A Tale of Cutting Performance and Sharpening

"At a boat show, after cutting about 1,500 cuts of 3/4" nylon deck and rigging line as a demo, we were told by an observer-participant that he felt that it was time to sharpen the knife, a Boye serrated sheepsfoot. Please note this blade was still cutting cleanly - but not as quickly. So I sharpened the blade on the corner of a 4" x 1" soft Arkansas stone about 10 firm strokes and two or so deburring (flat) passes on the back. This took a total of about four seconds.

Then I handed the knife to our observer-participant. He couldn't believe that the knife could have been resharpened so fast. When he started cutting he began to realize that I was serious. He readily admitted that the knife was performing like a sharp knife. We proceeded to cut another 250 or so cuts with that blade, then came to the end of the show. It was cutting fine. This is what I mean by 1) holds an edge, 2) not much sharpening, and 3) fast sharpening."

- David Boye

General Sharpening Instructions for Boye Boat Knives

Use a medium or soft Arkansas or porcelain handstone for sharpening. They will produce a sharper, and therefore better cutting edge than a fine stone. Electric sharpeners and diamond stones will shorten the life of your blade by removing too much metal. Be careful that you don't over-sharpen (waste) the blade. Boye knives need very little sharpening!

Sharpening the Cobalt Folder

1. PLAIN EDGE (NON-SERRATED PORTION)
   Hold the stone in one hand and the knife in the other. Hold the knife at an angle of 18-20 degrees on each side. Two 20 degree bevels equals a 40 degree edge. You may want the edge more or less than 40 degrees depending on the task. The smaller the angle, the sharper the edge, and the larger the angle, (blunter), the tougher the edge. Move back and forth the full length of the stone. Grind evenly and press hard. The more pressure and movement, the more sharpening. Sharpen until you have a noticeable burr on the cutting edge, then make one light, steep pass to remove the burr. Then strop on cardboard, leather, or a buffing wheel.
   
   
2. SERRATIONS
   Place the beveled side, the "Boye USA" side, on a flat whetstone at an angle of 35-40 degrees, depending on the kind of edge you want. You are cutting into the square edge of the stone at a steeper angle because you are grinding one side only. Move at an angle the full length of the serrations with each stroke. The stone will ride in and out of the serrations. With good pressure they will sharpen in seconds. Don't sharpen too much!

Sharpening the Cobalt Basic 3

The sharpening angle guides on the Basic 3 are in the ballpark - a reference. Sharpen the blade more or less than the guides to your specs for the intended use, like any other knife. Know and remember the angles you use in relation to the guides.