I just got my BN a while back, and decided to sharpen it today with my trusty Sharpmaker. I was using the 30 degree angle and I learned quickly that it might be a lengthy process. It seems the knife is more dull than when I started.

Am I going to need a heavier duty sharpener to reprofile it, or will the Sharpmaker work given enough time?

With the Sharpmaker coming standard with ceramic medium grit dark stones for aggressive sharpening, I would recommend getting a diamond-coated steel if you are having to put a "new edge" on it like that. Then gradually go to finer grits as you finish the edge. I always finish by leather strop, myself, I'm kind of OCD on that.

As far as what is offered to assist you with the right angle, I was taught to eyeball the angle when I was 10 years old. Been doing it for 32 years now (better at it as I go), so I am clueless on what they have out there. I often carry a Smith's Diamond Coated pocket stone (steel) on me, and I frequently sharpen people's knives for them (Gee, the money they should pay me!) standing right in front of them at work. It will put a "new edge" on a knife easily also, and is about the cheapest diamond stone to get, I think.

Yeah, I've got a Smith too, but I'm afraid I'm going to screw up the angle beyond repair <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

My Dad never owned a sharp knife in his life, and my father in law, cautioned me the last time I asked to borrow his SAK "because it's real sharp". But I found it to be oh, so dull.I offered to touch it up on the Sharpmaker, and he accepted. I've offered since then and he politely declines, saying that it is still sharp. Actually he hasn't let me touch it since.

The Smith would probably make quick work of it...if I didn't destroy the edge in the process! <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Just a little FYI.
Last night my housemate came home with a "demo" version of a Benchmade 556; it has a clear plastic handle and the blade has no edge.
So he started working on it with the Sharpmaker.
After about 1 hour on the grey rods he could slice paper, an hour later it was popping hair.
I would not belive it unless I saw it.
I am sure the diamond rods would have made it faster but this proved to me that the grey / white rods are enough to maintain most blades. This knife was 440c which probably helped; I wonder if this would have worked in S30V?
Anyway I was really impressed.

It would have definitely worked then on S30V, I would say. 2 hours of sharpening? Ugh, I would have gone with diamond and made quicker work of it. I would then smooth it out some with a finer stone and finish by stropping.

After dulling my RSK MKI in S30V using it a bunch for a few days' worth of work:

1. I run it over the Smith's diamond pocket stone (alternating) 20-25 times, with minimum-medium pressure.

2. I strop it on leather (alternating) 50 times a side.

-- Takes about 5-10 minutes max. Then it shaves the hair off my arms just like it did when it came out of the box new.