All About Pocket Knives

What is the best way to straighten a bellied out sheepfoot blade? I was going to grind it straight then rebevel the edge, but wanted to ask the experts. Thanks Harold

Just keep sharpening it. Don’t grind it. I use a coarse diamond bench stone. The two high spots will get longer and longer until they meet in the middle. I cannot stand recurve blades and I find it satisfying (almost therapeutic) to straighten the edge on an old worn knife. These three knives were all like yours when I got them.

I would use either a belt sander with a ceramic belt or a wet stone wheel, that turns slowly.
You can use a bench stone or a diamond stone, it all depends on what you have available to you.
Since I have good equipment and good abrasives I prefer to use them rather than aggravating the arthritis in my hands by using a bench stone.
A bench stone works great if you can hold your angle constant, which is something that only comes usually by years of practice.
Another alternative would be a system like Lansky's or Smith's, both of which keep the angle pretty constant while you sharpen.

Several options are available, your mileage may vary.

Thanks to both you guys. It is nice to be able get good advice.

Harold

When I re-profile a blade edge I will at times use a sharpie pen and straight edge or curved template to draw a line across the metal I want to remove. Depending on the blade and what you want to achieve this can be helpful. The sharpie line can be easily erased and redrawn to give you different profiles until you find the result you like best. Use whatever abrasive you have or prefer to remove the unwanted metal.

" I cannot stand recurve blades "

HARUMPH!!!

No curve now. Thanks for the advice. Needs a little more sharpening.

Harold

Here is a good picture of a bellied out blade I sharpened out. You can see the two straight sections and the belly in the middle. As you sharpen the bellied out section gets smaller and smaller until it’s gone.

I get a great deal of satisfaction from this process I don’t always do it in one sitting.