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The Swiss Army Knife is a great tool because it has many different functions. After repeated use, however, the blade of the knife can become dull, which diminishes its effectiveness and can actually make the knife more dangerous to use. Fortunately, sharpening a Swiss Army Knife, or indeed any pocket knife is relatively easy and inexpensive. Follow the steps below to make your Swiss Army Knife blade as good as new.
Steps
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Clean the knife thoroughly. Dirt or grease on the blade may result in an uneven sharpening of your knife.
- Sharpening the blade may be easier if you briefly dip the cold blade into boiling water right before you begin sharpening it. [1] X Research source
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Select a sharpening tool. There are numerous types of files and sharpeners on the market, including Japanese water stones, stones with diamond encrusted surfaces, and stones with different grades of grit.
- These different tools will give you slightly different results. For most purposes, a basic, two-sided sharpening stone, available for about $10 at most hardware stores, will be adequate. [2] X Research source
- There is also a knife sharpener you can buy specifically for the purpose of sharpening Swiss Army Knives, available from the company's online store.
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Lubricate your stone if desired. There is some disagreement as to whether it is important or even beneficial to lubricate your sharpening stone. [3] X Research source If you choose to lubricate yours, a variety of different options are available.
- Some people believe that lubricant should be used because the friction that results from sharpening the blade has the potential to warp it, [4] X Research source or because the lubricant will help float away metal particles that can dull the blade during the sharpening process or clog the pores of the stone itself. [5] X Research source
- Others believe lubricant is unnecessary, slows the process the down, and may actually dull the blade by washing the metal particles over the blade during the sharpening process. [6] X Research source
- If you opt to use a lubricant, you can use cutting oil, mineral oil, kerosene, or WD-40 on natural stones, or water on diamond stones. [7] X Research source
- Before applying oil, consult any instructions that came with your sharpening stone. Some types of stones can be ruined by the use of oil. [8] X Research source
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Lay the blade across the stone. The blade should meet the stone at an angle of 15°-20.° This will result in a cutting angle of 30°-40.° [9] X Research source
- Keeping the angle consistent throughout the sharpening process is key to a good sharpening. With an official Swiss Army knife, you can approximate the correct angle by resting the back edge of the blade on two stacked pennies. [10] X Research source
- If you have a hard time keeping the angle correct and consistent, you can buy a sharpening guide for about $10 that will make the task easier. [11] X Research source
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Sharpen one side of the blade. Run the knife along the stone as if you were trying to carve a thin piece off the stones surface, repeating this motion several times. [12] X Research source
- If your knife is very dull, start this process on the rough side of the whetting stone, or with a diamond stone. [13] X Research source
- Don't apply too much pressure. Let the stone do the work. [14] X Research source
- If using lubricant, add more every few dozen strokes to wash away metal shavings. [15] X Research source
- If the knife blade is longer than the stone, you’ll need to sweep the blade sideways as you sharpen so that the entire edge is sharpened completely and evenly. [16] X Research source
- As a rule of thumb, you'll want to give the blade six to twelve strokes across the stone. [17] X Research source
- A more precise way to know when to switch sides is to look for a burr (also sometimes called a "wire") that is formed on the other side of the edge. You'll be able to feel burr with your thumb on the side of the edge opposite the stone. The formation of a burr indicates that the steel is thin enough at the very edge that it is folding over slightly. [18] X Research source The steel must get very thin to be razor-sharp.
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Sharpen the other side. Now, turn the blade over and repeat the process, sharpening the other side of the blade. [19] X Research source
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Switch to a finer stone. To get a razor-sharp edge, and to remove the burr on the knife, you'll now want to switch to finer grit (i.e. the other side of your whetting stone, if you've got a standard two-sided sharpener). [20] X Research source
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Dry the blade. Wipe the blade on a towel or clean rag to remove any lubricant and metal fragments from the sharpening process. [23] X Research source
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Strop the blade. Stropping is running the blade edge across a leather strap that has been covered with an abrasive such as stropping paste or green chromium oxide. [24] X Research source It puts a final polish on your knife edge.
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Check the sharpness. Once you think you're done sharpening the knife, check to see if the blade is sharp. There are several ways to do this.
- Cut some paper. A razor-sharp blade will easily cut right through. [27] X Research source
- Shine a bright light on the sharpened edge. A dull edge will reflect the light. [28] X Research source
- Drag the edge lightly across your thumbnail. The blade should scrape the nail cleanly, without catching or vibrating. [29] X Research source
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Community Q&A
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QuestionAny alternatives to sharpening stones? This kind of item is not available in my country.Community AnswerRiver stones were used for centuries by primitive cultures to sharpen cutting tools. It takes some time to find and flatten the right one, but it has been done. Another quicker method is to staple sheets of sandpaper to a flat board, and use that similar to a sharpening stone.
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Tips
- Mechanical and electric sharpeners may be used on Swiss Army Knives, but are generally thought to be less effective in producing a razor-sharp edge. [30] X Research sourceThanks
- If you aren't sure which side of your stone is the rougher side, scratch it with your fingernail and see which grit feels more coarse. [31] X Research sourceThanks
- If you believe your Swiss Army Knife to be defective in its materials or manufacture, contact the company, as they have a lifetime warranty for such issues. [32] X Research sourceThanks
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Warnings
- Be careful when sharpening and cleaning your knife. Even though the knife is dull it can still cut you badly if you slip and hit the blade.Thanks
- Don’t use a grindstone to sharpen your knife. It can permanently damage the blade. [33] X Research sourceThanks
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References
- ↑ https://scoutingmagazine.org/2011/10/tips-for-sharpening-your-favorite-blade/
- ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/2009/03/05/how-to-sharpen-a-pocket-knife/
- ↑ https://www.knifecenter.com/info/sharpening-faq
- ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/2009/03/05/how-to-sharpen-a-pocket-knife/
- ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/2009/03/05/how-to-sharpen-a-pocket-knife/
- ↑ https://www.knifecenter.com/info/sharpening-faq
- ↑ https://scoutingmagazine.org/2011/10/tips-for-sharpening-your-favorite-blade/
- ↑ https://gearjunkie.com/camping/5-tips-to-sharpen-your-knife
- ↑ https://www.swissarmy.com/us/app/content/sak-faq
- ↑ https://scoutingmagazine.org/2011/10/tips-for-sharpening-your-favorite-blade/
- ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/2009/03/05/how-to-sharpen-a-pocket-knife/
- ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/2009/03/05/how-to-sharpen-a-pocket-knife/
- ↑ https://scoutingmagazine.org/2011/10/tips-for-sharpening-your-favorite-blade/
- ↑ https://gearjunkie.com/camping/5-tips-to-sharpen-your-knife
- ↑ https://scoutingmagazine.org/2011/10/tips-for-sharpening-your-favorite-blade/
- ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/2009/03/05/how-to-sharpen-a-pocket-knife/
- ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/2009/03/05/how-to-sharpen-a-pocket-knife/
- ↑ https://www.knifecenter.com/info/sharpening-faq
- ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/2009/03/05/how-to-sharpen-a-pocket-knife/
- ↑ https://scoutingmagazine.org/2011/10/tips-for-sharpening-your-favorite-blade/
- ↑ https://www.knifecenter.com/info/sharpening-faq
- ↑ https://www.knifecenter.com/info/sharpening-faq
- ↑ https://scoutingmagazine.org/2011/10/tips-for-sharpening-your-favorite-blade/
- ↑ https://www.knifecenter.com/info/sharpening-faq
- ↑ https://www.knifecenter.com/info/sharpening-faq
- ↑ https://scoutingmagazine.org/2011/10/tips-for-sharpening-your-favorite-blade/
- ↑ https://gearjunkie.com/camping/5-tips-to-sharpen-your-knife
- ↑ https://scoutingmagazine.org/2011/10/tips-for-sharpening-your-favorite-blade/
- ↑ https://scoutingmagazine.org/2011/10/tips-for-sharpening-your-favorite-blade/
- ↑ https://scoutingmagazine.org/2011/10/tips-for-sharpening-your-favorite-blade/
- ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/2009/03/05/how-to-sharpen-a-pocket-knife/
- ↑ https://www.swissarmy.com/us/app/content/sak-faq
- ↑ https://scoutingmagazine.org/2011/10/tips-for-sharpening-your-favorite-blade/
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Reader Success Stories
- "I love my knife, and this article was a big help. I have a stone that my father used so it is very old, but still did the job. " ..." more
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"I love my knife, and this article was a big help. I have a stone that my father used so it is very old, but still did the job. "
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"I actually learned about the angle. I thought it didn't matter."
