You folks seem to very savvy when it comes to personal survival kits and I was wondering if any of you carry something to re-sharpen your knife, scissors or axe with when your outdoors? Personally I always carry some of the small diamond sharpeners when away from the bench. These are the small diamond coated metal ones mounted on a plastic stick. My preference is for a fresh "Fine" grade. Diamond can be both fractured and pulled from the matrix that bonds it to the metal so these do wear. At the knifemaking bench I use these to touch up carbide cutters by hand. If I need to touch up an edge in the field I hold the blade still in one hand and use the diamond "stone" like a file. I learned this style of sharpening from a couple of the best axemen in pro timber sports while helping them grind axes and then do final bevels here in the knife shop. This method has worked very well for me on knives and scissors when I'm away from the shop. These small sharpeners weigh almost nothing and take up little space. I don't sell them so there is no hidden interest in this post, just a question I'd had for some time. Thanks, Bill Harsey

I keep Wallet-Sized Diamond Sharpening Stones in my fanny pack when I hike or camp.




I also have a fine and extra fine sheets of "peal and stick" honing paper cut to fit inside my OSK Altoids tin. I placed them flat in the bottom face-to-face. If I need them in an emergency, I can adhere them to the top and bottom of the tin and have an emergency sharpening stone. BTW, I lifted this idea from Chris. Thanks!

Fine Sharpening System
"The Fine Sharpening System consists of the glass plate; honing guide; 25 soft plastic feet; and two each of 800, 1200, 1500, and 2000 grit, 41/2'' x 11'' Klingspor finest paper with ''peel and stick'' application."


They also offer a 4-Piece Diamond Hone Set
"This set is great for quick honing of router bits, chisels and knives — it lets you sharpen any tool quickly! Diamond hones on plastic handles are packed with coarse (Green 200 grit), medium (Yellow 400 grit), fine (Red 600 grit) and super fine (Blue 1200 grit)."


Or perhaps something even smaller, Diamond Mini-Sharp Stones
"Attaches to your key ring for '' anytime, anywhere'' sharpening of knives, router bits, and other tools. Handle folds to protect stone. Available in three different grits."

Hi, Bill. Welcome aboard! Love your knives; hope to add one to my "accumulation" (as my wife calls it) someday.

I keep an EZ-Lap model M in my truck console; it can go into a bag if needed. I've been using it for 25 years (less so in the last 10, though), & it'll still get the job done.

I've also picked up several odds & ends like the DMT 2-sided flat hones, & the EZ-Lap versions of what you describe. They all work.

What I've actually got in a day pack & fanny pack that I use a lot are the little Lansky Tri-Angle sharpeners. Essentially, they're about 1/2 of one of the Spyderco 204 Sharpmaker medium stones, with removable rubber endcaps on each end. They're about 4 inches long, & the caps allow good purchase for the fingers while using, if you're very careful. The caps will also give you a consistent starting angle if needed, though the angle may not be the one you really desire--still, it's there if needed, or for those less accustomed to sharpening & holding an angle.

The shafts are grooved on one side (for hook points, etc), and since the're triangular in cross section, will work on serrated blades as well as straight edges. They're cheap enough to have several, though they will break if dropped on a hard surface, like any ceramic stone.

It's been a while since I've used a knife in the field to the point it needed resharpening (used the Model M the last time), but I make it a point to touch up a blade occasionally with one of the Lanskys just to keep in practice.

David

Bill,

Yep. Carried/used an EZ-Lap since they made dirt but the folding 2-sided DMTs are what I carry now. Everyone in the family carries a coarse-fine combo (blue-red) except me (I get to carry extra junk). I carry a black-blue and a red-green. The EZ-Laps are now at home in the consoles of my 4x4 and my eldest son's 4x4.

BTW, thanks for the tip about matrix break-down - I had suspected that, so now I know...

Made up some cheap pocket hones for scouts with wet-or-dry carborundum paper glued to a piece of aluminum (two grits on opposite faces). Used 3M #77 spray adhesive. The peel-and-stick mylar-backed diamond "paper" would be better, I'm sure, but I return to the word "cheap"... These work great for the scouts to keep an edge re-touched... and the clever ones have realized that they are sure-fire striking surfaces for kitchen matches.

Speaking of scouts - gotta run - off to camp to do weekend survival training for a bunch.

Tell us more about how you go about this, please!

Regards,

Tom

Tom, I've had much less problem with diamonds pulling from the matrix of DMT products than with EZ lap. The issue, however, is pressure. Let the diamonds do their job and resist the urge to conserve time by pushing hard.

I've never seen the wallet size diamond sharpening stones before, I like that! Great use of the Altoids tin too (Chris is holding out on me) The abrasive paper on the glass is a very good way to sharpen many edged tools to an extremely fine edge. One of the previous guys said to let the diamond do the work and watch the pressure, he's correct. Bill

Bill, DMT also makes a model that is .75" x 2.5" mounted on a plastic handle, total length = 7". I cut the handle to a size that suits. SMKW ( www.eknifeworks.com ) carries them for about $6.00. Great for a PSK or attached to a knife sheath.

I have seen the wallet sized ones marketed by Stanley Tools. They were running for around fourteen dollars.I usually carry a Lansky dog bone pocket sharpener myself for in field touch ups.
BOATMAN

Thanks Dr. Tobia, I met the owners of DMT last year and my partner Chris Reeve speaks very highly of the entire outfit. I have used some of their larger diamond stones for years and will make a point of trying out more of the smaller units for field re-sharpening. You guys are way ahead of me here. Bill