Can anyone tell me what the correct edge angle is on a HK 14302 Mini-Ascender? I use a Lansky sharpening system and I need to have the correct angle so I don't end up reforming the edge while I am trying to touch up the blade. I don't know why I can't seem to find the angles on the Benchmade website.

From my experiences with the Lansky systems, it's impossible to keep the factory angle. I assume you have the newer style with the 30,25,20 and 17 dgree angles. If you're just trying to retouch the edge then I personally would suggest using 30. Normally I regrind the angle to the 25 or 20 degree depending on the blade. Hope this helps.

I am also interested to see what the savvy members say.

Somewhere I have an email from the lady at Benchmade that sharpened one of mine and I think she said it was 15-17 degrees.

I am just learning to sharpen. I re-sharpened the same knife that she did (after it was starting to dull) and the Spyderco Sharpmaker 40 degree seemed to do better that the 30 degree.

So I used the 40 degree on my 770 Benchmade and it also seemed to sharpen it right up.

If I find her email, I will cut and paste it in here. Although it may not apply to your knife- I don't know.

I also use the Lansky. I feel that it is not possible to do touch ups with it for the following reasons.

1. You will never get the same exact angles twice. The blade clamp will never fit the exact way you did it the first time.

2. The rods. They have a tendency to bend. Just a tiny bit is enough to throw off the bevel.

3. If they don’t bend then the placement in the hones will always be just a little off. Throwing off your bevel again.

The Lansky gets things sharp as hell. But it has it’s limitations and (in my opinion) is not useful for touch ups. For touch ups I use Lansky Crock sticks. Touching up a blade is simply re-aligning the blade edge and should not require the removal of any steel.

From what I have heard, the BEST tool for touching up a blade is the Spyderco Sharpmaker.

The angle I sharpen with my lansky will depend on the blade and it’s use. (20 to 25 for me) Benchmade blades do not have a standard angle from the factory. It’s not uncommon to see the same model knife come from the factory with two different angles. 15-17 is way to steep to see a blade from the factory. If you want that angle (and many do) you need to do it yourself. I would say that most Benchmade blades come from the factory at between 25 and 30 degrees.

I used to have a fit over this. But it no longer bothers me knowing that the reason for this is that it’s better from a manufacturers point of view to accommodate the masses rather than the knife aficionados. We can put out own bevel on it, and do.

Great post Forthington!

Yep thanks for the info Dr Forthington Pringles.

Here is the email she sent me. I took her name off.
-----------------------------------------------
Sent: Mon Nov 9th, 2009 2:22 PM EST
Subject: RE: Your product tracking info from Benchmade Knife Co

Hi Donnie,

That is very true, we hand sharpen every knife at about a 30 degree inclusive angle (15-17 degrees on each side). Hope that helps.

Thanks,

XXXXXXXXX
Warranty, Repair, and Lifesharp
Benchmade Knife Co., Inc.

quote:

Originally posted by fastjan:
Great post Forthington!

Ditto that ..... out of 1,256 post , you finally made one that helped someone
Now we,ll have to go through another 1,255 post of crap till we hear another good one

I say there, Pringles, well done! Quite, eh, wot?

Sorry, every time I read the name "Dr. Forthington Pringles," I hear a stuffy, Oxford English accent in my mind

FFFunnnyy!

And DJ-

Don't worry, your first helpful post will come someday.

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