I EDC a RSK. I find it very useful and it satisfies my daily needs.
But I'm in an urban/office environment and the RSK is sometimes frowned upon by some people.

So I'm considering buying a mini-RSK. I guess quality will be the same. And being smaller, I hope it will be better accepted...

When browsing Aeromedic's web site, I noticed their "2-step knife sharpener" .

Does anybody on this forum have used this device ?
Useful or not ? Efficient or dangerous for the blade ?
I will appreciate any comment.

TIA

frenchy,

I have one and it works great! It has a good angle for pocket knives. If your knife is dull you can use the carbide side and then polish the edge with the ceramic rods. The great thing is that it maintains a constant angle and gives a sharp edge. Here is REI's link: Smith Sharpener

I don't recommend it for the RSK MkI. For that matter, I don't recommend any carbide style sharpener for the RSK MkI period, except as a field expedient sharpener. Get a Spyderco Triangle Sharpmaker. If you need small, try the GATCO Micro-X

What? You don't use this anymore? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />



The Lansky Pocket Crock Stick seems to be at a blunter angle than my knife edges.

I have looked for the GATCO Micro-X around Phoenix. Have you seen it for sale?

Thanks!

I find the Gatco Micro-X handy to carry in my bag, though at home all other sharpening gear has been abandoned to the Sharpmaker - well, except for axes. I still use files and stones on axes.

If people find it useful information, a while back I wrote Gatco asking for the angle of the Micro-X. The answer was 25 degrees.

So:
RSK Mk1 as shipped: 15 degrees
Sharpmaker per instructions: 20 degrees
Gatco Micro-X: 25 degrees

Not that I have one to look at (yet) but I thought the RSK had a 30 degree angle.

IIRC from a previous thread, I think both of you are correct !

15? is the angle of one "side".
30? = 2 x 15? = the included angle between both "sides" .....

I know my vocabulary is not adequate, but do you see what I mean ... ?? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I see what you are saying.
But if you calculate the others, that gives a knive from the sharpmaker at 40 degrees and from the gatco at 50 degrees.

I know that my Buck knives are sharpened to 25 degrees from the factory, so the Gatco would be the one to suit them assuming that they are measured the same way.
I assumed that the RSK was measured the same way as Buck measured theirs and was set to 30 degrees.

The Spyderco Sharpmaker has two angles, 40 degrees inclusive, or 20 degrees per side and 30 degrees inclusive, or 15 degrees per side. The GATCO is 25 degrees inclusive, or 12.5 degrees per side. The latter is "adjustable" as it is NOT a Vee style sharpener, despite initial appearances, it is designed to be used much like the Spyderco Sharpmaker and you can vary that as needed with a little practice.

Seems my post reply to this got lost. <shrug>

Note: "...except as a field expedient sharpener." I have taken also/alternatively carrying an EZE-LAP Keychain Diamond Stone in similar configuration with the shrink tubing. Guess I need to update the photos and stuff. ...again. <sigh>

Don't do much shopping for stuff around PHX, sorry.

Thanks for the correction on the Gatco angle. I thought 25 degrees was kind of extreme.

If you use the Sharpmaker on your RSK Mk1 which angle do you use or recommend? The Sharpmaker recommends using the 40 degree inclusive angle for sharpening knives, but as you mentioned, the Mk1 comes with a 30 degree inclusive grind. Would you use the 30 degree holes instead?

I really am not trying to highjack this thread, but thought I would bring this to your attention. I was at a gun show last week and saw this neat knife sharpener, called the Warthog. It is made in South Africa and looks to be well built, if not slightly funny looking. It is easy to use, but is on the expensive side and it is not really field-use friendly, but may serve for home use. Here are a few web sites, if you are interested, the vendor at the gun show, was a US distributor, so I would believe it is available elsewhere.

Pete


Warthog web site

Warthog US

Warthog Review

I use the 30 degree.

Is carbide safe to use on other kinds of knife steel? I just bought one of those sharpeners before I noticed Aeromedix was bundling it with RSKs. Maybe I should return it, eh?

I have an old Fiskars two step that has ceramic rods on both sides. Something like that might be a quick touch up alternative and more easily portable that a Sharpmaker...speaking of which, I have seen mine since a moved a few months ago... <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />