I cant sharpen one to save my life. My dad can but when I try I can never get it rite.

Well the trick appears to be: Take it to Megatrodiablo's dad.

YES

Practice and consistency.

FIFY

Work sharp.....thank me later

I don't sharpen mine. When they get dull it becomes an excuse to buy a new one! You can never have too many knives

Yep

I used to use the a Smith's three stone set; use the 20 degree angle, med grit then to fine grit, top it off with around 100 strokes on leather. You could shave with it afterwards. Too lazy for all of that now, got a Work Sharp.

Absolutely

I agree. Be careful or you will burn the point off. And yes, I didn't read the directions before sharpening my first knife.

And again.

This

I never use anything more than a steel and you can shave with all of my knives.The key is basically using the same angle everytime and hone it often enough to keep the lip off of the blade.

I live with a knife in my hand 6 days a week and about 5 hours each day so sharpness is a must not a novelty.If it aint sharp your wrist and shoulders will tell you real quick that you aint doin something right.

Haven't tried a knife on mine yet that wouldn't shave.

After sharpening with a stone, take a piece of thick cardboard and draw the knife edge backwards across it a few times. Seems to put a hair splitting edge on one.

Octoberdreaming sharpened about 5 of my knives one night at our hunting cabin.
I can sharpen a knife but Troy can sharpen one really fast.

It depends on the purpose of the knife as to how you sharpen it. If the purpose is utility (work) - then too small of an angled edge will lead to chipped edges the first time it contacts something hard or a rolled edge.

There are two keys to sharpening and keeping a knife sharp. A suitable back bevel with enough material removed to make it easier to sharpen and don't let the knife get dull, before resharpening it.

If you polish the edge with leather (my preference impregnated with diamond polish powder), cloth (some folks like denim jeans), cardboard or whatever - if you watch the edge closely, you will actually see what looks like a very small piece of wire start to roll-up on the edge - when it breaks off or disappears, you will have a properly polished edge. A REALLY sharp knife, when the edge is dragged across your fingernail will glide with no catch while cutting into your nail.

http://www.amazon.com/Lansky-2-rod-Crock...ds=crock+sticks

Cheap and effective. I keep all of mine pretty sharp, and just a few draws across the sticks and I can shave hair with it.

I still need to practice more to learn how to sharpen one on a wet stone.

Just curious, what type work to you do to have a knife in your hand so much? How do you keep your knife sharp?

Cutco.
When it gets dull just send it in and they will sharpen it for you.

Hes a ninja, duh...

One thing i figured out I was doing using a whet stone was using too much pressure. An edge comes a lot faster if I lightly draw it across.

I don't carry a pocket knife. My dad sharpens my hunting knife before season and it stays good all year. My fillet knife is the issue. I can't run that thing over to his house every time I clean fish. That one TC suggested looks good.

Sharpen it on the back of an electric can opener, or one of the plastic handle pull type sharpeners.
Use a crock stick to fine finish it. Starting with using some pressure and more strokes to pretty much no pressure and a fewer amount of strokes.
Good, quick sharp edge. It shaves and will cut your arse, too.

Purchase a Havalon Piranta filet knife on ebay and you will never have to worry about sharpening a knife again. The blades are surgically sharp and you just replace them when they get dull. Replacement blades are not expensive. I purchased one this year and it is the best knife I have ever owned. Cleaned several deer, turkeys, and a big hog, and actually enjoyed it. Be very careful though, I cut myself and I bled like a "stuck hog."

this work sharp yawl speak of. Is this electric? tell me more.

Yes, it's electric. Uses belts to cut and polish. Has guides to just run the knife thru. Also works on machetes, lawn mower blades, scissors, etc.

What kind of oil do y'all use on your stone?? My uncle taught me how to use a stone but he doesn't use any oil..

My dad uses a stone and he don't use oil either.He spits on the stone.He said in Vietnam they used what they had and honing oil wasn't something they had.

My grandfather uses a stone or a brick in a tight.
I use a stone and spit.

Sorry, I meant purchase the Havalon Baracuta. The Piranta is the smaller pocket knife. (which I also purchased)

These are awesome had to find mine and get the name off it!

http://www.primedge.com/handheld.html

At work I just give it a couple of swipes across the rounded edge of a stainless steel panel. Works like a champ on carbon steel blades.
At home I use the ceramic sticks.
I have a Smiths 2 stone kit in my hunting pack and one of those cheap plastic AccuSharps in my tackle box

Anybody ever sharpened their knife on the edge of your truck window? Roll your window almost all the way down and use the top edge of your window like a ceramic stick.