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Another endorsement for the Work Sharp. Old Marbles blade
I REALLY need to start taking before pictures of my rescues. As part of a recent acquisition of an estate I ended up with a bunch of "extras" as gifts from the gentleman's brother for helping the family with their pressing needs after his sudden passing. As they are emptying the house getting it ready to be sold I got to go through his tool bench and "outdoor" stuff and basically take anything I wanted.
So on his bench was this ooooooold USA made Marbles original knife. I'm sure this dates back from the 50s or even earlier. Anyway the steel on these old knives is awesome and they deserve a long life of good use. He obviously used this as a utility knife and it was definitely sharpened with files and such so the edge was just a mess of odd angles, nicks and tool marks.
Before I got my Work Sharp this knife would have ended up in the trash bin because of the crazy amount of work necessary to bring it back to usable life. Well 10 minutes with the appropriate belts and a final touchup with a super fine ceramic rod and now it shaves arm hair with a 23 degree angle edge which is great for a field working knife.
Now that I know the edge is good I'll spend some time cleaning the blade and aging the edge a little so it does not stand out so shinny against the vintage blade. It will be pressed back to service sometime this year.
I LOVE bringing old broken guns and knives back to life...

So on his bench was this ooooooold USA made Marbles original knife. I'm sure this dates back from the 50s or even earlier. Anyway the steel on these old knives is awesome and they deserve a long life of good use. He obviously used this as a utility knife and it was definitely sharpened with files and such so the edge was just a mess of odd angles, nicks and tool marks.
Before I got my Work Sharp this knife would have ended up in the trash bin because of the crazy amount of work necessary to bring it back to usable life. Well 10 minutes with the appropriate belts and a final touchup with a super fine ceramic rod and now it shaves arm hair with a 23 degree angle edge which is great for a field working knife.
Now that I know the edge is good I'll spend some time cleaning the blade and aging the edge a little so it does not stand out so shinny against the vintage blade. It will be pressed back to service sometime this year.
I LOVE bringing old broken guns and knives back to life...

Replies
I got too excited when I got mine and sharpened every knife I could find. Haven't had to sharpen a knife in 6 months...
Yeah right?!?
But right now I’m kicking myself in the ass for all the good knives I passed up on in antique shops and flea markets because I thought they were to far gone to restore to usable status.
I used to know an old guy was a meat cutter. He told me once that the old steel holds an edge better than new knives. Something about the carbon content. I don't know but it was his trade and Ive found out thar sometimes old guys know things.
"The Un-Tactical"
Once again, thanks to Knitepoet. I'd have never tried it were it not for his endorsement.
Even then, I was hesitant, but what the heck. If I ruined 1 knife I'd not be out more than 1 what tossaway knife/stone cost.
He knew what he was talking about. I'm not a novice at knife sharpening myself, but when KP speaks to the subject, you'd be well advised to listen.
Mike
N454casull
Actually I do that for friends all the time. Sharpening a knife is like therapy. Kind of like reloading! It clears the mind and soothes the soul.
I also agree with the angle for the cleaver, assuming it's a heavy meat cleaver. I have a Chinese cleaver with a relatively light blade (they are basically big knives) and that gets sharpened at an 18 degree angle like most of my kitchen knives.
Here you go, sorry. I normally go just a hair thinner than these guys recommend but they are good starting points.
Old trick few folks know. To return the old knife patina just cut into some strawberries. The acid will darken carbon blades nicely. Frozen ones will work as well at fresh. Just rub the juice all over the blade.
Touched up the edge with the ultra fine ceramic rod and I can now do surgery with this blade.
-Mikhail Kalashnikov
"Nothing is safe from stupid." - Zee