| Being prepared is the keystone to any successful | | | | sharpening angle. More advanced hunters may find |
| hunting trip. That means having the right gear | | | | them unnecessary. |
| ready when you need it. It also means having | | | | Sharpening The Blade |
| that gear in working order for the tasks at hand. | | | | There are two basic steps to correctly sharpening |
| You can own the most expensive hunting knife | | | | a blade. The first is to develop a burr, or, a rough, |
| on the market but if it is not properly sharpened, | | | | ragged edge on the surface of the blade. Once |
| it will be useless. Knife sharpening is one of the | | | | that is created, the blade then needs to be |
| most commonly overlooked aspects of hunting | | | | polished until the edge is smooth. |
| trip preparedness. With just some basic | | | | To develop a burr, first set the angle of the blade |
| sharpening knowledge and a couple of simple | | | | correctly and then grind one side until you have |
| tools, however, any hunter can be sure to have | | | | removed the old edge. Continue grinding until you |
| their knife ready. | | | | can feel the burr with your thumb; it should feel |
| Testing Your Blade | | | | jagged and serrated. Once you have a nice burr |
| A number of simple tests exist to test the | | | | on one side, flip the blade over and raise a burr |
| sharpness of your hunting knife. Some | | | | on the other. Keep in mind that some knives |
| outdoorsmen test a knife's sharpness by shaving | | | | (ceramic and very hard steel primarily) will not |
| a small patch of hair on their arms or hands. This | | | | raise a burr. If you've tried raising a burr on your |
| test is quick and effective but, let's be honest, a | | | | blade without any success, you may have one of |
| little dangerous for a novice. For those not | | | | these kinds. Consult a professional for information |
| confident that they can tell their blade is dull, there | | | | on sharpening these blades. |
| are blade edge testing kits available at through | | | | Once you've raised a burr on your blade take the |
| outdoor equipment retailers. These kits can be | | | | time to put some finishing touches on your knife |
| expensive. | | | | by polishing the blade. There are three basic |
| Experienced hunters can often tell if a blade is dull | | | | polishing strokes you can use to finish the |
| just by looking at it. To visually look for dullness, | | | | sharpening process - on-stroke, off-stroke, or |
| hold the blade with the edge in line with a strong | | | | circular strokes. The off-stroke is the easiest |
| light source and move it back and forth a bit. If | | | | technique for beginners. Begin to grind away the |
| you see a reflection or glint then you have a dull | | | | burr made by the first stone you used. The burr |
| blade. If all else fails, walk into your outdoor goods | | | | should gradually begin to fade. Once it is almost |
| store and ask a professional to help you assess | | | | undetectable, switch to the circular stroke and |
| knife sharpness. | | | | finish grinding off the old scratch pattern. Finish up |
| The Right Tools | | | | by using light strokes to get rid of the remaining |
| Once you have concluded that your knife needs | | | | burr. At this point your blade should be extremely |
| sharpening, you will need to get your hands on | | | | sharp, with no burr and only micro-serrations. |
| the right sharpening equipment. Sharpening stones | | | | Don't be afraid to ask professionals for help. |
| are effective, commonly used, and come in a | | | | Woodworkers and butchers are usually more |
| variety of styles and sizes. When purchasing a | | | | qualified in the art of sharpening than knife |
| stone, look for one made from compounds with a | | | | makers or collectors. Ask one in your area if they |
| relative hardness of 9 or higher. Stones made | | | | can assist you or provide you with some simple |
| from bonded aluminum oxide or silicon carbide | | | | techniques. |
| work very well, as does silicon carbide sandpaper | | | | It is important for all your hunting tools to be in |
| glued to a wooden block or something similar. | | | | prime condition before you go on a trip, and your |
| A sharpening guide is a clamp-like tool that | | | | knife is no exception. With these tools and proper |
| attaches to the blade of the knife and aids in | | | | techniques you can effectively sharpen your knife |
| controlling the angle of the blade. This may be | | | | before or during your trip and not have to worry |
| helpful for notice knife sharpeners because they | | | | about the problems a dull blade can cause. |
| are the only way to guarantee an accurate | | | | |