I was given a Lansky sharpening system for Christmas and this thing makes a SHARP knife. There is a clamp that you place your knife in and 3 different stones of various grades. Intall a small guide on the stone and then....here's the cool part....the guide on the stone goes into a slot marked with 4 different angles that allows you to choose your edge.
The flesh falls away and any cuts I make...(and there are some...*L*) are clean. The edge stay great with a touch up every once in a while with a steel. I start my day with the sharpener, the news and some coffee!
Try it sometime!
Will
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I too have a Lansky knife sharpening system,and it works great ,but if you really want something better,go with those carbide hand drawn sharpeners.I sharpen more knives than probably any other taxidermist in these parts.I also go thru about 2 or 3 of these gadgets before I get one that really works.There is nothing more that dulls a knife blade quicker than styrofoam,and I carve all my own fish bodies. I also use a knife on all my deer capes.My wife bought me a fleshing machine and after watching a video,I sent the darn thing back.With a razor sharp knife and a little know how,a person cando a cape faster by hand.I can flesh and shave,turn the ears and take out ear cartilidge plus split the lips,nostrils,and eyes in 50 minutes.Try the carbide,you'lle like it.
And I'll try and get one for Valentine's day!..*L*...
Thanks for reminding me about it!
WIll
I'm new and been looking to get a good sharpener or system. What exactly are you talking about "hand drawn carbide" and where do I get one? Thanks.
Im not giving away my flesher, as I save alot of time, but I DO need sharper knives. Do tell more about that hand drawn carbide.
Pick them up at any Ace hardware or Walmart.They have two pieces of carbide positioned at the precise angle for a good edge.It may take about 10-20 draws the first time to break the knife in on the right angle, but after doing that,2-3 swipes is all you need to get back to very sharp or even razor sharp.A cheap one costs about six bucks,but the ten dollar one with the handle guard around it works the best and thats about ten bucks.Hold your knife down on the edge of the table with left hand(for a right handed person),make sure the blade extends over the edge,and draw the sharpener with your right hand.If you have a good sharpener,you can feel and here it sharpening the knife.Being a machinist for fifteen years,and making carbide tooling,I know these things are awsome!Theres only one drawback though,when the thing sharpens,it actually removes steel from the blade.I go thru a knife a year.The best knife that I've found for fleshing is a Shrade Old Timer fillet knife,costs about twenty bucks.They are green colored handle.Oh,by the way,dont cut yourself.
What you describe sounds just like th braodhead sharpeners used by archery hunters. True? I have several of these laying around.
Had a knife maker tell me thast one thing that will dull an edge even faster than grazing a bone or tooth is animal hair. He told me to always make my cuts from the inside out when and where possible. (FYI).
It might be like the broadhead sharpener,I dont know.I havent bow hunted in twenty years,to busy mounting the darn things!I do know that you always cut the skin of an animal from the inside out so I have no idea if hair is that bad.
The sharperner M.T. is talking about is very good, but as he stated they do remove a little bit of knife blade each time. Once the carbide gets "dull", if that's the right description, you can take the sharpner apart and flip them over for a brand new carbide sharpening edge.
Sounds like this is what you are looking for? I have seen them at Academy and other sporting goods stores. Try Allied Kenco Sales in Houston TX. at alliedkenco.com or 1-800-356-5189. They sell one that is about $12.00.
Craig B