Customer here, Thanks a million for such a great job, the edge is mirror finish and scary sharp. I couldn't be any more pleased with the quality of your work, not to mention speed of turnaround.
You, sir, are the Bob Ross of sharpening. You keep it simple and explain it so thoroughly but simply that anyone could have confidence in their attempts. This is also like "backwoods therapy"- very calming and soothing to the folks who enjoy implements over fancier things. You could have a side business at this even! Also loved the way you handled the troll! Many thanks, Andrew
100% in agreement with the stropping. Most people sharpen their knife too often when they could have brought the edge back with just stropping alone. I have a couple of water stones for my scandi-grinds but they are seldom used as I can typically bring my edge back with a piece of really fine grit sandpaper glued a piece of plastic as my first strop and a leather belt with a touch of polish as my second. My grandfather taught me that early on when he would sharpen his knife with the edge of his ceramic cup when we were out in the woods for a boil-up. I've stropped a knife on the side of a birch tree as well, anything which has a tad bit of grit really. Good video Kyle, lots of practical advice.
Thanks so much David. I appreciate your sharing of information. :-) I agree with your statements as well. Stropping is a great technique, with very little attention unfortunately!
Don’t underestimate honeing either on ceramic stropping doesn’t always bring the edge back so hone then strop should work if none of those work then sharpen 🤷♂️
That’s my exact knife. Well worth it, and I highly recommend. In fact, I own two of the same exact $220 benchmade knives, so that alone should say a lot. one I use for work, and the other I bought because it was an American made version and my other was already 5 yrs old. Go for it. Slender in the pocket, CA legal - barely, and has never loosened where I had to repair. Cheers mate
I like your channel and am subscribing. Ive been a knife maker for over 40 years and now live in Central Montana where my nearest neighbor is 2 miles away. Love the peace. Your channel demonstrates much of how I see the world in my life now. I spent nearly 30 years in the military, (20 in Special Forces as a medic and Operations NCO). I've traveled the globe and had my fill of mankind and his ability for evil. Here and in your channel, I find joy and peace. Oh, and don't give any thoughts to the trolls. It's your channel. Delete them and move on. Seriously, life really is too short to spend any time on them.
Not sure how I missed your comment until now Jeff, but its a beautiful one. Thank you for taking the time to write it, and thank you for your military service. I am glad you find a little bit of joy and peace in my channel; perhaps a short escape from the evil you speak of. I hope you're doing well Mr. Conti. Have a great day!
Ignore the trolls! I've been hand sharpening woodworking tools on stones for 30 years. I've always been able to get knives 'working' sharp. I've recently added stropping in after watching a couple of sharpening Chanel's (including yours) and am amazed at the difference! You make sharpening look easy too. I picked up my first 940 last week and haven't been without it .....! Keep up the good work
Thanks for sharing your skill with us, Kyle. You're an artisan and it's such a privilege to see you in your element. It's both instructive and relaxing. You have a rare gift. The 940 Osborne is also my grail knife, but they cost $500 in NZ. If I ever win the Lottery, I'll buy us both one. Kia kaha and arohanui (stay strong and big love), from NZ.
Such a great knife. It’s just like a bottle of wine that’s old enough to drink itself, it really shows the quality of the product compared to lesser ones. This knife is an amazing edc knife, light, tough, and cuts well. I use it for simple cutting in and outside the house. I’ve filleted large bluegill with it and been impressed at how good it did, compared to a fillet knife. It’s definitely worth spending up to get one for yourself, it won’t disappoint. I dropped it in the streets of downtown sf, and spent an hour backtracking to find it, lucky me. This knife also got me into knife sharpening as before I just used a homing steel, but knew it would be an insult to the knife to not give it the proper care it needed. This knife is a great gift to oneself or any loved ones, it will be a gift that can last a lifetime. I hope to give this knife to my children if and when that happens, a true heirloom quality knife.
Been watching a lot of bushcraft channels lately which lead me here after searching for more information on knives. Really appreciate what you are sharing. Instead of buying an expensive knife, I think I will get a nice stone and practice my sharpening. Great stuff - Thanks!
There is a video where some guy sharpens a 1 dollar knife to the extreme. At the end, he's able to cut trough a kitchen sponge with one motion! th-cam.com/video/0P6klz6BTek/w-d-xo.html
I never really understood how much stropping refined my edges until really getting into sharpening and abrasives. Sharpened stuff my whole life and thought I knew it all. It wasn’t until I was able to forget all the things I thought I knew and be humble enough to take direction from ppl who know what’s what.....Now I have no arm hair. 😬 Thanks for the time you put into your videos 😉
i have been watching and learning a lot about putting a beautiful edge on whatever i sharpen.You have taught me so much . people give you high dollar knives and axes to put your beautiful edge on them.and with you strapping so much i am seeing you dont know how to do it correctly.lol them trolls are jealous because they cant put the Kyle edge on them .keep up the great videos and the teaching your awesome
When shopping I’m the type of person that will know if I want to buy the items I’m looking at. I saw this folding knife and bought it immediately and was not disappointed.
I've had mine in my pocket since I bought it brand new in 2003, and it's in my pocket as I type this. It's the prototype 940 D2CF version. From what I understand, only 50 were made. I've used the hell out of it. Best pocket knife I've ever had.
Hello from Western Australia. You did an absolutely amazing job, not just with your technique but also explaining the process of sharpening, as you went through the various whetstones and worked the blade until you put a stunning edge back on it. Very nice job. I definitely hope in the time that has passed, you've been able to add a Benchmade 940 to your collection ;) Cheers from Mandurah, Western Australia!
Hello WA from 2023 Sydney, boy what a sucky ride the last few years were. MaoGowan sure convinced a lot of you guys to lock down & stay in your bubble….
This 940-1 knife is so hard to sharpen! My Adamas with Cruwear steel, and my Adira with magnacut steel seem so much easier to sharpen. Ive got a 1000/400 grit diamond stone and a strop, and cant get it razor sharp. What else can i do?
I've been caring my 710 axis for over 20 years it absolutely the best knife I've ever owned. It is like my right hand. If I I've got my pants on its in my pocket. If I don't have it it feels like I don't have my pants on. It has become a piece of me. I fear the day I have to do without it.
Love your videos. Don't worry about the trolls, just ignore them. You made me want to go get a woodstock stone and start sharpening my own knives. Can't wait to try it for myself. It's nice to know I can watch your videos to help me along the way as I'm learning. Thanks!
I bought one of these940 Osbournes after watching a comparison on Blade HQ, where the 940 just ate the other knife. I already have a large collection of knives, that centre around different unusual steels, including CPM 3V, Niolox, Bohler M390, Sleipner, etc, some of which are up around 63 Rockwell, so the S30V wasn't an initial concern for sharpening. Some steels are more difficult to sharpen the harder they get, but surprisingly, some aren't, it really depends on amounts of alloying materials like molybdenum, vanadium, chrome, etc. I would put the S30V in the not too hard to sharpen basket, but what has surprised me is how hard this knife can work, and still maintain it's edge. It's been my EDC since I bought it, and I've found that despite all the other knives I have, this is the one I reach for, even though initially it felt so small and light it was like having a toy in my hand. Prior to buying it, I was using a Spanish Vanadium, Molybdenum folder, which was capable of being just as sharp, and the edge basically lasted me a year at a time, with some stropping as needed, but it was quite difficult to sharpen. The 940 lasts almost as long, I've had it a couple of years and it's only seen a stone once, but it's got to the point where it's difficult to get a really sharp edge by stropping alone. I like all the techniques you show Kyle, you have obviously got a real mastery of the skills needed to get hair popping sharpness out of anything. I agree completely with you about the usefullness of stropping, and I've found that almost any surface can be used to strop if it has some sort of grain to it. I can get a useful upgrade in sharpness on the 940 by stropping on my jeans (wearing them), just having my leg supporting the knife, and straightening up any rolling, or folding of the edge. Obviously there is a limit to how long stropping alone will keep a knife razor sharp. Delete and ignore the trolls, I'm going to keep watching you, just because I enjoy watching someone who enjoys sharpening knives so much. I've always felt that sometimes there is an almost zen like quality to working a blade along the stone. On other days you just need a sharp knife.
I really enjoy Learning how to do stuff from a humble and kind person Thank you PS i have a bunch of old kitchen knifes i hope in the near future you do a video on how to clean up and sharpen Them. Keep up the great work!!
Thanks for making this! I’ve been considering a knife in s30v hearing it was hard to sharpen. I have pretty much the exact same sharpening setup you have and get great results on other steels. You’ve given me confidence it can work. Keep up the good vids!
I just ordered this knife new. Same green handles. Boy was I surprised to see you sharpening this. Should have it in 4 or 5 days. I just sharpened some of my knives too. Lots of hair on my left forearm now needs to grow back. Why do we all do that? Enjoyed the video. I will be checking the edge as soon as it arrives. Thank you and be well.
Good job man. I just bought my Benchmade 940-2 and can't wait to get it sharpened properly. you have good taste in knives. Screw the haters your work speaks for itself.
I too noticed the coarse edge on my 940. I found your video, followed your methods on my stones (I only have 1000/6000 combo), and it is night and day difference. Subscribed!
The 1k/6k is all you will ever need king brand I assume. I invested in coticules, jnats, jasper finish stones. They all work well as the 6k side in retrospect! How ever I use the finishers on my straight razors which is night and day difference. Where 6k isn’t ideal for a razor. You will get a tad more smoother or sharper edges on the natural finishers.
I love this knife so much, I ended up with two of them! Small modification, though. Take out the screw that holds the blade, drop some light duty loctite on it, then put it back in not quite tight. You'll be able to open and close it as quickly as an automatic knife.
I bought one of these a few years back. Love it. Should have picked up a couple of them. Even back then the price was a little steep, but with their current pricing, it is entirely too much for a S30V and aluminum knife.
Hey Kyle, I am the guy that bought the CRKT SPEW off you, I just wanted to say just picked up a 940 while in Florida and I fully enjoyed this video and found it helpful for sharpening my new favourite knife haha, I know it is a bit of an old video but very helpful for dealing with that ugly factory grind. cheers man
I used to hate that bladeshape, but now i seem to be attracted to it. Everybody seems to praise 940, so i might have to see what the fuzz is about. Usually just like autos because..well , autos. Nice work on the sharpening too.
great job on that edge and quick too! I sharpened my 940-2 today but it took me longer than that. I also started on a Naniwa Professional/Chosera 400. Great stone! I finished on a 3000 stone and then stropped. I found it easier to remove the thumb studs before sharpening though.
Nice job, I really don't think you are giving yourself enough credit. I've been working on hand sharpening for over a year now. A little every day. Hard to pick up, it's an art form. Lately I got a heat gun and some white rouge for my strope, truly makes the difference on the final edge quality
i ve learnt a lot of ur sharpening techniques and u hv make it so simple but so effective for a beginner like me kyle...i m a fan..i will always review ur updates for more.thanks a lot
Fantastic! As a straight razor user and sharpener, I give you two thumbs up for going the distance of stopping on an EDC knife. Different steels for different uses, so I wonder if the edge stropping gives you is retained for long after the knife is put to use. The bevel isn't made for getting into the scales of hair. IDK. You've given me the motivation to take my knife blades over to my razor strops to try out though. ☺️
Where do you find that extra wide looks like almost 3 inches wide 400 grit stone ?? Looks like u got it mastered man. I bought me a 940 just like it, same thing factory rough.. now i gotta round up my stone collection.. where is the best place to buy?? Im in N. C.
I've never understood how channels like this get trolled. It's not like you're spouting political rhetoric for goodness sake. Guess some people just lead pathetic lives.
Just found your channel. Your comments abt changing the amount of pressure on the same stone was very helpful. I have seen knives sharpened by only pulling away from the edge. Others sharpen by going with the edge toward the stone. Could you explain? Why or why not?
I always strip for my final polish! Nice work! I have a few 940s all numbered except for one that Benchmade didn't number. After a few complaints they produced a red one that they did number. I have two William Henrys that need sharpening if your interested!
I can vouch for the woodstock 1000/6000 stone. I find that the 1000 is good enough to sharpen most knives, even in dull condition. As for my strop, I charge it with mothers mag aluminum polish which probably is in the 10s of thousands in terms of grit. It leaves a perfect mirror polish and the sharpest edge.
Nice job--I'm a new hand-sharpener with a whetstone, picking up some good tips here. You make eyeballing the approximate 22--25 degree cutting angle look easy...I'm still being very careful with that small part of the overall operation so I don't have to go back and re-cut a brand new angle, each side.
Just came across this vid. He is good, very good at what he does. I sharpen kitchen knives and some other Japanese knives with water stones, too. But it is quite difficult to maintain the proper angle of the edge. Kyle is making it seem so easy to sharpen the hard blade made of S30V steel with those Japanese water stones and in “free-hand” (=not using any “angle-fixing aid”) like that in this vid. But I know for a fact it is not as easy as how he is showing it! The fact that he could put a hair shaving edge like that is the proof that he knows what he is doing and he’s also got the skill.
Excellent stuff mate. I just got my dream knife which is that exact knife, the 940 as a 30th birthday present from my wife. I've had it about a week and still cannot believe it. Literally hasn't left my hand! Where are you based?.. The thought of sending my knife off scares me. But someone with as much love for the 940, and as talented as you is definitely worth it. All the best mate. James
I just read that you're in Canada, which is a little far you send my knife from Australia. Haha But ill keep watching. Maybe I'll get enough of your awesome tips to do it myself. All the best mate. James
That's a pretty awesome gift man! Congrats! I am indeed in Canada as you discovered on your own. :-) Practice with some cheaper knives first, and then give your 940 a go! One benefit is that the 940 has s30v steel, which wears very slow on the stone. That means it's quite forgiving, since you aren't going to make BIG mistakes. You'll have tons of time to correct as you're sharpening
Thank you so much for your reply mate. I'm not sure I'm up for trying on the 940 yet. I'll keep practising with my Tenacious in 8cr13mov and then my delica in vg10. Working up to the 940.. haha If you're ever in AUS we'll have a beer, shoot some rabbits and sharpen some knives!!
Love your comment about straight razors. Not only scary sharp but theirs a big difference between a soft or harsh shaving edge. After learning to sharpen straight razors, knives are a piece of cake. Awesome job. For a nice comment...You're Awesome! :)!
What basic beginner tools would you recommend? I was in the scouts but I just learned the basics with a two sided stone, not the best but it gets a working edge. I currently have a d2 knife that I am working with if that makes a difference.
Just a simply combo stone, with one side somewhere around 800-1000, and the other side somewhere in the range of 3000-6000. That stone will do almost everything you need it too!
There's a lot of debate on whether a toothy edge or a polished edge is better. I love a polished edge but lately I've really started to enjoy a nice 600 grit edge with light stropping over time. I break down several water heater boxes a week, for me personally it seems the toothy edge has much more bite into the cardboard and doesn't tend to get hung up the same way a polished edge does after 5-6 water heater's.
Don’t understand how anyone can troll you. You seem like an artist to me. Also, your personality comes through very well in the videos. Like 1972 woodsman, just feels like talking to a friend.
Good video I love the 940 and I 2 find myself stroping a bit but I have a ? It seems like you are applying a lot of pressure when stroping can you tell me why I’ve been told to use light pressure
It's beautiful man it's definitely one of my favorites as well and I will never be able to own a Benchmade I don't have that kind of money and if I could ever afford one it would definitely be that one they're my two favorite colors green and purple
Love your videos ! I went and bought a sharp pebble combo stone as my first whetstone and have had good results. My question after this video was when I see u using the strop you seem to have a very steep angle compared to the stone. Is that on purpose? My strop at the moment is an old leather belt but it definitely makes a difference. Thanks for the channel!
Hey bud,,, im a viewer from east Tennessee, dont pay atrention to the trolls ( theyre jealous )... Im learning a lot from your videos... This is my first comment... I wanted to tell you thanx for the knowledge, and i enjoy your videos !
Every guy should know how to sharpen a knife.i taught my self how to do it on a basic stone via TH-cam etc but now I use the lansky deluxe sharpening system for my pocket knives and the stones on the bigger fixed blades.the lansky system was like 35 bucks and it does an amazing job for what it cost .I really want the 940 to .it's like a classy switch blade that can be a edc .I'm gonna have to sale some blades tho.i have never payed over 100 bucks for a knife .in fact I only have 2 knives that were 100 bucks.they are Spyderco knives.most of my knives are buck and case knives
I had this knife. Was so excited when I finally got it. Turns out, I didn’t like using it at all!!! S30v isn’t practical when you tear up the edge like crazy.
If you could purchase one EDC knife and only have one? what knife would that be? I have been looking for an heirloom "quality (al mar, Benchmade etc... caliber knife, $$$ isn't an issue)" EDC knife as I am new into knives. My first purchase was a Al Mar 2000 mini SERE but I ended up not liking the g10 blade and it's too small. I have come across Benchmade and I am doing research on my next knife to purchase. I saw your comment and I think you may be able to help point me in the right direction. Since you feel s30V is not practical, what blade steel, specific knife, or brands of knives my to research that could serve the purpose of both EDC tasks and durable enough to defend myself.
Steven depends on how much you are willing to spend. I would look into a micro tech ultra tech otf, or any micro tech knife for that matter. The internet will try to convince you that micro tech out the fronts are weak in design but I can tell you that isn’t the case. I had one and abused the shit out of it for a good 2 and a half years before losing it. Never broke. Always took a fine edge. When it comes to steel, heat treat and blade geometrics are really what makes the blade. The problem with the 940 is it’s geometry isn’t conducive to quick touch ups to the edge. Add that to s30v steel and field touch ups are a nightmare. Couldn’t get it sharp again without heavy abrasives and perfectly accurate sharpening equipment. When it comes to geometry and heat treat, buck knives are my top pick, even though they use 420 hc . Buck makes knives with s30v that are a joy to use due to the geometry and slightly less hard heat treat then benchmades s30v.
I would check out the buck custom shop online. If you are more into tactical sort of things, benchmade, spyderco, and micro tech are all really good. I’ve had a few lemon bench mades so beware of that. Quality control is lacking a bit on benchmades part considering their prices. Also Chris reeves knives are definitely something to look into if you want something heirloom quality. You may even like the 940. A lot of people do. It just wasn’t right for my needs. I’m a plumber and I cut a lot of things at work, and I’ve yet to find a steel that doesn’t get dull in a week. That’s why super hard steel isn’t always the best option.
Steven one more note. I used to want one knife for everything. A knife to be my companion. I think that mentality is common to those of us that are new to the knife market. I can tell you that some of the best knives I’ve used hardly cost me a penny, and that some really expensive knives I’ve used weren’t what they were made out to be. What people say in TH-cam reviews may not accurately describe the knifes real world functionality. Most folding knives will be more than adequate for self defense and small daily cutting tasks. However, You may soon discover that your needs differ from time to time, and there really is no perfect knife for everything. Sounds like what you may want is a good small fixed blade with sentimental value. Look into martini too, made in Finland, decent prices, quality finish. Cheers. Thanks for giving me something to rant about!
how much do you focus on the angles when stropping and stuff ? do you get it just right from experience ? or is it not really that important to get it at the perfect angle 100% of the swipes ?
The 940 like a lot of other s30 blades are made for work/edc and to stand up wear, s30 wears down from a more toothy edge or coarse grind down to almost a micro saw blade giving you more longevity in cutting. From a polished or highly mirrored edge it will wear down more flat.
F... the trolls!! If you ever get the chance to get your hands on a CPM20CV version of the 940 go for it. Those are even better. I have 5 different versions now and I just love them. With the Going Gear and Knifeworks exclusives in CPM20CV as favorites for the moment.
Hi dutchknifeguy. When you say the 20cv is the best benchmade 940, are you including s90v from the 940-1? If so, what are your thoughts between the two. I have had s90v and like its cutting. I cant get as fine of an edge as i can with other steels though. I just got the 20cv a few days ago.
The term simple but effective springs to mind in relation to your approach and obviously topped of with obviously skill and knowledge of a high standard in the art of sharpening...😀😀 Nice honest comment as requested.
Nice edge man!! I’m very impressed. I have a benchmade 531 coming in the mail, but have been using a SOG Kiku assisted folder for the past year and a half. Also, great TH-cam video! It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a video as well put together as this one!! Keep it up!
I have built several straps. By the way I very much enjoyed your video. Now that I'm somewhat proficient using a strop I have noticed that my Razor edges do not last very long. I like the fact that I can shave hair with them but I need something more substantial for harder use. I am wondering if a toothier Edge is might be better for an EDC knife. I would very much like to know what your thoughts are on this.
I’m sure someone’s said it already but the reason they use such a coarse edge is because it cuts longer thank a high grit edge. It makes a lot of little points that cut even if it’s not super sharp like microscopic serrations or a very very small saw
Hi! I have always manage to hold my fishing or hunting puukko on somekind sharpness what has satisfy me. I try to grow up with my sharpen skill and that´s why I found your videos. Thanks a lot of your sharing and greetings from Finland. PS. They make those your so beloved Mora knives in neighboring country Sweden. ;)
I’ve owned it twice... probably going to buy it again soon. But I wish they had more blade steel options. For another $100 you can get s90v but if this knife were produced be spyderco for 20 solid years straight you would see it in too many different blade steels, not just two. I would own one in 3v and one in zdp -189 and one in m390 and one Rex-121... 20 years and currently the axis lock patent is expired so it seems like I’m overpaying so s30v which was available 20 years ago. There are tons of newer steels on the market. Hogue already makes a better griptilian than benchmade. That’s the only reason why I’m holding off on the 940 is because someone else is about to do it better. And still im going to end up owning another 940... just wish there were more options.
Is it possible to sharpen a knife just using the 1000/6000 Woodstock stone? I know very little about sharpening knives, but guessing that using the finer grit would work. but take longer.
I’ve been sharpening knives for over 15 years. Best advice I could give you is to just practice with some old knives that you don’t care about. Work on finding the right angle and then after that, just slow and steady. Patience is key
Just practice is all u need. I've been doing it for a couple yrs and once u are able to keep a consistent angle it becomes much easier. Kyle's videos are helpful as well. The biggest thing for me is spending the right amount of time on each stone. I tend to want to move on to quickly. Just be patient, practice and gain some knowledge where u can. Good luck, it's a great hobby to learn
Just curious why do you not recommend stropping a mora? I do it with mine and I use the same stone you do. I think it gets a better edge with stropping. Just curious why you don't recommend it
I think you’re doing a great job, I’m really not a very good sharpener. That being said I’m learning, very nice to watch a pro. Keep up the fine sharpening Brother
Wondering, does having the much finer edge make the edge that much more likely to dull quickly? Just pondering as to if that's partially why the blades tend to come with a coarser edge from factory that perhaps it would act like a ridiculously sharp saw with many super fine teeth and thereby be less likely to loose an edge or is it more true that having the smoother finer edge somehow holds up better? Thanks for the video btw.
Hey Kyle, first off all, i wanted to say i really appreciate you sharing all these videos. I have a question for sharpening a knife. I‘m using a 400/600 grid diamond stone and a 1000/6000 grid whetstone. With the diamond stone i get a decent sharp edge, but its fairly rough and uneven. But the edge seems to get more and more dull the finer the grid gets with the whetstones. So i can’t get it that sharp i want i to be. I don‘t want to use the diamonds that much, cuz they are quite aggressive on the steel. btw the knife is a Benchmade Valet with M390 steel. Any advice? Greetings from Germany
Your customer does know he can send the knife back to Benchmade for it to be resharpened? I have a friend how just requested a different knife bevel grind and said Benchmade was happy to accommodate him. Although I totally agree sharpening a knife by hand and seeing that razor edge is SOOOO satisfying!
![Stone Sharpening a Damaged Benchmade 940! - [SHADOW TECHNIQUE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ma5ynBsP69g/mqdefault.jpg)
![Stone Sharpening a Damaged Benchmade 940! - [SHADOW TECHNIQUE]](/img/tr.png)
![ปฏิเสธไม่ไหว (Crush on you) - LIPTA feat. No One Else [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/NBw1jF342vw/mqdefault.jpg)
Customer here, Thanks a million for such a great job, the edge is mirror finish and scary sharp. I couldn't be any more pleased with the quality of your work, not to mention speed of turnaround.
L
You, sir, are the Bob Ross of sharpening. You keep it simple and explain it so thoroughly but simply that anyone could have confidence in their attempts.
This is also like "backwoods therapy"- very calming and soothing to the folks who enjoy implements over fancier things. You could have a side business at this even!
Also loved the way you handled the troll!
Many thanks,
Andrew
Thanks Andrew! Much appreciated!
Bob Ross of sharpening is accurate 😂
100% in agreement with the stropping. Most people sharpen their knife too often when they could have brought the edge back with just stropping alone. I have a couple of water stones for my scandi-grinds but they are seldom used as I can typically bring my edge back with a piece of really fine grit sandpaper glued a piece of plastic as my first strop and a leather belt with a touch of polish as my second. My grandfather taught me that early on when he would sharpen his knife with the edge of his ceramic cup when we were out in the woods for a boil-up. I've stropped a knife on the side of a birch tree as well, anything which has a tad bit of grit really. Good video Kyle, lots of practical advice.
Thanks so much David. I appreciate your sharing of information. :-) I agree with your statements as well. Stropping is a great technique, with very little attention unfortunately!
Don’t underestimate honeing either on ceramic stropping doesn’t always bring the edge back so hone then strop should work if none of those work then sharpen 🤷♂️
That’s my exact knife. Well worth it, and I highly recommend. In fact, I own two of the same exact $220 benchmade knives, so that alone should say a lot. one I use for work, and the other I bought because it was an American made version and my other was already 5 yrs old. Go for it. Slender in the pocket, CA legal - barely, and has never loosened where I had to repair. Cheers mate
Wow you really take the spirit of pride in your work. The world needs more like you.
Idiots will say anything, especially when they’re anonymous. It appears that your results speak for themselves.
Thanks for the detailed video.
I like your channel and am subscribing. Ive been a knife maker for over 40 years and now live in Central Montana where my nearest neighbor is 2 miles away. Love the peace. Your channel demonstrates much of how I see the world in my life now. I spent nearly 30 years in the military, (20 in Special Forces as a medic and Operations NCO). I've traveled the globe and had my fill of mankind and his ability for evil. Here and in your channel, I find joy and peace. Oh, and don't give any thoughts to the trolls. It's your channel. Delete them and move on. Seriously, life really is too short to spend any time on them.
Not sure how I missed your comment until now Jeff, but its a beautiful one. Thank you for taking the time to write it, and thank you for your military service. I am glad you find a little bit of joy and peace in my channel; perhaps a short escape from the evil you speak of. I hope you're doing well Mr. Conti. Have a great day!
Love your reply. You deserve all the joy and peace that a human can enjoy. Thank you, sir.
Amen regarding the trolls! Thank you from my heart for your service. Blessings
Ignore the trolls! I've been hand sharpening woodworking tools on stones for 30 years. I've always been able to get knives 'working' sharp. I've recently added stropping in after watching a couple of sharpening Chanel's (including yours) and am amazed at the difference! You make sharpening look easy too. I picked up my first 940 last week and haven't been without it .....! Keep up the good work
Thanks for sharing your skill with us, Kyle. You're an artisan and it's such a privilege to see you in your element. It's both instructive and relaxing. You have a rare gift. The 940 Osborne is also my grail knife, but they cost $500 in NZ. If I ever win the Lottery, I'll buy us both one. Kia kaha and arohanui (stay strong and big love), from NZ.
Such a great knife. It’s just like a bottle of wine that’s old enough to drink itself, it really shows the quality of the product compared to lesser ones. This knife is an amazing edc knife, light, tough, and cuts well. I use it for simple cutting in and outside the house. I’ve filleted large bluegill with it and been impressed at how good it did, compared to a fillet knife. It’s definitely worth spending up to get one for yourself, it won’t disappoint. I dropped it in the streets of downtown sf, and spent an hour backtracking to find it, lucky me. This knife also got me into knife sharpening as before I just used a homing steel, but knew it would be an insult to the knife to not give it the proper care it needed. This knife is a great gift to oneself or any loved ones, it will be a gift that can last a lifetime. I hope to give this knife to my children if and when that happens, a true heirloom quality knife.
Been watching a lot of bushcraft channels lately which lead me here after searching for more information on knives. Really appreciate what you are sharing. Instead of buying an expensive knife, I think I will get a nice stone and practice my sharpening. Great stuff - Thanks!
I think that's a great idea Simon! Good luck in your learning!
There is a video where some guy sharpens a 1 dollar knife to the extreme. At the end, he's able to cut trough a kitchen sponge with one motion! th-cam.com/video/0P6klz6BTek/w-d-xo.html
I never really understood how much stropping refined my edges until really getting into sharpening and abrasives. Sharpened stuff my whole life and thought I knew it all. It wasn’t until I was able to forget all the things I thought I knew and be humble enough to take direction from ppl who know what’s what.....Now I have no arm hair. 😬
Thanks for the time you put into your videos 😉
i have been watching and learning a lot about putting a beautiful edge on whatever i sharpen.You have taught me so much . people give you high dollar knives and axes to put your beautiful edge on them.and with you strapping so much i am seeing you dont know how to do it correctly.lol them trolls are jealous because they cant put the Kyle edge on them .keep up the great videos and the teaching your awesome
When shopping I’m the type of person that will know if I want to buy the items I’m looking at. I saw this folding knife and bought it immediately and was not disappointed.
Well I've found my new channel to watch obsessively. I've been wanting to learn how to maintain my knives and thus seems like a good starting point
I've had mine in my pocket since I bought it brand new in 2003, and it's in my pocket as I type this. It's the prototype 940 D2CF version. From what I understand, only 50 were made. I've used the hell out of it. Best pocket knife I've ever had.
Hello from Western Australia. You did an absolutely amazing job, not just with your technique but also explaining the process of sharpening, as you went through the various whetstones and worked the blade until you put a stunning edge back on it. Very nice job. I definitely hope in the time that has passed, you've been able to add a Benchmade 940 to your collection ;) Cheers from Mandurah, Western Australia!
I certainly do own my own Benchmade 940 now! I'm glad you liked the video! :-D
Hello WA from 2023 Sydney, boy what a sucky ride the last few years were. MaoGowan sure convinced a lot of you guys to lock down & stay in your bubble….
I own the Benchmade 9400 auto Osborne edition of that knife, and it's my favorite knife I've ever used. It's a knife that's family-heirloom quality.
To be perfectly honest... anyone who has anything negative to say about your techniques are ignorant fools. Awesome job man
This 940-1 knife is so hard to sharpen! My Adamas with Cruwear steel, and my Adira with magnacut steel seem so much easier to sharpen. Ive got a 1000/400 grit diamond stone and a strop, and cant get it razor sharp. What else can i do?
I have stropped some of my knives 10 times that much and it has never created an issue. Just polishes the edge up nice and pretty
Same here Eric!
I've been caring my 710 axis for over 20 years it absolutely the best knife I've ever owned. It is like my right hand. If I I've got my pants on its in my pocket. If I don't have it it feels like I don't have my pants on. It has become a piece of me. I fear the day I have to do without it.
Love your videos. Don't worry about the trolls, just ignore them. You made me want to go get a woodstock stone and start sharpening my own knives. Can't wait to try it for myself. It's nice to know I can watch your videos to help me along the way as I'm learning. Thanks!
Thanks so much Dane!
I bought one of these940 Osbournes after watching a comparison on Blade HQ, where the 940 just ate the other knife. I already have a large collection of knives, that centre around different unusual steels, including CPM 3V, Niolox, Bohler M390, Sleipner, etc, some of which are up around 63 Rockwell, so the S30V wasn't an initial concern for sharpening. Some steels are more difficult to sharpen the harder they get, but surprisingly, some aren't, it really depends on amounts of alloying materials like molybdenum, vanadium, chrome, etc. I would put the S30V in the not too hard to sharpen basket, but what has surprised me is how hard this knife can work, and still maintain it's edge. It's been my EDC since I bought it, and I've found that despite all the other knives I have, this is the one I reach for, even though initially it felt so small and light it was like having a toy in my hand. Prior to buying it, I was using a Spanish Vanadium, Molybdenum folder, which was capable of being just as sharp, and the edge basically lasted me a year at a time, with some stropping as needed, but it was quite difficult to sharpen. The 940 lasts almost as long, I've had it a couple of years and it's only seen a stone once, but it's got to the point where it's difficult to get a really sharp edge by stropping alone. I like all the techniques you show Kyle, you have obviously got a real mastery of the skills needed to get hair popping sharpness out of anything. I agree completely with you about the usefullness of stropping, and I've found that almost any surface can be used to strop if it has some sort of grain to it. I can get a useful upgrade in sharpness on the 940 by stropping on my jeans (wearing them), just having my leg supporting the knife, and straightening up any rolling, or folding of the edge. Obviously there is a limit to how long stropping alone will keep a knife razor sharp. Delete and ignore the trolls, I'm going to keep watching you, just because I enjoy watching someone who enjoys sharpening knives so much. I've always felt that sometimes there is an almost zen like quality to working a blade along the stone. On other days you just need a sharp knife.
I really enjoy Learning how to do stuff from a humble and kind person Thank you PS i have a bunch of old kitchen knifes i hope in the near future you do a video on how to clean up and sharpen Them. Keep up the great work!!
Thank you Phillip! I appreciate the kind words. Anytime you want to talk business, just email me :-)
Thanks for making this! I’ve been considering a knife in s30v hearing it was hard to sharpen. I have pretty much the exact same sharpening setup you have and get great results on other steels. You’ve given me confidence it can work. Keep up the good vids!
love your content man it realy shows that you care about what you do. there is just something so relaxing about sharpening a knife.
I just ordered this knife new. Same green handles. Boy was I surprised to see you sharpening this. Should have it in 4 or 5 days. I just sharpened some of my knives too. Lots of hair on my left forearm now needs to grow back. Why do we all do that? Enjoyed the video. I will be checking the edge as soon as it arrives. Thank you and be well.
Love your technique, as a toolmaker I can really appreciate your muscle control and finesse.
It was a true joy to watch you work I love to sharpen knives also and it is something that you can't describe to people who don't enjoy doing it
Good job man. I just bought my Benchmade 940-2 and can't wait to get it sharpened properly. you have good taste in knives.
Screw the haters your work speaks for itself.
I too noticed the coarse edge on my 940. I found your video, followed your methods on my stones (I only have 1000/6000 combo), and it is night and day difference. Subscribed!
The 1k/6k is all you will ever need king brand I assume. I invested in coticules, jnats, jasper finish stones. They all work well as the 6k side in retrospect! How ever I use the finishers on my straight razors which is night and day difference. Where 6k isn’t ideal for a razor. You will get a tad more smoother or sharper edges on the natural finishers.
Kyle, you just cost me a bunch of money. I bought one a few days ago....so glad I did. This is an unbelievable edc. Thanks
I love this knife so much, I ended up with two of them!
Small modification, though. Take out the screw that holds the blade, drop some light duty loctite on it, then put it back in not quite tight. You'll be able to open and close it as quickly as an automatic knife.
I bought one of these a few years back. Love it. Should have picked up a couple of them. Even back then the price was a little steep, but with their current pricing, it is entirely too much for a S30V and aluminum knife.
Hey Kyle, I am the guy that bought the CRKT SPEW off you, I just wanted to say just picked up a 940 while in Florida and I fully enjoyed this video and found it helpful for sharpening my new favourite knife haha, I know it is a bit of an old video but very helpful for dealing with that ugly factory grind. cheers man
haha awesome Joseph! Hope the SPEW is doing well!
Nicely done. The Benchmade 940 is my next purchase, just have to do a little saving first. Enjoyed the video.
I used to hate that bladeshape, but now i seem to be attracted to it. Everybody seems to praise 940, so i might have to see what the fuzz is about. Usually just like autos because..well , autos. Nice work on the sharpening too.
great job on that edge and quick too! I sharpened my 940-2 today but it took me longer than that. I also started on a Naniwa Professional/Chosera 400. Great stone! I finished on a 3000 stone and then stropped. I found it easier to remove the thumb studs before sharpening though.
Nice job, I really don't think you are giving yourself enough credit. I've been working on hand sharpening for over a year now. A little every day. Hard to pick up, it's an art form. Lately I got a heat gun and some white rouge for my strope, truly makes the difference on the final edge quality
i ve learnt a lot of ur sharpening techniques and u hv make it so simple but so effective for a beginner like me kyle...i m a fan..i will always review ur updates for more.thanks a lot
That's awesome, Mat! Thanks so much man. Glad I could help!
@@kyle_noseworthy thanks 2 u kyle.
Fantastic! As a straight razor user and sharpener, I give you two thumbs up for going the distance of stopping on an EDC knife. Different steels for different uses, so I wonder if the edge stropping gives you is retained for long after the knife is put to use. The bevel isn't made for getting into the scales of hair. IDK. You've given me the motivation to take my knife blades over to my razor strops to try out though. ☺️
Haters are gonna hate. Just block em, and keep doing what you do!
I have been watching several of your videos today. You are great! I have learned a lot form you today! Thank you!
Are you using just water to lubricate the stones? How do you care/maintenance your stones?
Yes, these are water stones! Check out some more of my sharpening content and videos on stone care!
Where do you find that extra wide looks like almost 3 inches wide 400 grit stone ?? Looks like u got it mastered man. I bought me a 940 just like it, same thing factory rough.. now i gotta round up my stone collection.. where is the best place to buy?? Im in N. C.
Great vids! I'm learning and getting better but I'm always in a hurry! Thank you for taking the time to teach us.
Nice work! I also think the 940 is one of the best knives ever produced.
I've never understood how channels like this get trolled. It's not like you're spouting political rhetoric for goodness sake. Guess some people just lead pathetic lives.
Case in point.
Result's are all that matter... Well done! I use a guided system your highly skilled with the free hand.
Great video and im with you on the knife its my grail to.enjoy the heck out of it mate.atb paddy👍🍀
Thank you for your sharpening videos and tutorials. You are very talented!
Just found your channel. Your comments abt changing the amount of pressure on the same stone was very helpful. I have seen knives sharpened by only pulling away from the edge. Others sharpen by going with the edge toward the stone. Could you explain? Why or why not?
I always strip for my final polish! Nice work! I have a few 940s all numbered except for one that Benchmade didn't number. After a few complaints they produced a red one that they did number. I have two William Henrys that need sharpening if your interested!
You're good! And you make it look so easy
Bravo my friend, awesome job and you have a talent.
Don't mind the trolls Kyle. You know what you're at and most of us know that. Keep up the good work.
Chad Morgan not with that nagura!
I can vouch for the woodstock 1000/6000 stone. I find that the 1000 is good enough to sharpen most knives, even in dull condition. As for my strop, I charge it with mothers mag aluminum polish which probably is in the 10s of thousands in terms of grit. It leaves a perfect mirror polish and the sharpest edge.
Nice job--I'm a new hand-sharpener with a whetstone, picking up some good tips here. You make eyeballing the approximate 22--25 degree cutting angle look easy...I'm still being very careful with that small part of the overall operation so I don't have to go back and re-cut a brand new angle, each side.
Just came across this vid. He is good, very good at what he does.
I sharpen kitchen knives and some other Japanese knives with water stones, too. But it is quite difficult to maintain the proper angle of the edge. Kyle is making it seem so easy to sharpen the hard blade made of S30V steel with those Japanese water stones and in “free-hand” (=not using any “angle-fixing aid”) like that in this vid. But I know for a fact it is not as easy as how he is showing it! The fact that he could put a hair shaving edge like that is the proof that he knows what he is doing and he’s also got the skill.
Excellent stuff mate.
I just got my dream knife which is that exact knife, the 940 as a 30th birthday present from my wife. I've had it about a week and still cannot believe it. Literally hasn't left my hand! Where are you based?..
The thought of sending my knife off scares me. But someone with as much love for the 940, and as talented as you is definitely worth it.
All the best mate.
James
I just read that you're in Canada, which is a little far you send my knife from Australia. Haha
But ill keep watching. Maybe I'll get enough of your awesome tips to do it myself.
All the best mate.
James
That's a pretty awesome gift man! Congrats!
I am indeed in Canada as you discovered on your own. :-) Practice with some cheaper knives first, and then give your 940 a go! One benefit is that the 940 has s30v steel, which wears very slow on the stone. That means it's quite forgiving, since you aren't going to make BIG mistakes. You'll have tons of time to correct as you're sharpening
Thank you so much for your reply mate. I'm not sure I'm up for trying on the 940 yet. I'll keep practising with my Tenacious in 8cr13mov and then my delica in vg10. Working up to the 940.. haha
If you're ever in AUS we'll have a beer, shoot some rabbits and sharpen some knives!!
Love your comment about straight razors. Not only scary sharp but theirs a big difference between a soft or harsh shaving edge. After learning to sharpen straight razors, knives are a piece of cake. Awesome job. For a nice comment...You're Awesome! :)!
Looking forward to sending you all of my knives... The Buck, Case and large Damascus hunting knife we have been discussing. Awesome video man.
What basic beginner tools would you recommend? I was in the scouts but I just learned the basics with a two sided stone, not the best but it gets a working edge. I currently have a d2 knife that I am working with if that makes a difference.
Just a simply combo stone, with one side somewhere around 800-1000, and the other side somewhere in the range of 3000-6000. That stone will do almost everything you need it too!
There's a lot of debate on whether a toothy edge or a polished edge is better. I love a polished edge but lately I've really started to enjoy a nice 600 grit edge with light stropping over time. I break down several water heater boxes a week, for me personally it seems the toothy edge has much more bite into the cardboard and doesn't tend to get hung up the same way a polished edge does after 5-6 water heater's.
i ve been watching this video over n over again without regret it🤭😆 great feeling and so entertained.good job kyle
Don’t understand how anyone can troll you. You seem like an artist to me. Also, your personality comes through very well in the videos. Like 1972 woodsman, just feels like talking to a friend.
thank you very much Thomas!
Good video I love the 940 and I 2 find myself stroping a bit but I have a ? It seems like you are applying a lot of pressure when stroping can you tell me why I’ve been told to use light pressure
It's beautiful man it's definitely one of my favorites as well and I will never be able to own a Benchmade I don't have that kind of money and if I could ever afford one it would definitely be that one they're my two favorite colors green and purple
They're pretty cool knives! Expensive!
ONETIME OUTDOORS Dj Rayner It's a lifetime knife. You can't afford not to own one! Splurge be good to yourself life is short.
Larry Fairbanks I totally understand that but right now I can barely afford to put food on the table
Love your videos ! I went and bought a sharp pebble combo stone as my first whetstone and have had good results. My question after this video was when I see u using the strop you seem to have a very steep angle compared to the stone. Is that on purpose? My strop at the moment is an old leather belt but it definitely makes a difference. Thanks for the channel!
lots of folks bash S30V, but you seem to do just fine with it.
Hey bud,,, im a viewer from east Tennessee, dont pay atrention to the trolls ( theyre jealous )... Im learning a lot from your videos... This is my first comment... I wanted to tell you thanx for the knowledge, and i enjoy your videos !
Every guy should know how to sharpen a knife.i taught my self how to do it on a basic stone via TH-cam etc but now I use the lansky deluxe sharpening system for my pocket knives and the stones on the bigger fixed blades.the lansky system was like 35 bucks and it does an amazing job for what it cost
.I really want the 940 to .it's like a classy switch blade that can be a edc .I'm gonna have to sale some blades tho.i have never payed over 100 bucks for a knife .in fact I only have 2 knives that were 100 bucks.they are Spyderco knives.most of my knives are buck and case knives
Your free hand sharpening skills are very impressive.
I can't sharpen to save my life.
Thanks Eugene! Lots of practice and dedication to the craft
I had this knife. Was so excited when I finally got it. Turns out, I didn’t like using it at all!!! S30v isn’t practical when you tear up the edge like crazy.
If you could purchase one EDC knife and only have one? what knife would that be? I have been looking for an heirloom "quality (al mar, Benchmade etc... caliber knife, $$$ isn't an issue)" EDC knife as I am new into knives. My first purchase was a Al Mar 2000 mini SERE but I ended up not liking the g10 blade and it's too small. I have come across Benchmade and I am doing research on my next knife to purchase. I saw your comment and I think you may be able to help point me in the right direction. Since you feel s30V is not practical, what blade steel, specific knife, or brands of knives my to research that could serve the purpose of both EDC tasks and durable enough to defend myself.
Steven depends on how much you are willing to spend. I would look into a micro tech ultra tech otf, or any micro tech knife for that matter. The internet will try to convince you that micro tech out the fronts are weak in design but I can tell you that isn’t the case. I had one and abused the shit out of it for a good 2 and a half years before losing it. Never broke. Always took a fine edge. When it comes to steel, heat treat and blade geometrics are really what makes the blade. The problem with the 940 is it’s geometry isn’t conducive to quick touch ups to the edge. Add that to s30v steel and field touch ups are a nightmare. Couldn’t get it sharp again without heavy abrasives and perfectly accurate sharpening equipment. When it comes to geometry and heat treat, buck knives are my top pick, even though they use 420 hc . Buck makes knives with s30v that are a joy to use due to the geometry and slightly less hard heat treat then benchmades s30v.
I would check out the buck custom shop online. If you are more into tactical sort of things, benchmade, spyderco, and micro tech are all really good. I’ve had a few lemon bench mades so beware of that. Quality control is lacking a bit on benchmades part considering their prices. Also Chris reeves knives are definitely something to look into if you want something heirloom quality. You may even like the 940. A lot of people do. It just wasn’t right for my needs. I’m a plumber and I cut a lot of things at work, and I’ve yet to find a steel that doesn’t get dull in a week. That’s why super hard steel isn’t always the best option.
TheArtShow thanks for your input. I will be looking into all of your recommendations.
Steven one more note. I used to want one knife for everything. A knife to be my companion. I think that mentality is common to those of us that are new to the knife market. I can tell you that some of the best knives I’ve used hardly cost me a penny, and that some really expensive knives I’ve used weren’t what they were made out to be. What people say in TH-cam reviews may not accurately describe the knifes real world functionality. Most folding knives will be more than adequate for self defense and small daily cutting tasks. However, You may soon discover that your needs differ from time to time, and there really is no perfect knife for everything. Sounds like what you may want is a good small fixed blade with sentimental value. Look into martini too, made in Finland, decent prices, quality finish. Cheers. Thanks for giving me something to rant about!
The best EDC ever made. Period.
Love your videos man! Treat yourself to one of these you only live once and you deserve it! Happy New Year!
Would you mind mentioning for those of us who are interested, the brand of stones you recommend & a good source to purchase them here in Canada?
I just bought one of those and I’m really digging it.
Nice job on the video. Gonna give some sharpening a go on my own stuff. Thanks for the inspiration. Aloha!
Nice video! Benchmade definitely got it right with the 940 series. My 940-2 became my dream knife the first time I held it. 🍻
how much do you focus on the angles when stropping and stuff ?
do you get it just right from experience ?
or is it not really that important to get it at the perfect angle 100% of the swipes ?
Great question! Honestly, I don't think it's THAT important. I try my best to hold at an angle that I feel is appropriate.
The 940 like a lot of other s30 blades are made for work/edc and to stand up wear, s30 wears down from a more toothy edge or coarse grind down to almost a micro saw blade giving you more longevity in cutting. From a polished or highly mirrored edge it will wear down more flat.
Danny Danny Danny, all this time I've been making you do things you don't want to do!
F... the trolls!! If you ever get the chance to get your hands on a CPM20CV version of the 940 go for it. Those are even better. I have 5 different versions now and I just love them. With the Going Gear and Knifeworks exclusives in CPM20CV as favorites for the moment.
I'll keep that in mine Mark! For now, out of my price range. We'll see where life takes me! haha thanks for watching :-)
Hi dutchknifeguy. When you say the 20cv is the best benchmade 940, are you including s90v from the 940-1? If so, what are your thoughts between the two. I have had s90v and like its cutting. I cant get as fine of an edge as i can with other steels though. I just got the 20cv a few days ago.
The term simple but effective springs to mind in relation to your approach and obviously topped of with obviously skill and knowledge of a high standard in the art of sharpening...😀😀 Nice honest comment as requested.
Nice edge man!! I’m very impressed. I have a benchmade 531 coming in the mail, but have been using a SOG Kiku assisted folder for the past year and a half. Also, great TH-cam video! It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a video as well put together as this one!! Keep it up!
Thanks Nate!
I have built several straps. By the way I very much enjoyed your video. Now that I'm somewhat proficient using a strop I have noticed that my Razor edges do not last very long. I like the fact that I can shave hair with them but I need something more substantial for harder use. I am wondering if a toothier Edge is might be better for an EDC knife. I would very much like to know what your thoughts are on this.
I've been playing with that concept lately John. I'm experiencing some of the same things as you. I'll play some more before I draw any conclusions
I’m sure someone’s said it already but the reason they use such a coarse edge is because it cuts longer thank a high grit edge. It makes a lot of little points that cut even if it’s not super sharp like microscopic serrations or a very very small saw
I have two fillet knives that will shred newspaper, I guess you have to define sharp and hacksaw sharp.
Hi! I have always manage to hold my fishing or hunting puukko on somekind sharpness what has satisfy me. I try to grow up with my sharpen skill and that´s why I found your videos. Thanks a lot of your sharing and greetings from Finland. PS. They make those your so beloved Mora knives in neighboring country Sweden. ;)
I’ve owned it twice... probably going to buy it again soon. But I wish they had more blade steel options. For another $100 you can get s90v but if this knife were produced be spyderco for 20 solid years straight you would see it in too many different blade steels, not just two. I would own one in 3v and one in zdp -189 and one in m390 and one Rex-121... 20 years and currently the axis lock patent is expired so it seems like I’m overpaying so s30v which was available 20 years ago. There are tons of newer steels on the market. Hogue already makes a better griptilian than benchmade. That’s the only reason why I’m holding off on the 940 is because someone else is about to do it better. And still im going to end up owning another 940... just wish there were more options.
Is it possible to sharpen a knife just using the 1000/6000 Woodstock stone? I know very little about sharpening knives, but guessing that using the finer grit would work. but take longer.
it is absolutely possible Rex! In fact, a 1000/6000 stone is a great setup for almost any sharpening!
You make it look easy. Any recommendations on how to learn this skill set?
I’ve been sharpening knives for over 15 years. Best advice I could give you is to just practice with some old knives that you don’t care about. Work on finding the right angle and then after that, just slow and steady. Patience is key
Just practice is all u need. I've been doing it for a couple yrs and once u are able to keep a consistent angle it becomes much easier. Kyle's videos are helpful as well. The biggest thing for me is spending the right amount of time on each stone. I tend to want to move on to quickly. Just be patient, practice and gain some knowledge where u can. Good luck, it's a great hobby to learn
Just curious why do you not recommend stropping a mora? I do it with mine and I use the same stone you do. I think it gets a better edge with stropping. Just curious why you don't recommend it
I think you’re doing a great job, I’m really not a very good sharpener. That being said I’m learning, very nice to watch a pro. Keep up the fine sharpening Brother
Wondering, does having the much finer edge make the edge that much more likely to dull quickly? Just pondering as to if that's partially why the blades tend to come with a coarser edge from factory that perhaps it would act like a ridiculously sharp saw with many super fine teeth and thereby be less likely to loose an edge or is it more true that having the smoother finer edge somehow holds up better? Thanks for the video btw.
Hey Kyle, first off all, i wanted to say i really appreciate you sharing all these videos. I have a question for sharpening a knife. I‘m using a 400/600 grid diamond stone and a 1000/6000 grid whetstone. With the diamond stone i get a decent sharp edge, but its fairly rough and uneven. But the edge seems to get more and more dull the finer the grid gets with the whetstones. So i can’t get it that sharp i want i to be. I don‘t want to use the diamonds that much, cuz they are quite aggressive on the steel. btw the knife is a Benchmade Valet with M390 steel. Any advice?
Greetings from Germany
Great video Kyle! I bought the 940 & 940-1 and I love them!
You've GOT to get one buddy... Just have to... I'm going to get around to making a review video soon...
Your customer does know he can send the knife back to Benchmade for it to be resharpened? I have a friend how just requested a different knife bevel grind and said Benchmade was happy to accommodate him. Although I totally agree sharpening a knife by hand and seeing that razor edge is SOOOO satisfying!