Knife Sharpening - Lansky & Blade Master

[thegreatsubscriber]

I came across a (1970's ?) LoRay 2B1 sharpener, it looks just like the Lansky, I googled it, and they claim to be the original inventers of the system that everyone copies. Anyone know about this?

[Zacistan]

These systems somewhat sadden me as the art of knife sharpening is being lost in peoples lust for everything here and now. What happened to the good old stone? As Murray Carter (Carter Cutlery) has illustrated it is 90% technique and process and 10% equipment. If you want to learn how to sharpen with a stone Murray Carter has an excellent instructional DVD with the process and technique. Keep the tradition alive and really master sharpening

[RebelWrestler45]

@Zacistan That's the point; for people who aren't knife buffs and just need a sharp tool, these sharpening systems take most of the human error out of the sharpening process, so even a complete retard can get a hair popping sharp edge, with minimal skill and time.

[GageGecko]

I found a Sharpie to be a great tool to highlight the part of the blade you will be sharpening. When you first start using this system it will show you what part of the blade, if any, you missed when using your hones.

[DrComputerGuy]

Bob,

Will the Lansky system sharpen an ESEE Junglas?

[wwwknivestowncom]

@DrComputerGuy Yes, there is a flat spot that runs along the spine which could be used for the clamp.

[DrComputerGuy]

@wwwknivestowncom Thanks, Bob!

[pamexplorer]

i use my belt as a strop :]

[TheJuaxo]

Hey Bob, I noticed a blade there that looks like a stilleto and i couldnt find a review of it on your profile, and i was just wondering if you have it somewhere marked as a different item or if you even have reviewed it.

tThanks

[wwwknivestowncom]

@TheJuaxo The knife you saw is a Buffalo Horn stilleto from the now defunct Edge Company who has been out of business for quite a while. I have had it and another like it for about 20 years. It is very much like the Kissing Crane Stilletos that were around then and maybe still can be had. I thought it was the coolest knife back then. Ha. Funny how your taste changes over time. It's still a good knife though. Real solid, strong lock, bolster release, good blade.

[TheJuaxo]

@wwwknivestowncom Cool, thanks Bob. I've been looking for a good stilletto, because, you need to have at least one right?

[Rich949]

Hi Bob,

I'm about to buy a Lansky or GATCO Edgemate sharpener. Both seem very similar, but which would you prefer? Thanks!

[wwwknivestowncom]

@Rich949 I have used Lansky and Blade Master but no direct experience with GATCO. But from what I do know of GATCO, I do not believe there is any significant difference between the two you are looking at. I think you will do well either way.

[wisesakura]

LOL  You gotta show your face at the beginning :)

[pinup22]

Great review. Thanks

[Archer3520]

For high end steels such as AUS8A, VG-1 ect., is it better to go with the diamond kit or would either one be sufficient?

[wwwknivestowncom]

@Archer3520  Either would work.

[newhuskytwenty]

@Archer3520 If you had ZDP-189 and S30V you wouldn't call high end steels to AUS8A and VG1. Ceramic rods work well with the two last, but you'll really need diamond rods for the two first

[silentknight2112]

ok now heres my question i know you have gotten multiple of this type of question but will it sharpen a glock FM81 knife its about 1/4in by 6.5 in (but has a really funny angle) and a becker BK3 tactool i dont have the specs offhand but it is thick!

[wwwknivestowncom]

@silentknight2112 These systems will sharpen up to a 30 degree angle. The edge angle is really what determines if these clamp systems can be used. Those 1/4" thick knives (TOPS, ESEE, etc...) are generally within the range of these clamp systems. Anything up to about 30 degrees is fair game. A higher number than that and you should be looking at using a sharpening puck or some other implement.

[mycaddigo]

what is the longest blade those will sharpen?

[EnduringEagle]

Great video Bob as always!! How well would this work with some of the TOPS knives like the Stryker Defender Tool which is very thick and very wide with a spear point or the Smoke Jumper which is also very thick (1/4") and 6 1/2" inches long. Are these too big? Would another method work better? (i,e., Sharpmaker..) Your opinion is highly valued and thank you.

[wwwknivestowncom]

@EnduringEagle I hooked up my TOPS Hawk Recon into the Lansky System to see how well it would work. That knife has a 6.25" blade that is .25" thick. The clamp system worked perfectly. It seemed the angle was best used in the 30 degree slot.

[cobalt120]

I noticed that with most knife sharpeners including the wicked edge that there is no mention of sharpening a hollow ground blade. Especially where the hollow grind is almost all the way up or all the way to the spine.

The concave/hollow grind blades do not clamp well into the brace as far as proper angle in concerned.

[wwwknivestowncom]

@cobalt120 These clamp systems work well on any blade as long as some portion of the side of the blade is flat near the spine. This way the clamp can grab the opposing flat surfaces of the blade and hold it steady. A knife that is flat ground from spine to edge has no such flat spot and the clamp can only grab the edges, like clamping onto the open top end of a "V". That is not stable enough and when stroking pressure is exerted the blade will wobble in the clamp and lose the angle.

[cobalt120]

@wwwknivestowncom .

Yes i noticed. I am considering the wicked edge system upgrades

Although i am still left with a large selection of knives that simply will not work in braces.

Knives such as Kukri and Khukuris , skinning knives, e.t.c all have curves that a large flat square hone can't get at, or at least will make an uneven edge.

I'm still looking for a combo medium and fine oval honing tool for my curved blades. Something better than diamond.

Thanks again.

[tallandme13]

wallets are a good subsitute when you have nothing else leather

[13hazza]

What angle should I sharpen a survival knife?

[wwwknivestowncom]

@13hazza Hard to say without knowing the length and thickness of the blade, but assuming a generic survival knife, an angle in the 25 degree range would be appropriate. Go higher if the blade is very thick and the knife appears to be designed for a good deal of chopping.

[13hazza]

@wwwknivestowncom Thanks for the reply. It is the Ka-Bar USMC Short Black 1258. Great videos by the way.

[Archer3520]

Do sharpening kits like these work well with karambit shaped knives?

[wwwknivestowncom]

@Archer3520 If the blade curve is very pronounced then it won't work very well. The greater the curve the less effective this sharpener will be.

[bfgguns]

Hey Bob, cool video.

[polkatit]

would stropping work with an old leather belt that doesn't get worn anymore?

[pokermon919]

@polkatit

I've seen vids on ppl using a old belt. I've tried that and it does work to finish the edge after sharpening. I'm having trouble using my lansky diamond system though.

[deasttn]

When stropping, you say to strop towards the spine, but then it looks as if you strop in both directions. A little zooming or moving the knife towards the camera would be helpful.

[wwwknivestowncom]

Strop about 25 times o9n each side of the blade, so yes, you will need to flip the knife over. See here---> 6:28 I flip the knife over. This may be what appears as stropping in 2 directions. Sorry for the confusion.

[gamerfromcanada]

Is this system (Lansky) effective on swiss army knives as well. I have other knives that would work on this, but I have a couple SAK's that I would like to use on this as well.

[bfgguns]

Lansky can make the swiss army knives sharp like hell. I have sharpened my Victorinox Sentinel with the Lansky system and it made the edge so sharp that I can cut off my skin in tiny slices.

[wwwknivestowncom]

It works fine. I have sharpened knives that size with the Lansky. If the blade is very long then you might need to break the process into two parts, positioning the clamp on the rear third of the blade and sharpening, then reposition the clamp on the front third and sharpen.

[Mrhazardous]

could i use this system for a straight edge razor ?

[wwwknivestowncom]

You could try. I dont think it would hurt it, but I have not heard it used for that before. If I was to sharpen a straight razor I think I would do it by hand with a stone and keep the stone wet and run the razor along the face of the stone with the spine raised only a very slight amount, working forward as if trying to shave off a slice of the stone. Work it this way for a while on both sides until sharp, then strop it.

[Mrhazardous]

thanks

[viewer1a]

Thanks so much for your lesson. I'm just delving into this topic and don't know what I'm doing yet.

It's great to have this information!

I subscribed and gave a 5 star rating.

[OldEphram1]

If it's any help to you folks, I have both the Lansky Universal System with four stones, and the Spyderco SharpMaker and between the two there isn't a knife that can't be sharpened with them, inclding serrated blades. As someone else put it, they do have some limitations, but with these two sharpeners I've never regretted a day with either of them.

In my opinion, they are both high quality knife sharpeners.

[drunkfux1]

Could you use an old leather belt to strop?

[wwwknivestowncom]

I have experience with the Chef's Choice and cannot recommend it. The hones seemed much too coarse to me for fine kitchen cutlery and the action was abusive. OK for a cheap knife you dont care about, but not my good stuff, no way. Also it only "works" on long thin bladed knives. Thicker blades will not work as well and due to the construction, the rearward inch of blade doesn't even reach the hones so short bladed pocket knives would not even get fully sharpened. Go with the Spyderco.

[MikeofWyoming]

That is true.

[BamBamSecretAgentXer]

Hey Bob which would you suggest? The Lanksy system or the Spyderco system Swiss army blades, and tanto blades?

[wwwknivestowncom]

You won't go wrong with either, but personally I prefer the Lansky just because it clamps the blade and holds the angle. With the Spyderco system you are stoking the blade against the ceramic rods with no way to assure the consistent angle except your steady hand. This would be true with any blade style SAK, tanto or otherwise.

[SAUFM777]

Got the lansky system and try to sharp a japanese damast steel. But I can not realy feel any burr. Probably because the steel is so hard. How can I get it to cut paper with it?

[mbhanzo1]

I've used all of these systems and they will all work if used properly but all have severe limitations on what type and the size of knife that can be sharpened with them because of the size of the stones and the designs of the clamps..

[thatsimonguy]

wow that's crazy sharp if it can cut paper like that.. great job!

[whateverfast22]

i see this vid in my subscribes list, i look expecting a knife, and see all that, i was like 'what the.."... still great review

[erik7181]

iv heard you can also use a leather belt but idonno

[halieus56]

Where did you get the base for the Lansky?

[wwwknivestowncom]

It is available at Knives Town

[happymark1805]

Do you use oil on the diamond hones ??

[wwwknivestowncom]

A drop or two of oil on the hones is used yes. The oil comes with the kit. The oil is also used in cleaning the hones as it floats the metal particles away from the hone surface to be wiped away.

[happymark1805]

ok, my question was because someone from lansky told me not to use oil on the diamond hones only on the stone hones.

[Krepo11]

A leather belt (some soft leather) works well to for the finishing as well. Basicly the same as the barbers leatherstrap. :)

[meat2dawad]

great video! i only have free hand hones but i got used to them and can determine the correct angle for any knife.

[IKIDDP5]

Excellent job!

[phogz0r]

thanks for this very informative video !