Field sharpening and whether you go into the field with a Convex edge or a V grind is just a matter of knowledge and skill....you don't need mouse pads or sand paper or diamond hones....or anything other than what you can find on the ground.

If you want to be prepared for field sharpening here is how I have done it and demonstrated it for a lot of years. Firstly...to save time in touching up an edge know the angle you sharpened it at...I have my blades either at 23 degrees V grind or Convexed. Then work with the knife as a tool to get the angle right.

If you have a 7 inch blade then use that as a measurement for the base stick on a fig 4 trap. It then needs to be lashed to the vertical stick you have hammered into the ground at a distance so that 7 inches...the blade length...sticks out from the centre of the plumb line stick...AND it needs to be at a distance from the tip of the plumb line stick so that when placing the angled stick to make the trap and lashing this together...the angle this stick makes to the centre plumb line stick is 23 degrees.

This is all about knowing "tangents"....the tangent for a 23 degree angle is 0.425...so what divided into 7 will give this figure...the answer 16.5...so if you have a 7 inch blade then measure off the total length and using the lanyard eye hole if need be add a paracord lanyard so that when pulled straight it gives a means of measuring off 16.5 inches.

Then you can use the edge of the blade near the choil to bite into the angular lashed stick on the Fig 4 so it is directly in line with the cetre of the stick and has the same angle of incidence to the vertical plumb line stick as the angular stick. i.e. 23 degrees.

Then look for two stones...ideally wet ones from a stream which have close to flat sides...rub them together in a flat on flat level till a "paste" emerges...once there is a paste use this and holding the stone vertically run it along the edge facing upwards on the blade a number of times...remove the knife and turn it round and place it again in the same cut in the stick to do the other side...

Use this method everytime you set up a Fig of 4 trap...that way you are doing two things with your time...you have a trap mechanism and a means of sharpening at the right angle. Field sharpening is all about getting consistancy to the original edge you created and topping it up...but you do need an aide to get the angle right and this method is the best one for me.

I have seen people try and free hand sharpen and restore an edge and they usually make it more blunt due to lack of consistancy and proper angle. This method works similar to a "Sharpmaker" and it is easy to hold the stone properly vertical rather than at an angle.

Use the lanyard as a plumb line to get the vertical stick properly vertical. Practise this method and it works well quite quickly. Those who think that this method will just give a flat V grind edge need to factor in the slight variations with each stroke...the edge does remain "convexed"...particularly when you are just "topping up" the edge each time you set a trap.

I have used this method for a lot of years now...it works well. If you have an 8 inch blade...the other distance is 18.5 inches...these are approximate figs but that is all you need.

This might be easier explained through photo's...but it should not be to hard to visualise if you think about it. 23 degrees is my preferred edge angle on a chopping/survival knife but you can choose another...the principal is the same.

For my two cents - I love the convex edge, find it ridiculously easy to maintain, and the supplies to do so are CHEAP.

I can sharpen a convex edge with nothing more complicated than a piece of sandpaper from any generic hardware store. I've even played with using my LEG as a backing for it. You don't have to worry about maintaining a careful angle, and can be really sloppy with it. You can strop it on a pair of jeans.

I also find it to hold an edge longer and be more durable than a similarly-performing flat ground edge.




And on a slightly unrelated note, I don't get using "survival situations" to argue every merit of a knife. Things like batoning and chopping might not protect your knife, but I don't buy knives that cost hundreds of dollars and hold a lifetime warranty to baby them. I might use them differently if I ever ended up in a true survival situation, but I'm about as likely to be attacked by zombies as I am to end up in a TRUE survival situation, so I see no problem with using my knives in a way that saves me energy and makes them perform the way I want them to.

LOL! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Just be careful, some of those rabbit are mighty vicious.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Ummm...cause you can? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />



A knife is more versatile that an axe. It's more compact & easy to pack.

but those could break just the same...i guess id rather have a saw than an axe or small hatchet. way less energy used.

HELLYEAH!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" />

as my pappy says: 6 to one half dozen to the other! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Can't argue with that...but then again... for me..its not an answer


for chopping ?...not in my humble opinion...

but what do I know?

Doc

No, all around general use. Easier to skin an animal with, make traps, whittle, etc. For only chopping though, where weight is not an issue, an axe is hard to beat. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I look at it this way - I don't go into the woods intending to do a lot of chopping, but I like knowing I've got a tool that's capable of doing it if I need it to.

If I take an axe, all it will be good for is chopping. If I take a knife, it will be capable of a lot of jobs, and chopping is on that list. I'd still rather use a small folding or chain saw for cutting logs, and use the knife to split them. I can split wood a lot more safely while tired or injured using a baton and a good knife than I can using an axe.

cool...


I'd rather use a steel...or stone if it gets real dull...that's just me..



that "argument" comes up quite frequently on this forum about many items... I agree though... not for "every" merit or downfall...its just a point of perspective...



I like all of your thoughts and reasoning...thank you

Doc

granted they could.... but then again...depends on the situation...I like a saw...but i have seen them break before an axe would...

Doc