Alternative Methods For Sharpening A Bowie Knife
Sharpening knives can be a great way to get some mental space from the world. It’s also a great way to drive yourself crazy if you need to get it done in a hurry. To that end, there are numerous ways to sharpen blades quickly, even the large blade of a Bowie knife. The products used to do this encompass both grinding tools and guides. Both are important to making sure that you improve, rather than ruin, your blade.
Some old-timers sharpen their Bowie knife on a grinding wheel. Unless you have the sort of precision machining ability that comes with a lifetime of such work, you’ll want to avoid this. What makes grinding stones so useful, however, is that they come in all manner of compositions. Some of the most convenient sharpening tools are made out of the same materials as are the most expensive and precision grinding tools on the market.
Some of the sharpeners that work best for Bowie knives are made out of composite substances. These may include ceramics or silicates. Generally, they are pressed into a small stone that can easily be carried in a pocket or a pack. These stones are usually a bit harder on the blade than are natural stones, and will pull away more steel with each pass. Be sure to use gentle pressure when sharpening on these stones.
There are also stones made out of ceramics and other materials which make find sharpeners for a Bowie knife. Oftentimes, these stones come with their own instructions and are more abrasive than a traditional whetstone. These stones can be used most anywhere, as they’re generally very small. Some knives come with such stones contained in an extra pouch sewn to the sheath. Be sure to use oil, if the stone calls for it, though many of these stones do not require as much.
Your Bowie knife can definitely be sharpened in the field using these devices, but a good sharpening is usually done on a bench stone. Simply because the stone is mounted to the bench, it’s easier to make sure that you’re getting the right angle and pressure on the blade. You should practice, however, sharpening large blades on small stones, as you may well have to do so at some point when you’re in the field.
Blake is a business consultant for an online bowie knives store featuring combat knives.