just got my military and am looking for tips

[aero_student]

I just got my plain edged military today. I hadn't been able to find a store in the area that had one so I haven't handled it before. All I can say is wow. I was wondering how most of you sharpen yours. It is cpm440v. Do you use the medium or fine stones, what is the best angle, what is the best way to finish the blade? This will be primarily a camping knife and will be trying it out this weekend.



I know this part of my post isn't related, but here it goes anyway. My family and I are going camping and to a rodeo this weekend. Every year the night before the rodeo there is a country dance full of drunk cowboys. We decided it was time for a prank. We are making a UFO with chemical glow sticks and helium balloons. we are putting one or two in a white baloon filling it with helium and then attaching the necessary amount of other balloons in order to make it float. This will be released about a 1/8 of a mile from the outdoor dance and will float over it hopefully grabbing the attention of many people. I was hoping some of you may have tried similar things or may have some input or comments. Thanks

[sam the man..]

Howdy dude!
Welcome aboard the forums! <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
I usually sharpen my millie after heavy wear on the medium grit -- 40 strokes or more to get a bevel with medium pressure and 30 strokes with the fine grit to shape the bevel.. So far so good. I have a serrated millie which is hard-used and a plain edged one which I think ~ Is an excellent cutting tool for my camp chores... <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Sam

have spydies will travel

[chinook]

A surprisingly like-minded webpage for you.

http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/~vdmeulen/deeper/Articles/UFOfake.html

I only had one &quot;close encounter.&quot; While in the military (ontopic?) and in formation at night in Virginia there were some very entertaining and acrobatic fireflies in a tree that had a few recruits pondering our solitary solar existence.


Disguised as a responsible adult

[The Stare]

CPM440V does have remarkable edge-holding capability. Having said that, it isn't the easiest steel in the world to grind or sharpen. I believe that if you keep on top of the sharpening with your Military, that you'll do fine.

The ceramic rods do a fantastic job of maintaining edges. They do fall down a bit when it is necessary to really remove some steel, as in reprofiling, or whatever. When the ceramic rods are used on what is essentially still a fairly sharp edge, 440V can be brought to a fine level of sharpness alost remarkably easily -- at least with my Native, IME.

Stare