| There are many ways to sharpen a knife. This | | | | top to the bottom of the steel on every stroke |
| article will show you one of the basic methods of | | | | to keep the blade uncurling evenly. If you do not |
| knife sharpening. All blades are different and the | | | | do this, your blade will not sharpen at all. As you |
| steel used in making the knife will effect how it | | | | practice this movement, begin to apply more |
| sharpens and maintains an edge. | | | | pressure to every stroke. You should never use a |
| Most knives grow dull from regular use rather | | | | lot of force; just enough to give the knife a firm |
| quickly. The best way to freshen up a sharp blade | | | | push against the steel which you will hold steady |
| is to use sharpening steel. You are not actually | | | | in the opposite hand. Try to consistently use the |
| sharpening the blade but just straitening it. Blades | | | | same stroke without altering the angle. This will |
| tend to curl a little after extended use. This curling | | | | take some practice but you'll get the hang of it |
| effect is not visible to the eye but can be noticed | | | | fairly quickly. Continue to do this movement |
| by feeling the blade (Take caution when running | | | | repeatedly. Once you get the hang of it you can |
| your finger against the blade as a cut won't be a | | | | steel sharpen a knife very rapidly. It does not |
| pleasant experience). The idea is to run your | | | | take a lot of time to do this, just some practice |
| thumb across the blade and not with it. A sharp | | | | and coordination. If your knife is not dulled down |
| blade will grip your flesh a bit as you rub it. A | | | | severely, a few hundred strokes should have |
| dulled blade will roll along your thumb. | | | | your knife slicing seamlessly through paper. |
| To use the steel, you should hold the steel with | | | | The next step is quite simple and all you need is a |
| your weak hand and the knife firmly with your | | | | piece of leather. Often times, your sharpening |
| strong hand. Point the steel away from your body | | | | steel comes with a leather sheath which will work |
| as this is the direction in which you will sharpen | | | | perfectly. Take your knife firmly in your strong |
| the knife. | | | | hand at an angle of 30 to 45 degree's. Slide the |
| Begin by placing the knife against the steel at | | | | blade along the leather surface, using the same |
| approximately a 30 to 45 degree angle. The blade | | | | method as with the sharpening stone, about ten |
| should be placed on the steel close the handle. | | | | times per side. This finishing touch will put the |
| Slide the knife down the steel and pull it away | | | | razor sharp edge that you want on your blade. |
| from the steel at the same time. Once you get | | | | This step also removes any metal shavings from |
| the hang of this action, you can increase your | | | | the blade that may still be clinging on. These |
| pace. | | | | excess metal shavings can prevent the knife |
| This begins the process of straightening the curled | | | | from cutting smoothly. Skipping this final step will |
| blade. Your second stroke will be on the opposite | | | | make the blade seem much duller than it actually |
| side of the steel with the opposite side of the | | | | is. |
| blade. Again, with a 30 to 45 degree angle, you | | | | I would suggest putting a touch of lubricant on |
| will move the blade down the steal and pull it | | | | any joints that move if you use a folding knife. |
| away at the same time. | | | | Also, put a little bit onto a rag and wipe it into the |
| Practice this action a few times lightly against the | | | | blade really well. This will prevent oxidation and |
| steel. Remember to alternate the blade from the | | | | corrosion of your blade and keep it like new. |