Keeping your knife sharp

[CoyoteWhips]

What do you pack to keep a sharp edge on your knife?

[OregonHiker]

What do you pack to keep a sharp edge on your knife?

an old fashioned grindstone

[bigboots]

What do you pack to keep a sharp edge on your knife?

I wasn't planning on bringing anything, but I'm not bringing an expensive knife. But thats a good question, I haven't seen any pack lists which included anything for that purpose.

Bigboots

[Montego]

I use a sliding ceramic pocket sharpener called a "Gerber Sharpak". It's older than the hills, but keeps my "Buck" sharp enough to shave with

[flow]

I don't use a knife. I use a razor blade and store it in a plastic homemade sheath. Just mail others ahead for sharp resupply

[CoyoteWhips]

For my overnighters, I've packed a disposable utility knife for emergencies. However, for longer trips when I expect to cook food -- some days a real potato -- I'm thinking of a short santoku style knife.

At home, I use a sharpening iron, but it's heavy. My first thoughts were a ceramic rod or one of those clever draw blade sharpeners.

[grquinn]

For my overnighters, I've packed a disposable utility knife for emergencies. However, for longer trips when I expect to cook food -- some days a real potato -- I'm thinking of a short santoku style knife.

At home, I use a sharpening iron, but it's heavy. My first thoughts were a ceramic rod or one of those clever draw blade sharpeners.

Have you tried a Gerber Pocket sharpener?

G.R.

[Appalachian Tater]

Unless you whittle, I doubt you'd need a sharpener on a thru-hike. You might cut cheese or sausage with your knife. Scissors are handier.

If you needed to sharpen it, some of the hostel owners or outfitters probably have a sharpening stone you could ask to use.

[CoyoteWhips]

Have you tried a Gerber Pocket sharpener?

G.R.

I have not, but when I looked it up on the web, I also found the Gerber Diamond Sharpener.

Weighs 1.5 ounces, but it's a style I'm used to.

[oops56]

I have not, but when I looked it up on the web, I also found the Gerber Diamond Sharpener.

Weighs 1.5 ounces, but it's a style I'm used to.

Me i like a stone got them 3 in. ones just somethig about it i like

[SGT Rock]

I've got this dogtag shapener. Not my favorite, but it works and it is light.

[take-a-knee]

This little gizmo from DMT is the best thing I've found:

http://www.dmtsharp.com/products/other.htm

The blue one is the most useful grit, the red is finer but takes forever to get an edge. For a steel, I've use the outside edge of my leatherman micra on a couple of knives to get rid of the wire edge.

If this thing is too heavy for you to carry, I suggest getting a set of dumbells to go with it...and maybe a testosterone patch.

[SGT Rock]

DMT makes those credit card shapeners

[budforester]

I use a plastic gizmo similar to this. Draw the blade through the slot; two ceramic sticks are mounted in a "V". It sharpens quickly, easy to use, small size, light weight, impervious to water. I have several: backpack, daypack, tacklebox, kitchen, garage.

[SGT Rock]

Mine is similar to that - it is a Klawhorn: http://5stores.com/index.php?main_pa...ducts_id=12282

It weighs 0.6 ounces. I prefer my DMT blue/red folder like Take-A-Knee reccomends for most work. I just made one of those hacksaw blade knives with it today so sharp I could shave.

[bigboots]

Mine is similar to that - it is a Klawhorn: http://5stores.com/index.php?main_pa...ducts_id=12282

It weighs 0.6 ounces. I prefer my DMT blue/red folder like Take-A-Knee reccomends for most work. I just made one of those hacksaw blade knives with it today so sharp I could shave.

and its American Made!

Bigboots

[mark.k.watson]

When you hit town, get a cup of coffee, dirink, turn the empty mug over and use the base. Works slicker than snot.

[Nearly Normal]

Nothing beats a hacksaw blade for slicing a tomato. I wish I could find a stainless blade to make a lasting knife.

[johnny quest]

im glad someone brought up this subject. i was planning on putting my sharpener in a bounce box...didnt realize they made such small light sharpeners.
i carry daily the knife i will thru with and i disagree with folks who always say there is no use for a knife other than cutting cheese (???). i find if i have a knife i use a knife. and a dull knife is a dull and useless thing. much like a 18 year old boy.

[CoyoteWhips]

Nothing beats a hacksaw blade for slicing a tomato. I wish I could find a stainless blade to make a lasting knife.

It's a trade-off. High carbon steel gives you a sharper edge, but doesn't keep the edge as long as stainless.