Can someone suggest a sharpening stone?

[Ape_Ogre]

Bit of a newbie I am afraid, bought myself a Mora Knife, on the advice of various posts (it seems very solid and comfortable, plus having no experience I am not so bothered about wrecking a £10 knife). It arrived yesterday and sadly the edge on it is not particularly sharp, so I am eager to try sharpening it myself, simple question is can anyone suggest a good sharpening stone?

 

[FreddyFish]

here's the best i've ever used.

'Japanese Waterstone 6000/1000 Grit' with an 'Nagura Stone'
http://www.survivalschool.co.uk/sharpening-tools/view-all-products.html

 

[poddle]

Axminster tools do an excellent water stone, I use one on my Mora, and its razor sharp.


I think they are around £25

 

[SimonM]

Before you put it on a stone, try stropping it. At least 50 strokes each side on leather belt.

As for a stone, try the DC3(or4) or similar. Good enough to use at home and small enough to take out with you.
http://www.lakelandbushcraft.co.uk/acatalog/Sharpening_Kit.html

Alternatively, try this...

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11571

HTH

Simon

 

[Asa Samuel]

If you aren't looking to spend a lot try British Red's five pound sharpening kit:
http://bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11571

 

[ged]

... Mora Knife ... not particularly sharp ... can anyone suggest a good sharpening stone?

Also consider a steel.

 

[Ape_Ogre]

Thanks for all the advice. Went for a DC4 to start with (thanks SimonM), reasonably priced, and I like the idea of being able to carry it with me if needed, and keeping my kit nice and small...

I love the idea of a Japanese waterstone (as a fan of kendo) so I think one of those may be on the cards next...

 

[Ape_Ogre]

Sorry Ged, a steel ? Are these the sharpening rods you see chefs using ? (Apologies for my ignorance).

 

[Asa Samuel]

Sorry Ged, a steel ? Are these the sharpening rods you see chefs using ? (Apologies for my ignorance).

Yes, they are used to re-align the edge as the edge can sometimes roll over during use which gives the effect of being blunt. A few passes over a steel puts the edge straight again before use.

 

[ged]

Yes, they are used to re-align the edge as the edge can sometimes roll over during use which gives the effect of being blunt. A few passes over a steel puts the edge straight again before use.

That's right, the advantage being you can try to recover the cutting edge without losing much metal. Although admittedly, with some of the blades that people here seem to like, loss of metal isn't a big concern. For the day-to-day stuff, apart from chopping wood (where I mostly use saws and axes) I tend to use smallish folders, so preserving the blade material can be an issue. It isn't that I can't afford to replace any tool, I just like to get the most out of it. Some of the multi-tools for example have skinny blades that you could sharpen away to nothing. Then you'd have five screwdrivers, a pair of pliers, a file, a thing for getting stones out of a horse's hooves -- and no knife.