Is it possible to get a razor sharp knife with just a DC4?

[Zammo]

It just struck me the other day that my bushcraft knifes (a Frosts Mora and a home made Trapper) seem really blunt compared to my newly purchased Opinel No7 while used for witterling wood.

They've both been sharpened with my DC4 but not stropped as I don't own a leather belt. Is it possible to get a razor sharp edge with the DC4 or do I need to get a belt to strop it. TBH I don't know if its my sharpening technique as my homemade trapper knife, seems like a big thick lump of blunt metal and the Mora isn't that much better.

 

[British Red]

Yes .

 

[Toadflax]

After a demo at the Wilderness Gathering, I managed to get my cheap (£10) Mora sharp enough to shave the hairs off my arm (wife and daughter squirmed when I showed them ).

I used a DC4 stone, but then finished off the edge very gently using a kitchen sharpening steel (the one I use for sharpening the carving knife). Can't remember who did the demo (one of the bushcraft schools) but he used a steel to finish off (rather than a strop). Some people like a strop and some like a steel - guess you have to find what works for you.

Hold the steel vertically, lean it over to an angle of something like 20 degrees to the vertical (there's probably an exact definition for the angle), draw the knife blade across the steel VERY GENTLY - simply let the weight of the knife take it down the steel.


Geoff

 

[Graham_S]

yes. I do it all the time.

 

[Wayland]

Works for me.

I carry a bit of leather cut the same size with mine for a final strop.

 

[spamel]

Go up the woods and look for a large fungus growing off of a birch tree. The birch tree will either be dead standing or fallen rotting wood, maybe a tree that doesn't look so good and will be dead next year! The fungus is white underneath and a brownish colour on top. Cut it off of the tree. It won't harm the tree as it is infected already and will die soon if it isn't dead already!

Take the fungus home, and carve the very bottom layer off. It looks like micropore tape and can be used as such. Then, carve the piece of fungus into a rectangular shape as large as you want, leave it a centimetre or so thick. Put it on the radiator. Let it dry for a few days. Some people say you should compress it first, but mine has gone pretty solid and is a first rate strop by itself. If you like, you can glue it onto a wooden board to give yourself something to carve a handle in to and to hold on a surface.Strop away, cost is nil but a bit of your time.

 

[GreenmanBushcraft]

The DC4 is a very good bit of kit. The answer is yes, if used right.

Kris

 

[spamel]

I do get a very keen edge with mone, but you shouldn't need to sharpen all the time to keep it keen. A strop should get the edge back to razor. If you keep sharpening, one day you'll have a razor sharp metal toothpick!

 

[chas brookes]

Hi
I will second that you can get a razor edge using DC4
There was a post on the forum where they unstitched the leather pouch of the DC4 turned one of the pieces of leather around and restitched it.
Once this was done they put some stropping paste or Autosol onto the leather exposed which became a mini strop.
The DC4 became a complete sharpening system
I hope this info helps

 

[stotRE]

I get a better edge on my Mora with my DC4 than i do using my combi waterstone.

So yes.(thats why my DC4 is always in my possibles pouch)

I strop mine on my trouser leg,going away from the cutting edge for obvious reasons and my stainless mora is like a razor.

 

[alpha_centaur]

Somebody on the forum posted that you can use a rolled up newspaper to strop your knife. Try it it cant hurt.

 

[Aragorn]

I get a better edge on my Mora with my DC4 than i do using my combi waterstone.

So yes.(thats why my DC4 is always in my possibles pouch)

I strop mine on my trouser leg,going away from the cutting edge for obvious reasons and my stainless mora is like a razor.

hhmm thta's interesting, i can get my mora to shave, got a lovely bald patch on my right arm, the misses thinks i've got alopecia , but not my opinal 8, had two thoughts on this, first being that because my mora is high carbon it is easier to sharpen, i just need to work more on the opinal, the other was that the mora has a scandi grind whereas i am trying to sharpen the opinal with a convex grind, could this be the reason or am i way off

 

[spamel]

Possibly, although if you have the standard Opi 8 it should be carbon steel as well. If you strike the spine of the knife along a piece of flint, it should throw some sparks off. If it doesn't, then it is probably stainless.

 

[Toddy]

Even I manage to sharpen to shaving sharp using the DC4. I do sometimes use a bit of birch bracket to finish off though.
One of my Opinels was a pain to sharpen until I realised that it was really hard and just takes a bitty longer, it really keeps an edge though

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Aragorn]

k i'll give it another go

 

[Zammo]

This is my technique, any pointers would be greatfully received:

I use the opposite edge to the diamond side (i've been told the diamond side is only for removing nicks and dings out of damaged blades).

Place the blade on the DC4 so it is slightly angled so the full width of the bevel is resting on the DC4.

Then I move the blade downwards drawing it away slightly at the end so the blade is sharpened from hilt to point. I usually repeat this about 20 times on each side.

 

[michiel]

You have to push the blade away from you. Like you were slicing pieces of the stone. Markt the edge with marker and make sure the edge is touching the stone.
I'd strop a blade just for the finish it leaves on a blade. Stropping a blade also means you don't have to use your dc4 all the time. A few wipes over a leather or cardboard strop loaded with some sort of compound will get your knife back in tip top order.

Good luck!

Michiel

 

[bosknurft]

One of my Opinels was a pain to sharpen until I realised that it was really hard and just takes a bitty longer, it really keeps an edge though

A carbon steel opinel? I'm asking because I have the same 'problem', but I'd always assumed the carbon steel to be softer than the average knife.

 

[Zammo]

I tried sharpening my knives again last night and managed to shave my arm with all of them this time!

Thanks for everyones help. :You_Rock_