Those competition edges are impressive. Not the sharpest edges I've ever encountered, but that's really only in comparison to aftermarket edges. Factory, it's tough to beat a CE in a large fixed blade.

The sharpest, though? Any thoughts on a sharper factory fixed blade? Even the M2K I perpetually rave about wasn't that sharp when new. Trailmaster? The long hunter was one of the sharpest knives out of the box I've ever come across, competitive with my beloved spydies and hated camillus heat. I've gotta figure out which of my folder's is the sharpest, too.

Seeing as I've never had a BRKT, which apparently is the sharpest new production knife you can get without going to a one man show like Koster or Krein, I have to ask you guys what your sharpest fixed blade or folder is and how it compares to your CE's, if you have em. I'll accept comparison to stock CG's or LE's or Banned/3WGS'ed/Siegle'd knives if you don't.

So far I've only had one Barkie (it went back for warranty.. I'm keenly awaiting it's replacement!) and that wasn't as scary sharp as every Barkie nut would have you believe! It was decently sharp though.. I can't think of anything I've seen or handled that was better from the factory (including Trailmasters, Gerber BMFs, Buckmasters etc etc!). I haven't handled one of these new Competition edges Jerry is doing, but IF he can make sharp knives you kind of wonder why he doesn't generally!

My immediate thoughts on folders are SAKS (Victorinox) are bloody sharp..

i was considering the sak. they're close to the top.

The sharpest factory fixed blade knives I ever got were my BRKTs. All of them. Next would be my SOG Bowie and CS Trailmaster. The Busse Sarsquatch CE was pretty close, but this is from memory and not actual side by side testing. I know that all those knives impressed me as sharp at the time I got them. My old Gerber Mk II also came very sharp. In folders, most came sharp. Every SAK, Spyderco, Cold Steel, and Benchmade came plenty sharp, as did most of my Bucks, whether fixed or folders. Kershaws were not as sharp. My DFLE and DMLE also came with pretty decent edges.

I have had varying degrees of sharpness from "within" many different knife companies including within Busse and kin.

As much as I like and do promote Busse, Swamp Rat and Scrap Yard and the incredible toughness of their steel, I can't give them highest kudos in regards to factory sharpness. I honestly can't even really even give them kudos for "factory" edges.
That said, my DFLE, Chopweiler, SarSquatch and Skinny ASH-1 were all "moderately" ( ... somewhat reasonably) sharp and all sharper than my recent ( and only) Busse Hell Razor CE. My Hell Razor with "Competition Edge" could barely slice cut paper. It tears more than it cuts in spite of the Busse Sharpness test sheet (??????). *** However, I do LOVE the edge profile on the CE blades!!! This is how I reshape my blades anyway, so it saves me the time and effort if done from the factory. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />
By "Busse" sharp, a handful have been able to slice cut paper, but not silky smooth cuts through paper and never push cut. Edge geometry is part of the issue, but edge sharpness isn't there either.
While a good handful of recent Busse and kin acquisitions have been moderately/reasonably sharp, historically, most have been quite dull and can't even slice cut paper - or just barely at best.

BRKT, Spyderco and Kershaw have consistently been the most impressive to me. But, I have also seen a few good ones from Al Mar, Benchmade, Lone Wolf and even CRKT. The older Al Mars and Benchmades were not nearly as impressive as recent years.

As much as I love Fallknivens knives, I have received some very good edges and some very so-so edges from them, but at least they have excellent full convex grinds. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Cold Steel, Gerber, SOG and some others - random.



.... Honestly, most every company I named above has consistently provided sharper edges than the average Busse edge. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> ----- *** However, as MUCH as I really like seeing a RAZOR sharp edge from the factory and as much as I honestly consider a "Quality" edge a "Quality Feature" from a maker (vs. the alternative <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif" alt="" />), I can't rank the factory edge as important in a knife as the quality of the steel. It is more important that a blade "Can be Made" sharp consistantly, reasonably easy and with exceptable toughness to suit the knives given design. Considering the ability to sharpen and keep sharp AND Incredible toughness, I would rank INFI and SR-101 both VERY high. SR-77 sharpens easily, but doesn't hold the edge as well as many others.

Many of the knives I have with good or great factory edges can be hard to RE-sharpen... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> ..... worth noting IMO.



.

How sharp a knife is depends on it's design and intended use. For example My DFCG was not hair popping sharp however it was designed as a an all purpose chopper. My GB axe was hair popping sharp out of the box however, it's intended purpose is to chop softer green wood not dry hard wood.

For quite awhile Chilled Metal blades were arguably the most consistently sharp knives out of the box. I've yet see one that wasn't hair popping sharp out of the wrapper. But that's always been one of there main selling points.

Spyderco and Benchmade at least to me have always consistently delivered very sharp knives. Personally edge sharpness is not a big deal to me as I generally re-profile or sharpen it anyway.

I have not had many factory fixed blades which were sharp enough for me. Many were dissapointing. This knife from Katz however was sharper than I could have done myself....and has never needed re-sharpening as a result...it only needs stropping to restore the edge...this is one great knife for a factory blade..



If you consider Bud Kneally as being a factory now in the same manner as Chris Reeves then this Khinzal was also superbly sharp



On folders...my Benchmade Brend knife and my SAK Champion were both perfectly sharp....the Benchmade more so than the SAK



On fixed blades...I had a Chris Reeves Project I which was as sharp as the SAK or better but not in the same League as the Katz Lion King or the Khinzal.

interesting.

knifeguy, i agree about it beaing a nice, but not critical "feature."

i guess i've been lucky with busse. mine usually come with a good edge. scrappers usually need a little work, but my busses are all still holding their original profile. my ce hell razor came with an exceptional edge, too, if you recall my backyard bushcraft shootout.

seems everyone will vouch for spyderco. those flat ground leaf blades just rock.

one i forgot about was the gerber fatty. that thing was really sharp out of the box. shoulda never sold it.

either my SAK or my mini grip

Benchmade, Spyderco, and Kershaw in my experience.

Hair popping right out of the box...every time.

For me, the sharpest knives have come from Bob Dozier. These knives are super sharp right out of the box.

For me personally my Spyderco Mule was the sharpest thing ever out the box! The Scrapyard S6 I bought recently has "arm hair removal" skills too. Can't wait to try my "yet to be delivered" Skinny ASH
Cheers
JB