Morning everyone. This is my first of many posts to come on this forum. I have been gleaming information for awhile and have developed some questions of my own. I just ordered my RSK MK1 this morning (nervous on spending so much on a folder, but from what I have read about it's worth it) and I was wondering if anyone had any experience/opinion on the Klawhorn Industries Redi-Edge? It seems to be a better quality then the other typed of carbide sharpeners and at the same price was just curious if it's true. Thanks for listening.

JAF:

Sharpeners of this type work by scraping a fair amount of metal off the edge of your knife. So for inclusion in an emergency kit they might be all right, but for maintaining your new, expensive knife, probably less than ideal.

There are lots of great sharpening FAKs on the internet, particularly those by Joe Talmadge. Read that stuff and teach yourself to sharpen, strop, and steel your knife for every day use.

My favorite sharpening system is the Spyderco Sharpmaker. I also use and like Lansky and EdgePro systems. The Spyderco rig is more freehand, but seems to work just as well as the clamp or table systems.

I also get good results using ceramic rods to sharpen or touch up an edge, and carry one in my backpacking kit.

Stropping on leather is the best way to remove the final wire edge, and a good way to refresh an edge.

Steeling straightens the edge without removing any metal, so can be used frequently between sharpening.

Bear

I have tried a lot of sharpening systems and threw away or sold them all once I got a sharpmaker! I love my sharpmaker. I carry a small fine grit diamond stone or ceramic rod in the field but nothing beat the sharpmaker for home use.