Wenger Blade Sharpness

[Wilfried]

Several times I came accross some comments -here and elsewhere- which seem to indicate that there's an issue with the Wenger blade sharpness out of the box.

Can some people enlighten me on this, for I intend to get myself a Wenger in the not too distant future.

Thanks!   

[Spatha]

I find the tips tend to be blunt, but my older Motorist came with a sharp tip.

[Lynn LeFey]

While I haven't owned a lot of Wengers, and fewer that were new-in-box, the two I recently purchased, a Handyman and Ranger 58, were both very sharp out of the package.

I just tested the Handyman, and it would easily cut phonebook paper.

[Wilfried]

While I haven't owned a lot of Wengers, and fewer that were new-in-box, the two I recently purchased, a Handyman and Ranger 58, were both very sharp out of the package.

I just tested the Handyman, and it would easily cut phonebook paper.

That sounds reassuring!   

[dks]

It happens. My latest Victorinox, whilst still sharp, was not as sharp as I would have liked (would not slice paper). I gave it a quick sharpening session on the stones and now it is fine.

We knife people tend to have higher sharpness standards than most regular people.

[Lynn LeFey]

We knife people tend to have higher sharpness standards than most regular people.

Maybe it works the other way around. Maybe we have higher sharpness standards, and that leads us into being knife people. Huh? HUH? See there, I BLEW YOUR MIND! 

[Magic Bus]

It happens. My latest Victorinox, whilst still sharp, was not as sharp as I would have liked (would not slice paper). I gave it a quick sharpening session on the stones and now it is fine.

We knife people tend to have higher sharpness standards than most regular people.

This could well be true  My new Swisschamp was the same ie. sharpish, but not proper sharp.

[dks]

this is so confusing....         

[enki_ck]

It's infectious too.

If we sharpen knives for family and friends, they too begin to have higher standards of what's sharp.

[dks]

Every time I see the bottom of a coffee mug I have to sharpen a knife on it.....

[Spatha]

Every time I see the bottom of a coffee mug I have to sharpen a knife on it.....

   That's a good tip.  You should put it in that pro tips thread.  I've just given it a go with my beat up old Mechanic and it really worked well.  Next time I'll wait for them to finish their drink first though.   

[NutSAK]

We knife people tend to have higher sharpness standards than most regular people.

I think you're right.  I've never bought any pocket knife that I felt was sharp enough out of the box (for my tastes).  I've had a few "tactical" folders that were sharp enough, but never a SAK or a traditional slipjoint.

[Wilfried]

Every time I see the bottom of a coffee mug I have to sharpen a knife on it.....

Yes, it works.   

I watched that tip on YouTube.

[Wilfried]

It happens. My latest Victorinox, whilst still sharp, was not as sharp as I would have liked (would not slice paper). I gave it a quick sharpening session on the stones and now it is fine.

We knife people tend to have higher sharpness standards than most regular people.

I guess I'm just a regular...   

[enki_ck]

It happens. My latest Victorinox, whilst still sharp, was not as sharp as I would have liked (would not slice paper). I gave it a quick sharpening session on the stones and now it is fine.

We knife people tend to have higher sharpness standards than most regular people.

I guess I'm just a regular...   

You're still young around here, it will change. Soon enough if it's not shaving sharp, it's not sharp enough.

[NutSAK]

You're still young around here, it will change. Soon enough if it's not shaving sharp, it's not sharp enough.

Indeed.  Try to stay the way you are though, as it becomes a real issue when you have an older, collectible NIB knife that you would like to carry a little while.  I either have to sharpen it and it becomes a user, or keep it shiny in the box and never use it because it's too dull! 

[tosh]

Well, I don't know how sharp you guys want your knife to be.
My son is obsessed with all my newly acquired Wenger's, and worse he knows where they are kept. To scare him I asked him to pick his favourite... He chose the 505 hunter blaze. I then performed the paper cut test to demonstrate these were not toys and would slice through his fingers as easily as the blade sliced through paper. I was pretty impressed as to how sharp mine arrived, simply razor sharp.

I wouldn't want it any sharper, not on a SAK.

[Wilfried]

It happens. My latest Victorinox, whilst still sharp, was not as sharp as I would have liked (would not slice paper). I gave it a quick sharpening session on the stones and now it is fine.

We knife people tend to have higher sharpness standards than most regular people.

I guess I'm just a regular...   

You're still young around here, it will change. Soon enough if it's not shaving sharp, it's not sharp enough.

That reminds me of a Question I Always Wanted To Ask:

Did some of you ever tried to shave yourselves with a razor sharp SAK?   

I really would like to know...   

[NutSAK]

That reminds me of a Question I Always Wanted To Ask:

Did some of you ever tried to shave yourselves with a razor sharp SAK?   

I really would like to know...   

Well, not my face.  But, if the knife I'm sharpening doesn't shave a patch of hair off my arm in both directions, I'm not done sharpening.  So, I suppose the answer to your question is yes--I frequently test this way.

[Wilfried]

That reminds me of a Question I Always Wanted To Ask:

Did some of you ever tried to shave yourselves with a razor sharp SAK?   

I really would like to know...   

Well, not my face.  But, if the knife I'm sharpening doesn't shave a patch of hair off my arm in both directions, I'm not done sharpening.  So, I suppose the answer to your question is yes--I frequently test this way.

Watched that one on YouTube too...     

[Lynn LeFey]

I am happy with paper-cutting sharp, and VERY happy with phonebook paper cutting sharp.

I don't need a razor.

[enki_ck]

Old video of my SI.

[tosh]

It happens. My latest Victorinox, whilst still sharp, was not as sharp as I would have liked (would not slice paper). I gave it a quick sharpening session on the stones and now it is fine.

We knife people tend to have higher sharpness standards than most regular people.

I guess I'm just a regular...   

You're still young around here, it will change. Soon enough if it's not shaving sharp, it's not sharp enough.

That reminds me of a Question I Always Wanted To Ask:

Did some of you ever tried to shave yourselves with a razor sharp SAK?   

I really would like to know...   

I shudder at the thought.
I assume you mean like a cut throat razor??...... They were called cut throat razors for a reason you know 
 

[NutSAK]

I am happy with paper-cutting sharp, and VERY happy with phonebook paper cutting sharp.

I don't need a razor.

Well, I don't need one either, but I'm happiest when it's as sharp as I can get it.  A sharp knife is safer to use than a dull one, and by my logic, the sharper it is, the safer it is. 

[Wilfried]

It happens. My latest Victorinox, whilst still sharp, was not as sharp as I would have liked (would not slice paper). I gave it a quick sharpening session on the stones and now it is fine.

We knife people tend to have higher sharpness standards than most regular people.

I guess I'm just a regular...   

You're still young around here, it will change. Soon enough if it's not shaving sharp, it's not sharp enough.

That reminds me of a Question I Always Wanted To Ask:

Did some of you ever tried to shave yourselves with a razor sharp SAK?   

I really would like to know...   

I shudder at the thought.
I assume you mean like a cut throat razor??...... They were called cut throat razors for a reason you know 
 

There are always people around who try out a thing or two...       

[Fattsgalore]

Wenger scissors suck. (65mm at least) Just throwing that out their for no reason. Any mention of Wenger and it's the first thing that comes to mind.

But with that said I have no complaints with the edges on the few Wengers I've owned, and in fact I like how their blades have a little more belly to them. Good for slicing.

The first Vic SAK I ever bought new (MidniteManager) edge wasn't as sharp as it should have been. Wasn't hair popping sharp out the box. But with that said I've also purchased used ones with hair popping factory edges still on them. Blows me away sometimes...
 
So it may just be luck of the draw.
 

[Wilfried]

Thanks!


I'm going to buy myself a Wenger.   

[Fattsgalore]

Choose wisely...

[papercut]

The only NIB Wenger I have used regularly is a late model SI. It was papercutting sharp, but kinda rough. Upon closer inspection it was found.that the blade.was.never polished, it had many fine mininserations.  A few licks on the Vic sharpener smoothed it out.

Probably a cost cutting measure IMO.

Cheers.

[Jothra]

My s13 Scouts Canada (with Phillips!), s18, and Soft Touch all came Crazy Go Nuts sharp. So if I'm ever in an emergency involving push cutting paper or shaving arm hair, I'm good to go.