Mike Shipley Knives

[Bob K.]

I know a lot of you use the Mike Shipley knife, like myself. It seems to me that the bevel on these knives seems to be rounded rather than flat. I have several of them and they are all the same. Has anyone else noticed this or is it just me? If so, can these knives be sharpen to a flat bevel?

[Nomad]

Bob, how do they carve? I think the idea that the blades have to be absolutely flat to carve is a bit overstated. The real problem imo, is when the edge becomes rounded over, which is what often happens from improper stropping. A slight convex grind on a wide blade with a zero secondary bevel is nothing to worry about imo. I've seen this on Denny. Helvie, and other knives. It actually makes for a strong edge and I think it reduces knife chatter in tight cuts. If you lay the knife blade flat on a strop and apply pressure evenly, the strop will give enough to maintain the edge. Again, I would carve with the knife and see how well it does. My Shipley knives all carve amazingly well, although I do like to smooth the striations on the bevel. You can do this with 2000 grit paper or it will come with continued stropping using a stropping compound that sharpens as well, like White Gold. Just my 2 cents.

[One Thumb Carver]

Bob I have one of Mikes Knifes Just look at it I did not notice any roundness.---- FYI In case anyone out there who hand strop might not know when stropping when you come close to the end lift straight up do not go over the edge (this will cause rounding) of the hand strop. Have you called Mike and ask the question why? I'm sure you have. Your Friend Bill

[Inadv]

Bob,

For what it is worth I completely agree with Terry's assessment. Many of the "brand" (store-bought) knives look slightly rounded in the right light, but carve very nicely. They strop easily too, so my logic goes like this "Arguing with success is not a sign of intelligence".

L.P.

[Bob K.]

Thanks guys...my knives do carve well, I just seem to have a hard time keeping them razor sharp. I've laying the blade flat on the strop...maybe I need to lift up a little on the blade. Is that what you do?

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by Bob K.

Thanks guys...my knives do carve well, I just seem to have a hard time keeping them razor sharp. I've laying the blade flat on the strop...maybe I need to lift up a little on the blade. Is that what you do?

Bob, I think that will depend on the thickness and resilience of the strop and how hard you press. Watch closely at the edge to see if you are stropping all the way out to the edge. If not, rotate the knife just a tad so when you strop you can see the leather indent just a wee bit right at the edge as you draw the knife back. This might be pretty hard to see in a hard strop with the smooth side out, but lay on a good coat of stropping compound and you will see that indent. Don't rotate more than that though or you will roll your edge. Eventually you should be able to do this by feel.

[Bob K.]

Thanks Terry!

[KeithC]

Bob, In addition to carving I have a knife addiction. So I have most of the popular knives mentioned on this forum. I seem to always end up carving with the Shipley knives, I have no complaints as to how long they hold an edge. Seems to last as long or longer than most of the others.
KeithC

[breezly]

My shipley knives stay razor sharp never had any issues with them.Just the regular stropping keep them that way.

[Inadv]

Bob,

Try this... When you put the blade down onto the strop place your index finger on the flat of the blade and then with a moderate amount of pressure slide the blade away from the edge to the opposite end. Stop and lift the blade straight up turn it over and repeat the process coming back to where you started. You index finger should force the cutting edge to contact the leather properly. I had difficulty keeping the cutting bevel on my strop before adopting this practice. I still use it.
Be careful not to let your finger get caught between the edge and the strop!!

L.P.