to shoot a lot of game, sharpening at home will do fine. I can skin and quarter a couple elk or several deer with one very sharp small knife.

 

[partisan1911]

Re: knife and sharpener selection

When hunting I have been using scalpels for the cape work and a pocket knife for everything else. I am looking at stepping into a fixed blade rather than pocket knife. I think the ESEE 3 will fill that need nicely. The bigger knife is for camp chores.

When doing big bears and moose you can get away with a small knife but it adds <span style="text-decoration: underline">alot</span> of misery to the job. A blade length of around 3" is great for the initial work and a 5" should be great for scraping the hide back at camp. When I go goat or sheep hunting the my 3" pocket knife and scalpels worked well and were light. These knives for me aren't meant for survival. I do alot of hunting up in AK and these should fill me need nicely and for a reasonable price at that.

I could never afford an outfitter although I do work for one occasion

 

[GR460]

Re: knife and sharpener selection

I have an ESEE 3, along with more knives than I will ever need, and I always go back to a Benchmade 710. The Lansky sharpener followed with a leather belt has always worked just fine.