Can't get this blade to sharpen CASE Barlow

[rea1eye]

I just got this Tested XX Case Barlow. I cleaned it up and it looks good for a old knife.
I just cannot get the main blade sharp. The pen blade sharpened good. Using the
nail test ( running the blade across your nail with no resistance )shows that it is just
plain dull.

I am not an expert in sharpening but can do a decent, good job.

Here are the stones I used. I started with the lowest grit ( which I think is about
100) and worked my way up to the ceramic rod ( which I think is 1000). I soaked
the stones for 10 min in water and kept them moist while working. There was a
slight dark slurry on the stones during sharpening and the rods became slightly
darkened.

I had a knife about 3 years ago which I could not get sharpened and took it to
Cutlery store in town that sharpens knives. He got a good edge.

Picture # 3 is the sharp pen blade.

Bob

p.s. The blade edge originally was very ragged ( seen with a loop) so I made the

edge a straight line edge with the 100 grit stone.

[Papa Bones]

I just got this Tested XX Case Barlow. I cleaned it up and it looks good for a old knife.
I just cannot get the main blade sharp. The pen blade sharpened good. Using the
nail test ( running the blade across your nail with no resistance )shows that it is just
plain dull.

I am not an expert in sharpening but can do a decent, good job.

Here are the stones I used. I started with the lowest grit ( which I think is about
100) and worked my way up to the ceramic rod ( which I think is 1000). I soaked
the stones for 10 min in water and kept them moist while working. There was a
slight dark slurry on the stones during sharpening and the rods became slightly
darkened.

I had a knife about 3 years ago which I could not get sharpened and took it to
Cutlery store in town that sharpens knives. He got a good edge.

Picture # 3 is the sharp pen blade.

Bob

p.s. The blade edge originally was very ragged ( seen with a loop) so I made thecasebarlow.jpg
edge a straight line edge with the 100 grit stone.
casebarlow.1.jpgcase.barlow.3.jpgcasebarlow.2.jpgcasebarlow.4.jpg

Nice looking scales on that one. But yes, I've run in to the same in the past on blades someone re-profiled. If doing it by hand it just takes time, perseverance, persistence and work. I have one old Case 02 that took me three weeks working on it a couple of times during the week and through each weekend to finally get it right. My starting stone was a 150 grit and worked up.

Depending on what your Cutlery store charges, that would be your quickest route as he is probably using a sanding belt system / wet grinder or like a Makita system. But yep, by hand can be a slow process.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

I’m guessing there is no bevel left on the blade. So it’s like trying to sharpen a flat piece of steel. By hand will take a lot of time. A belt sharpener would be your best option. I have an old Imperial fixed blade that was dull and badly corroded when I got it. I worked on it off and on for months and never got it to my satisfaction. But once I got this Work Sharp system, it’s like a new knife. I can’t say enough good about belt sharpeners, they are the best I have used.

[cudgee]

It may just be a rubbish blade for whatever reason. It happens, i have had a few knives in my lifetime that just would not take an edge, i asked a knife maker what i was doing wrong [ i had a little knife sharpening business ] and he said probably nothing. Bad steel can get through all the checks and balances every now and then, not saying this is the issue in your case, but maybe it is something to ponder. Have a good week.

[Doc B]

I agree with a belt, being the fastest. I think the initial straightening of the edge...created a flat edge...that will take a lot of work, to get out with stones.
Either way you go, it looks like nice bone and should be a nice knife!

[rea1eye]

I’m guessing there is no bevel left on the blade. So it’s like trying to sharpen a flat piece of steel. By hand will take a lot of time. A belt sharpener .....

I think you are right. After looking at the edge with a loop I can barely see any bevel. I know when I first put my finger across the
main blade it was so dull that it I would have guessed it was just a metal band. That was the case with the knife
from 3-4 years ago too. The cutlery store uses a belt sander and when returned the blade had a very defined bevel.

Hope the cutlery store is still in business! Not too many mom and pop stores around anymore.

Bob

[Sharpnshinyknives]

I’m guessing there is no bevel left on the blade. So it’s like trying to sharpen a flat piece of steel. By hand will take a lot of time. A belt sharpener .....

I think you are right. After looking at the edge with a loop I can barely see any bevel. I know when I first put my finger across the
main blade it was so dull that it I would have guessed it was just a metal band. That was the case with the knife
from 3-4 years ago too. The cutlery store uses a belt sander and when returned the blade had a very defined bevel.

Hope the cutlery store is still in business! Not too many mom and pop stores around anymore.

Bob

If you can’t find someone close, you can send it to me and I can sharpen it for you. I am still learning how to use this Work Sharp belt sharpening system but I’m getting pretty good at it. If I run into trouble, I would stop and not ruin your knife.

[cudgee]

I’m guessing there is no bevel left on the blade. So it’s like trying to sharpen a flat piece of steel. By hand will take a lot of time. A belt sharpener .....

I think you are right. After looking at the edge with a loop I can barely see any bevel. I know when I first put my finger across the
main blade it was so dull that it I would have guessed it was just a metal band. That was the case with the knife
from 3-4 years ago too. The cutlery store uses a belt sander and when returned the blade had a very defined bevel.

Hope the cutlery store is still in business! Not too many mom and pop stores around anymore.

Bob

If you can’t find someone close, you can send it to me and I can sharpen it for you. I am still learning how to use this We Work belt sharpening system but I’m getting pretty good at it. If I run into trouble, I would stop and not ruin your knife.

Sounds like you're falling in love with your new toy.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

I am, it’s a pleasure to sharpen knives again.

[cudgee]

I am, it’s pleasure to sharpen knives again.

Glad it has given you back something you love doing.

[eveled]

You list your stone progression. Why would you move from coarse if it wasn’t sharp? It has to be coarse sharp before you move to a finer grit.

[Lansky1]

Where the Lansky shines is establishing new bevels ... fast. For $30 - I would recommend investing in a Lansky kit - with the coarse stone, you'll have your new bevels established in 3 minutes as a first timer and working your way down through the 2 finer stones, it's shave hair in less than 10 minutes. (PS - it's worth it to get the $6 stationary base) ...

[BFORSE]

Just an observation:
The existing edge itself is not very straight so it is not making contact with the stone along the complete length of the edge. That could be the issue.

Like others have commented, there may not be a bevel left on the edge.

So the question is, do you straighten up the edge to then establish a bevel which will eat into your blade width, or do you try to establish a bevel on the existing contour of the edge which will take a good amount of time but preserve your blade width?

[eveled]

Straighten the edge. I usually try to take more from the heel of the blade to leave more belly.

[rea1eye]

Just an observation:
The existing edge itself is not very straight so it is not making contact with the stone along the complete length of the edge. That could be the issue.

Like others have commented, there may not be a bevel left on the edge.

So the question is, do you straighten up the edge to then establish a bevel which will eat into your blade width, or do you try to establish a bevel on the existing contour of the edge which will take a good amount of time but preserve your blade width?

You were right. There was no bevel on the edge. I spent about 50 min progressing thru 5 different grit stone using more pressure
than previously. I got a pretty sharp edge now. Good enough for me. Probably not as sharp as the cutlery shop would have done
but I feel good about doing my own work.

Bob

[cudgee]

glad you got it sorted.

[BFORSE]

Just an observation:
The existing edge itself is not very straight so it is not making contact with the stone along the complete length of the edge. That could be the issue.

Like others have commented, there may not be a bevel left on the edge.

So the question is, do you straighten up the edge to then establish a bevel which will eat into your blade width, or do you try to establish a bevel on the existing contour of the edge which will take a good amount of time but preserve your blade width?

You were right. There was no bevel on the edge. I spent about 50 min progressing thru 5 different grit stone using more pressure
than previously. I got a pretty sharp edge now. Good enough for me. Probably not as sharp as the cutlery shop would have done
but I feel good about doing my own work.

Bob

Awesome, I’m glad you were able to get it where you want it. The good news it that, if it’s one that you will use, eventually you will need to sharpen it again, and overtime you will establish a good balance of usage and material removed, till one day the sharpness of the edge will be exactly how you want it.