| Sharpening a Bowie knife is much the same as | | | | controlled pattern. The angle at which you hold |
| sharpening any other knife. However, you will | | | | your knife will determine some of how much |
| need to know how to go about the process in | | | | metal is removed, as will the duration of the |
| order to achieve optimal results. What process | | | | sharpening process. If you choose to use a |
| should you follow? | | | | sharpening system, make sure that it offers |
| Actually, you will have some choices to make | | | | several different angles in the guide, so that you |
| before you even get started with the sharpening | | | | can achieve the sharpness and blade shape that's |
| process. What is your first decision? First, you will | | | | right for your knife. |
| need to determine what sort of sharpening | | | | Using an all-in-one system, all you really have to |
| system you want to use. Do you want to use a | | | | do is position the angle guide, and then pull the |
| system that offers you edge guides? On the | | | | knife through the device. Some of these systems |
| other hand, you might prefer to use a simple | | | | rely on grinding your knife in circles, with an |
| whetstone and control the angle of the edge | | | | upright supporting the knife at the proper angle, |
| yourself. This is an important consideration and | | | | though. |
| should not be rushed. | | | | Once you have ground down one side of the |
| First, you'll need to determine what angle the | | | | blade and raised a burr, you will need to flip the |
| blade is currently sharpened at. This is an | | | | knife over and grind the other side. This will raise |
| important consideration, as changing the angle will | | | | a burr all the way down the blade (including the tip |
| have detrimental effects on your sharpening. Most | | | | of the blade). Once the burr has been raised, you |
| sharpening systems (commercial gadgets) have | | | | should use a fine whetstone or a strop to |
| variable angle adjustments (at least a couple of | | | | remove the burr and reveal the true edge of the |
| different angles). | | | | blade. Further stropping or honing will polish the |
| The process of sharpening a knife is all about | | | | edges, as well. |
| removing metal from the blade, but doing so in a | | | | |