A Bowie knife presents two principal challenges where sharpening the blade is concerned. First, the blade on these knives is anywhere from 6 to 12 inches long. At the longer extreme, this makes the blade almost as difficult to sharpen as is a short sword. The blade also has a significant curve at the tip, which requires some skill to sharpen correctly.
One starts by determining the angle of the blade. There are various commercial sharpening kits that have angle guides included. If one has never sharpened Bowie knives and other quality blades before, these are a good idea. The sharpening process will scour metal away from the blade at the proper angle, creating a razor-sharp edge.
Many of the high-end all-in-one sharpeners make getting a good edge very easy. There are models large enough to accommodate Bowie knives. Usually, one places the blade in a set of guides that maintain the correct angle between the blade and the abrasive. Some of these devices allow the individual to hold the knife upright during sharpening, which makes the process more comfortable and easier all around.
On a sharpening stone, some people sharpen Bowie knives using a circular motion and others use broad, even strokes along the length of the blade. Provided that one has a stone large enough to accommodate the large blade of a Bowie, either method can work. In the former method, the individual makes circles on the stone as they draw one side of the blade across its length. They repeat the process on the other side until they have an even burr on the knife and then hone the blade to finish it off.
If one opts for an all-in-one system to sharpen one's Bowie knife, some considerations must be made. First, the guides on the all-in-one system must be wide enough to accomodate the thick blade of the Bowie. If not, one may end up sharpening their blade at an improper angle and ruining their knife. The sharpener should also have high-quality abrasives that actually sharpen the blade. The device must remove the metal from the blade evenly and along the correct edge for proper results. - 31499
One starts by determining the angle of the blade. There are various commercial sharpening kits that have angle guides included. If one has never sharpened Bowie knives and other quality blades before, these are a good idea. The sharpening process will scour metal away from the blade at the proper angle, creating a razor-sharp edge.
Many of the high-end all-in-one sharpeners make getting a good edge very easy. There are models large enough to accommodate Bowie knives. Usually, one places the blade in a set of guides that maintain the correct angle between the blade and the abrasive. Some of these devices allow the individual to hold the knife upright during sharpening, which makes the process more comfortable and easier all around.
On a sharpening stone, some people sharpen Bowie knives using a circular motion and others use broad, even strokes along the length of the blade. Provided that one has a stone large enough to accommodate the large blade of a Bowie, either method can work. In the former method, the individual makes circles on the stone as they draw one side of the blade across its length. They repeat the process on the other side until they have an even burr on the knife and then hone the blade to finish it off.
If one opts for an all-in-one system to sharpen one's Bowie knife, some considerations must be made. First, the guides on the all-in-one system must be wide enough to accomodate the thick blade of the Bowie. If not, one may end up sharpening their blade at an improper angle and ruining their knife. The sharpener should also have high-quality abrasives that actually sharpen the blade. The device must remove the metal from the blade evenly and along the correct edge for proper results. - 31499
About the Author:
Dylan Sabot is the owner of an online bowie knives store featuring SOG bowie knives as well as humidors for storage.
