How to sharpen Gerber knife

[bushcraftbob]

I have a Gerber knife with gut hook, a picture can be found here:

http://www.gerber-tools.com/Gerber-Gator-Folding-Gut-Hook-6932.htm

I want to know what the best technique is to sharpen the knife? The blade edge is very narrow in comparison to say, my Mora.

The gut hook is still nice and sharp but the main blade is getting a tad blunt.

cheers all

 

[Graham_S]

Personally, I'd convex the edge on a mousemat with wet 'n dry on it.
the guthook I'd use a thin dowel rod with wet 'n dry wrapped around it.

 

[bushcraftbob]

Cheers Graham, do you mean stick the wet n dry on the mousemat with double sided tape?

Should i start with the coarse, then get smoother like when sharpening the Mora?

Should it be stropped on a leather belt?

ta

 

[dwardo]

Cheers Graham, do you mean stick the wet n dry on the mousemat with double sided tape?

Should i start with the coarse, then get smoother like when sharpening the Mora?

Should it be stropped on a leather belt?

ta

I would always strop after sharpening. If you do search for Reds £5 shapening kit there will be instructions there.

 

[Graham_S]

double sided tape is best, but it's not really necessary.
As to the grade of paper, it depends on how blunt your blade is.
fine wet and dry will do the same job as coarse, it'll just take longer.
If it's quite blunt, start out with coarse (about 120-180 grit) and continue until it's sharp.
then go to the finer paper and sharpen until all the marks from the coarse are gone.
continue this step up the grades, polishing out the toolmarks of each step as you go.
once it's nice and sharp from that, strop it.
Leather with stropping compound will get it shaving sharp.