I have many knives which I have in my collection and a few is what I use or keep in my backpack, and EDC bag for when I need them. One knife which is important to me is the pocket knife which was issued to me while stationed at one air base while in the Air Force. That knife is what we used to cut line we used to put on the pallet shackle which is used on the cargo pallets used to drop cargo. I had this knife since back during the early 1980's when it was issued to me. Most guys who was issued a new knife at the same time I got mine wore them out in no time because they didn't know how to sharpen them even though we all was told how to do that. Mine still looks like it did when it was issued to me and I take good care of it and all the other knives I own.
I agree, Sidney! I have seen many a knife worn down to nothing from folks using stones too aggressively and just scraping away metal that didn't need scraped away.
I had one of those airman knives 44 years ago . Never could get it sharp enough to suit me . Finally swapped it out for a Gerber MK II , THAT came out of the box insanely sharp , still have it !
I’ve been sharpening knives since I was a child, but I have never been confident in what I’m doing. Thank you for getting on this topic. It’s going to help me tremendously.
I actually learned something, i wasnt even aware of the three sides and how you articulated it made alot of sense. I mainly used files or a grinder to sharpen knifes. Well my ignorance got the best of me thank you forest wizard Joshua
I love sharpening knives. It makes me relax. I bought one of those knives and no matter what I did, it sucked. I didn't use the work sharp because I generally use that for machetes. So I do them by hand. I finally just filed it to a Scandi grind and it is amazing. Finally a useful knife.
I can say with 100% that any one that is talking about the Air Force might not know what they are talking about , in my personal opinion the most underrated in the public eye and people that have no idea what they are talking about are the PJ's and the forward operators and others in the Air Force that stand beside and fight with every branches best fighters from SEAL's , and others . There are a lot of Green Berets , SEAL's , Rangers and soldiers and marines alive today for one reason and one reason only and that's the PJ's risking there lives to go in a get them out of some of the worst spots in every war from Korea to today and will do so in the future . In my eyes they are as good as any group from any country , I will always respect what those men do and admire what they do , I keep the PJ's in my prayers every night for what they have done and what they will do .
@@christophdollis1955 I know some comments about the Air Force were intended as a joke I get it I have heard a lot over the years its not the joke its the misinformation that is passed off from people that know little to nothing that have no idea the Air Force even has Spec Op's or what they do that I am pointing out . I was not responding to Josh I figure he knows what hes talking about and can joke about it from an informed position more to the various people that might not know that jump on the band wagon . Its always funny when people say lighten up , I served my brother served and did not come home my father and uncle and grand father all served Air Force , so it means something to me so with all do respect I do not think ill lighten up on people jokingly putting down the Air Force in you tube comments .
RE: Lock and key at Walmart. I went to a bunch of Walmarts in and around the major metro area where I live looking to stock up on a certain product (in the camping area) that each Mart only had 2-4 of. Interestingly, as I got into areas known for higher crime rates, more stuff was locked up. I laughed when I saw the $1.00 flashlights locked up. Right next to the locked up flashlights were $7.99 lights not locked up at all. Knives? All locked up... except for several knives and at least three machetes just a few feet away. Laugh and shake my head. Twenty miles out, they didn't even have locking cases.
As enlisted aircrew USAF in the 1980's my Ontario USAF survival knife was crap when I did Combat Survival training. It was dull out of the package and would not hold an edge in the field, those are my memories of that knife. Good luck with it. LoL
Excellent, you can actually hear the difference from start to finish on each stone. Unfortunately there are lots of people that really don't know how to sharpen knives. I learned at a very young age from an old timer, it is a valuable skill.
You crack me up. Your comments in the first part of the video are hilarious! I'm glad that you seem to be getting more comfortable in your channel that you've allowed your personality to show and not just be the totally serious, down to business instructor. Keep those videos coming!
OMG. This video is exactly what I was looking for. Like watching a dance. I can see, hear and will feel the blade run across each time. Thank you so much. I have learned alot from you. Your a born teacher. Thank You for your service.
Don't forget to look in the sandpaper isle. A few sheets of wet/dry paper (250, 400, 1000 grit) and the glass out of a 99 cent picture frame (any FLAT surface really) and you can have a passable sharpening system on the cheap. Wet/dry paper is very portable as well and can be stashed virtually anywhere in your kit. I have actually used the back of my strop and wet/dry paper on an occasion where I had to sharpen out a nick right in the belly of a blade. Worked like a charm. BTW - if you do this make sure you keep the leather of your strop dry ... I stuck the strop in a plastic baggie while I used it to hold the paper flat. If you really are super tight on the money, it's really worth the effort to find a knife that's well built with good steel. Honestly, at WalMart I'd look in the kitchen section for a 6" full tang chef's knife or butcher knife. Bang for the buck, I've been more than pleased with my Mora Companion. They aren't super sharp off the shelf, but a few minutes work and you can get them to a high standard and despite all of the "abuse until it fails" videos out there, they are actually quite durable and reliable. They can handle a light batoning if you're careful and have proper technique.
This should be every boy's first knife. You have to learn to sharpen and hone the knife, and condition the leather sheath before you get started using it. I have this knife and had the same problems with the edge. I just put it on the mantle and got a Tops BOB. Now I can look at my cool mantle knife and work with a great tool. Thanks for taking the time to show the entire process. I know that is a much better cutter now than before. Thanks for your channel!
GBGB , about 25 years ago I was out in the field and stumbled upon a deer which I dispatched , when it came time to gut it out I discovered I didn't have my schrade improved muscrat but I had my Ontario survival knife marked 1991 and that thing sucked at gutting . eventually I got it done and dragged it home. The pummel is great for cracking walnuts and pounding tent stakes. It isn't too bad once you work the edge but I would prefer a different blade .
I put a scandi grind on my air force survival knife. Also got rid of the teeth on the spine and filed the spine to 90 degrees on both edges. I use the spine for scraping tree bark for tinder and for getting sparks from ferro rods. I cut down the guards too. Makes the knife more comfortable to use. A good knife.
Acquired a Camillus version of this knife at a Fayetteville pawn shop back in 83 and used a carborundum stone to reprofile the edge, a buddy of mine showed me how to strop using a leather belt and it was a great blade after that. Wish I still had that one.
Guess I'm just a old country boy but I grew up sharping knives. My dad showed me a few times. But I use Arkansas stones only or a strap. Been doing it for 50 yrs at least. Kinda just how we grew up. Always had a pocket knife in my pocket from 5 yrs old on. We carried knives to school. Just part of your everyday dressing to me.
I have watched several videos on knife sharpening and this video is the most informative. I appreciate the time taken to demonstrate to perform this task.
I bough a Gerber Prodigy from Walmart and have used it some not alot and it still shaves hair off my arm sofar I'm impressed with this knife and also really like the sheath
One of the very best sharpening how to videos on UA-cam. People need to learn how to do it this way instead of trying to use gimmicks found on the store shelves
OH Dude.. after i got over the "i had to go back to walmart" ( i so hate going back when disappointed) my next question was about your sharpening, which you brought up and answered.. GREAT JOB! Field maintenance is tricky at best, but maintaining at home is really important. wow man you nailed this one. I was given a very old knife by a friend, it is a wolf or a coyote jaw handle high carbon steel knife that belonged to her grandfather. i pulled it out if the crumbly leather sheath to check the edge.. and it was still sharp. all i had to do was put it to a steel and bring back the edge.. that knife is a prize.. it has lasted not only a good portion of her grandfathers life time but now well into my life time. I am totally down with your edge philosophy. For me when i use a stone i absolutely take my time speed is not your friend when using a stone. But i love knives so taking the time to become antiquated with knife is a relationship i enjoy developing . there is always something new to learn from your knife if you are not taking that tool for granted. Beautiful as you were using the yellow stone you could see the steel abrading on to the stone. A really good point is to also clean the stone when finished.. I have some really nice Washita stones that were my dad's. Dear old dad loved 3n1 oil.. he showed me how to sharpen my pocket knife, but i did not clean the stones well, I went to use them and used some honing oil, and mineral spirits to clean the stones and MAN they came back to life and are beautiful pieces of stone, eventually i will fill out my sharpening tools with a set of water stones and maybe a Tormek for re-profiling blades i don't like or disagree with edge on. but i digress .. man you got a monster strop cool.. i made a couple from some nice thick leather and a a piece of 2/4 ply wood and on from 2/4 oak. though dear old dad told me about stropping i didn't listen or should i say it didn't sink in until i started sharpening my marking and carving knives.. I was completely dissatisfy with my MK3 so i took it to my stone and really worked on the edge.. i it sharp enough but the factory grind was irregular so the edge is really really good. and there are still some spots where the grind was a little deep so i left that and mirrored the rest.. and man it can cut now WooooHoooo... William Collins says "maintain your edge.. if you chip it don't worry about it. just keep it sharp it will cut eventually the chips will come out"... but i can go on and on cause i love knives they are like girl friends (don't tell the long red braid that) Love this one man...
I'm with you, bro! If I can go my whole life without putting a stone on any of my blades I would be okay with that. Stropping is the way to go. Little tiny chips won't get me to bring the stones out either, just like you said I will strop it and use it until they are gone with no issue.
That Smith's sharpener is a great setup. I still my heavy reprofiling or edge repair etc on cheap diamond plates as they are faster and don't wear down as much as stones. I bought this knife years ago and never really got it as sharp as I'd like so I've never used it much sadly.
As a young boy l first learned about knife sharpening from a Field and Stream article, which gave me the best start on that journey that you too have provided in this video, that being "it's like you are trying to slice off a thin strip of the stone". I didn't know much else but that set me on the right road then and your video will do as much for those taking their tentative first steps there as well. Thanks from one grey beard to another man !
Somehow I've made it 40 years without knowing the proper way to sharpen a knife. I'm a Contractor, so I usually just use a belt sander to get my bades back into working order, but not razor sharp. Thank you. I learned a lot.
I've skipped the expensive rigs and used the auto body sand paper that Walmart sells for sharpening knives in the past. They work really well and get my tools almost surgical sharp. Hope my tip helps out.
I have a variety of stones and diamond plates that I use, but typically finish with stropping on the paper you mention. I just bought one of the blocks the paper attaches too. I start at 1000 or 1500 usually and end with 3000. Edges come out so polished and sharp! As long as you aren't totally redoing an edge you can pretty much just use the paper to touch of blades for sure.
@@charliewilson1880, thought I would drop another nugget down for everyone to use after 3 years of searching. In conjunction with the 3m auto body paper I use, I also have found a doozy of a whetstone. It's located in big box hardware stores in the tile saw section and is labeled as a " Diamond circular saw sharpener". It's basically industrial grade diamond powder, silicon carbide and ceramic all blended up and cast into a bar. Usually you'd cut it into slivers to sharpen your diamond impregnated circular saw blades, but it makes a real gem of a whetstone. One of those plus a fine double cut bastard file, and a strop is perfect for going out into the feild.
THANX for heads up on this Grey Beard!! I have an old one of these I think VN era with top of hilt broken off, totally mistreated. .just want to fix up and make it a great tool again!
I was issued one of those in 1986 and still have it. Once you get it sharp its a pretty good tool and sturdy. You've convinced me that stropping is an essential follow up to sharpening ,something I've neglected to always complete. Thanks for sharing. Great video!
Good video.. The Air Force survival knife is actually a really good knife.. I have botton and sharpen 2 of them. And gave one to my son in the Marine Corps. They are very strong and hold a really good edge. Once you put the work in. I need to do a mode on the sheaf so it can hold a Ferro rod. I love tough affordable equipment.
I believe you will be satisfied with the performance of that knife. I have seen some of the beat up, bent ones come out of the survival school at Fairchild.
Josh, I really appreciate this video. I guess I never really developed a good technique to sharpen my knives & never got a great edge. I went along with you step by step and the results are much better, which has led to a much better time of with my cuts. Thanks!
One Ontario Knife CEO gave this a thumbs down...from the comfort of his limo. Also hilarious that the commercial before the video was for a company that sharpens knives! Thank you for doing this video, these are the basic skills that many including myself need to hone (pun intended). I don’t want to go too far down the rabbit-hole, but it’s a sad state of affairs that mankind has lost so much basic knowledge in just 100 years. Starting a fire, sharpening a knife, basically being self reliant in any way is a lost tradition to many if not most of our population. I look forward to soaking up as much of this free knowledge as I can, learning it in the field through training and trial and error on my own and most importantly teaching it to my kids.
😂😂😂 that's great that YT placed that ad there, very fitting. I always wonder what ads are being placed on my videos for everyone. I figure they could be anything
It was a company that you send kitchen knives to, they sharpen and send back to you. Needless to say, they’ve aired their commercial to the wrong demographic, lol. You’ve probably got guys out in their garage sharpening the wive’s kitchen knives as we speak!
As a young guy only 24 I can say it's a major rarity to meet people who know even a little about self reliance in almost any scenario. I taught myself alot of what I know through trial and error as a kid and eventually when my mom put me in boy scouts, I ended up teaching wilderness survival and archery not long after. Nowadays I get crazy looks and "huh"s if I bring up that kinda stuff...
@@sterlingd1984 that’s awesome that you have the skills and knowledge already at that age. The same people that seem indifferent or uninterested would become very open minded about it in an emergency, and hopefully you’ll be there for them if it ever comes to that.
I’ve found great success using the “Sharp Maker” and all four pairs of stones. I’ve always had trouble sharpening knives with a stones, however this system makes my knives shaving sharp.
Thank you for your service. I always sharpen the first side until I form a bur then do the other side until it forms a bur and go through the stones until stropping at the end. I guess the end result is all that matters and there are different ways to get there.
............Great video on recovering or establishing a sharp edge on your knife. I too bought that same knife at Walmart and the edge grind was passable but not as I would like it to take to the field. I know Ontario to be a good American brand in business for many years so I knew the modest price of less than 50 bucks was a worthy purchase. My answer to getting a very good edge on that knife or any other made of quality steel for hand sharpening is simple and inexpensive....Belt sander belts in a variety of grits and lengths.....I cut one and stretch it to the edge of my plywood work table and hold it tight and in place with simple clamps I use for my leather work....maybe even available in the Walmart tool section......It gives me a working surface of approximately 30 inches by two inches....change grits from course to super fine as needed.....also works on a machete or axe........Also.........a common complaint of the Ontario USAF Pilots Survival Knife in knife reviews is the saw teeth on the spine will not cut wood.....Several UA-cam commenters have answered that it is not supposed to cut wood.....it was designed for use by aircrews to cut through the aluminum skin to escape from downed aircraft....I have not tried it but sounds reasonable to me...............Hope this helps......I enjoy my Ontario knife and I hope you do too......
Places like Walmart or home depot, etc... require the companies to provide a lower price to sell in their stores, and as a result the companies provide a cheaper and lesser product just for that store. Same is true of fertilizers, camping gear, hand tools, or almost any product. Thanks for sharing, keep up the good work!
Great video, Josh. Thank you for taking the time to post this. In an emergency, I use the back of my leather sheath as my strop - because I always have it with me. And then the "fingernail test" is a super easy way to detect those micro-nicks.
great content, J. knife maintenance is my deficiency. pull thru's, flat stones, diamond sharpeners but, no table stand sharpening systems(don't have the space). i either have to have my knives sharpened by a third party or buy new knives. loving the Walmart kit video series. Semper Fi.
I have been trying different systems and sharpening knives for many years. I’ve been frustrated because I feel they are never sharp enough. Just adequate. I tried your way and am more than surprised. Everyone should try this route. Thank you for your videos. Survival techniques, big out bags and fire starting are my favorites. Keep up the good work and you are much appreciated. You ever try the sheep shank knot in replacement for the truckers hitch? You should check it out. Much better knot! Thanks again my friend!!
The two knives and the machete I bought from that company had edges on them. With a little strop...you can now shave with them. Good video though 👍. Thanks for taking the time to make it.
Hello my helpful friend, thank you for sharing your fine video. I purchased that same knife two weeks ago. It was medium sharp out of the box. Looks like I will need a better quality sharpener. 🤗
Ontario usually produces good products however, our issued aircrew knives were the same. I think KA BAR puts out a far better product when it comes to a military knife.
K-Bar might be better but, there are still way better knives out there for the money. I retired from the Marine Corps and I can tell you that I never carried a K-Bar. They were very tough knives but didn't keep an edge very long. Now a days you can get a great field knife for less than a $100. Just one man's opinion.
@@RetiredTop43 Do you have any suggestions for a "great field knife for less than $100"? I've been watching tons of videos, specifically GB2, but others also, and the knives usually suggested are typically more than $100.
@@dtigue Check out the Buck 863 Selkirk. I think that is a great knife. There's a ton of good knives out there for cheap. If you are ever interested in a custom knife, check out Ed Martin. He makes great knives.
An Ontario Knife humiliated me somewhat over half a decade ago. Buddy received his RAT series knife, a fairly expensive piece of steel, brand new yet it couldn't cut 550 cord but in one place for him. I was the only guy that deployed (OEF) with a full sharpening system. Since I didn't want him to dick up the stones so I told him that I'd sharpen it myself. It took me quite a while to understand that, like Josh's blade here, the grind was at very uneven angles. After many, many strokes it eventually took a working edge on it but nothing better. Terrible quality blade but it did teach me I knew more about honing than sharpening :D :D
For that price point at Walmart, I would suggest the Gerber Prodigy. I have both it and the air force survival knife and minus the stainless vs carbon steel part I feel the Gerber has more going for it. That is just my opinion.
If you have a knife that needs a touch up and you dont have a strop or stone etc. just grab a ceramic mug or plate and use the bottom where it wasn't glazed. makes a great fine stone.
As I’ve watched Josh work throughout his videos, I’ve gathered that he has a wicked sharp sense of humor. Not only was the video on point (I find sharpening knives almost therapeutic), but it’s one of the funniest videos I’ve seen in a long time. I could hear more hairs turning gray during this video. Thank you, Josh!
I haven't been inside a Walmart in about 8 years. I certainly don't need to go there to get one of those. I see that you like the Morakniv. I've become a real Morakniv fan. They are cheap, durable and come razor sharp.
I definitely made the mistake of using oil rather than water when I started out till I realised. Amazing how much work goes into correcting a poorly sharpened knife (been there). For maintenance I have a small clam shell case with a small 12k grit slate hone, a lightweight rolled up leather and canvas strop and stropping compound. worth taking every time. Not a bad set from smiths though a bit bulky for my liking for mobile field use. But from Walmart appreciate the choice is limited. Saying that I wonder if a slate dinner plate or coaster would be available in Walmart to improvise with? Now you've got me thinking
I think I would cut down those guards to about .25" and soften the edges. They stick out like a sore thumb. I'd probably soften the edges on the pommel as well. And soak some wax into the leather.
I have been in huge arguments with BUTCHERS about the direction of honing. Forward to redo the edge and to hone the blade goes backward? Love your teaching.
JUST SUBSCRIBED! Reason is: Your honesty about how crappy Wally's knife is right out of the box is: "Total garbage". This tells me you know a little about knives. You didn't say|: "It's an ok knife right out of the box"! You respect your knife enough that you take the extra step to be honest. In return, I respect you enough to want to watch more of your videos. Thank you The Gray Bearded Green Beret! With respect, I humbly raise my hat to you.
Had me laughing “right out of the package.” Very funny stuff...! That said, your diligence sharpening and honing a blade before you go to the field is crazy admirable, and instructive. Always making us better.
They've actually been making them for the airforce for ages, but apparently they have always come dull. They have a reputation for being tough. Also, as he said, these are only $40. OKC other knives like the RATs etc. are probably just made to a different level of quality for hard long-term use.
@@jameswoodard4304 When I think about that I think I remember hearing that about that knife not being sharp out of the box. And I really like Ontario knifes. MId range pricing, nice quality. I have used the heck out of my Rat's and the keep on cutting very happy with them. Walmart has a lot of goods in there sporting department any more. I saw some name brand red dots, and scopes at a great price just last week. I wander about there quality or if they are not seconds.
The best way to tell that you are done on the coarse stone is to check for a burr that pushes side to side as you change sides. Then move on to the next stone.
I have a couple ontario knives and I'm really surprised that you got one that was so sub par. I love my RAT 1 edc folder and fixed blade fighter blades. I had no issues with them holding an edge. But that said, I do believe your complaints are valid.
I bought the same knife for my son and it would not cut cardboard when I got it. Sharpening started with my bench top belt sander with 120 grit so I could have better control on material removal. The angle at the curve in the edge was way off from the rest of the edge and needed correction. Next I proceeded to my wet stones for about an hour. It works well for bush crafting but you cannot fillet a fish with it. The edge held up nicely after making 2 walking sticks for my kids, it would still slice paper almost as well as before. IMO it's not a bad knife for the $$$$ _IF_ you don't mind putting considerable work into the edge.
I was wondering the same thing. I did some research and found out that it's about 4-5 lbs of pressure for honing, and 8-9 lbs for sharpening. But most of the experienced guys just do it by feel.
Another great video. I needed a great instruction on knife sharpening and you did an outstanding presentation. As for the ads that interrupt your video I remember two. One was for Hillsdale College for a WW II course and the other was a watch advertisement. As always keep up the great job you do and I am looking forward for your future videos and to be able to go back and watch your other videos over and over they are always great.
I use emory cloth to set an angle and sharpen a knife starting with 120 grit then work up too 1000 after that I use Craytex strips then go to stones and stropping the blade.
A customer of mine brought his son one of these knifes to go off on a bushcraft course. He brought it to me to sharpen. I used a stronger word then garbage and told him to send it back. Bearing in mind by the time its been shipped to this side of the pond its an $82 knife!! As my old Army buddy Teddy would say "Thats as blunt as a Badgers backside!!" No exscuse for it to be that dull. Anyway, it went back and he braught his son a Mora Kansbol for less money :-)
A magnesium fire starter from the big box stores fits almost perfect in the old stone pouch on those sheaths and from what I understand at least with older military pilots knives the bevel on the edge is incorrect to hold a sharp edge as it's designed to be used for cutting yourself out of a wrecked aircraft
The ontario AF survival knife i got was much like that. I re-profiled the edge & honed it; that blade is harder steel than any of my Pocket knives. It’s sharp as can be & will hold an edge. I re-profile most knives i get; i never expect them to be the best out of the store. If You really want to try GBGB’s patience, give him a wally world schrade bowie w one of those hollow handles...got one of those too, & it’s a sharp beater knife.
I can't thank you enough for the time and effort you put into your vids. For guys like me who were raised by their moms, couldn't join the scouts and had no one to show them these skills. What you do is awesome. Keep up the great work big brother. Those mosquitoes that didn't like the vid. They're just mad you wouldn't let them feed off you. 😄 How do you check the knife's sharpness when you purchase or are done sharpening a knife? Thank you, thank you, a million times bro!! 🖖
GBGB, did you ever pick the right knife for the title of this video!! I was given an unused, sharp, Vietnam era, USN 499 by a Navy Veteran. The knife is a piece of history and it went in the safe. I purchased a new 499 from Ontario. Unusable as a "field knife" from the factory. For me, difficult to sharpen. I understand the edge and saw-back were designed to cut through metal, allowing a pilot to escape from a downed aircraft.
I bought the same sharpening kit. It isn’t too bad for a cheap kit just don’t lose the base. I ended up taking the stones off and throwing out the plastic triangle part.
First time I sharpened a pocket knife I used a pocket Arkansas fine stone. I figured out the knife was sharp when it took the tip of my finger off! Great memories!
Wait for Fridays video before you decide on buying anything. This kit was limited to Walmart, this isn't my typical kit. Friday will be about field sharpening and what my actual kit is for that
@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret Thanks. I wasn't going to buy anything from Walmart. I'm looking forward to the next vid and I'm glad you are going to show what you use. 😁
I saw that problem a long time ago.. I got a little cheap file that was a dollar or two.. and filed a good edge on it before I started trying to sharpen it on a stone. I've have tried to sharpen some of those knives on Stones before.. and it's a waste of time. When the edge of your knife is as thick as a nickel it takes forever. But a good file can knock it down quick. You can do the same thing with cheapo swords or machetes that come out of the box as dull as a butter knife.
It took me literally hours to put an acceptable edge on my Aircrew "Survival" Knife using a Lansky Kit. It usually takes 5 minutes or less with a new knife. I expect this knife to hold that edge forever and a day.
In survival you are always supposed to learn new things to improve your self-sufficiency. The way I see it, purchasing this knife has taught you the most important thing about knives: What do I look for in a knife before I buy it? How to sharpen a blunt knife? It's actually a win situation for you! Cheers!
That's the exact knife I was issued by the Coast Guard in the 1980's. Crappy knife, but if you had lots of spare time you could sharpen it with the included stone. I got it very sharp. Lost the knife after I got out. Oh, well...
I have many knives which I have in my collection and a few is what I use or keep in my backpack, and EDC bag for when I need them. One knife which is important to me is the pocket knife which was issued to me while stationed at one air base while in the Air Force. That knife is what we used to cut line we used to put on the pallet shackle which is used on the cargo pallets used to drop cargo. I had this knife since back during the early 1980's when it was issued to me. Most guys who was issued a new knife at the same time I got mine wore them out in no time because they didn't know how to sharpen them even though we all was told how to do that. Mine still looks like it did when it was issued to me and I take good care of it and all the other knives I own.
I agree, Sidney! I have seen many a knife worn down to nothing from folks using stones too aggressively and just scraping away metal that didn't need scraped away.
I had one of those airman knives 44 years ago . Never could get it sharp enough to suit me . Finally swapped it out for a Gerber MK II , THAT came out of the box insanely sharp , still have it !
I’ve been sharpening knives since I was a child, but I have never been confident in what I’m doing. Thank you for getting on this topic. It’s going to help me tremendously.
I actually learned something, i wasnt even aware of the three sides and how you articulated it made alot of sense. I mainly used files or a grinder to sharpen knifes. Well my ignorance got the best of me thank you forest wizard Joshua
I love sharpening knives. It makes me relax. I bought one of those knives and no matter what I did, it sucked. I didn't use the work sharp because I generally use that for machetes. So I do them by hand. I finally just filed it to a Scandi grind and it is amazing. Finally a useful knife.
I can say with 100% that any one that is talking about the Air Force might not know what they are talking about , in my personal opinion the most underrated in the public eye and people that have no idea what they are talking about are the PJ's and the forward operators and others in the Air Force that stand beside and fight with every branches best fighters from SEAL's , and others . There are a lot of Green Berets , SEAL's , Rangers and soldiers and marines alive today for one reason and one reason only and that's the PJ's risking there lives to go in a get them out of some of the worst spots in every war from Korea to today and will do so in the future . In my eyes they are as good as any group from any country , I will always respect what those men do and admire what they do , I keep the PJ's in my prayers every night for what they have done and what they will do .
Aaron Cross yes there are. All branches have their elite. The Air Force just tends to keep it on the QT.
It's a joke, dude. Lighten up.
@@christophdollis1955 I know some comments about the Air Force were intended as a joke I get it I have heard a lot over the years its not the joke its the misinformation that is passed off from people that know little to nothing that have no idea the Air Force even has Spec Op's or what they do that I am pointing out . I was not responding to Josh I figure he knows what hes talking about and can joke about it from an informed position more to the various people that might not know that jump on the band wagon . Its always funny when people say lighten up , I served my brother served and did not come home my father and uncle and grand father all served Air Force , so it means something to me so with all do respect I do not think ill lighten up on people jokingly putting down the Air Force in you tube comments .
RE: Lock and key at Walmart. I went to a bunch of Walmarts in and around the major metro area where I live looking to stock up on a certain product (in the camping area) that each Mart only had 2-4 of. Interestingly, as I got into areas known for higher crime rates, more stuff was locked up. I laughed when I saw the $1.00 flashlights locked up. Right next to the locked up flashlights were $7.99 lights not locked up at all. Knives? All locked up... except for several knives and at least three machetes just a few feet away. Laugh and shake my head.
Twenty miles out, they didn't even have locking cases.
As enlisted aircrew USAF in the 1980's my Ontario USAF survival knife was crap when I did Combat Survival training. It was dull out of the package and would not hold an edge in the field, those are my memories of that knife. Good luck with it. LoL
The Ontario knife is WWI. The Buck M9 is the best knife.
Excellent, you can actually hear the difference from start to finish on each stone. Unfortunately there are lots of people that really don't know how to sharpen knives. I learned at a very young age from an old timer, it is a valuable skill.
You crack me up. Your comments in the first part of the video are hilarious! I'm glad that you seem to be getting more comfortable in your channel that you've allowed your personality to show and not just be the totally serious, down to business instructor. Keep those videos coming!
That is the most simple and thorough sharpening video I have ever seen ! Many thanks and You have given Me confidence to try sharpen My Knives .
OMG. This video is exactly what I was looking for. Like watching a dance. I can see, hear and will feel the blade run across each time.
Thank you so much.
I have learned alot from you.
Your a born teacher.
Thank You for your service.
Don't forget to look in the sandpaper isle. A few sheets of wet/dry paper (250, 400, 1000 grit) and the glass out of a 99 cent picture frame (any FLAT surface really) and you can have a passable sharpening system on the cheap. Wet/dry paper is very portable as well and can be stashed virtually anywhere in your kit. I have actually used the back of my strop and wet/dry paper on an occasion where I had to sharpen out a nick right in the belly of a blade. Worked like a charm. BTW - if you do this make sure you keep the leather of your strop dry ... I stuck the strop in a plastic baggie while I used it to hold the paper flat.
If you really are super tight on the money, it's really worth the effort to find a knife that's well built with good steel. Honestly, at WalMart I'd look in the kitchen section for a 6" full tang chef's knife or butcher knife.
Bang for the buck, I've been more than pleased with my Mora Companion. They aren't super sharp off the shelf, but a few minutes work and you can get them to a high standard and despite all of the "abuse until it fails" videos out there, they are actually quite durable and reliable. They can handle a light batoning if you're careful and have proper technique.
My dad used to sharpen knives with emory paper glued down to a table.
Plain ol' cardboard makes an excellent strop. Paper grocery bags too. Paper and cardboard are surprisingly abrasive.
You are a patient individual.
Most SF folk do, its a weird but very cool mystical thing
This should be every boy's first knife. You have to learn to sharpen and hone the knife, and condition the leather sheath before you get started using it. I have this knife and had the same problems with the edge. I just put it on the mantle and got a Tops BOB. Now I can look at my cool mantle knife and work with a great tool. Thanks for taking the time to show the entire process. I know that is a much better cutter now than before. Thanks for your channel!
Not a bad way to look at it
GBGB , about 25 years ago I was out in the field and stumbled upon a deer which I dispatched , when it came time to gut it out I discovered I didn't have my schrade improved muscrat but I had my Ontario survival knife marked 1991 and that thing sucked at gutting . eventually I got it done and dragged it home. The pummel is great for cracking walnuts and pounding tent stakes. It isn't too bad once you work the edge but I would prefer a different blade .
Man, W-T-H... don't throw away the instructions!
The paper is good to test the edge!!
Good video!
Nooooo, it's tinder!
I put a scandi grind on my air force survival knife. Also got rid of the teeth on the spine and filed the spine to 90 degrees on both edges. I use the spine for scraping tree bark for tinder and for getting sparks from ferro rods. I cut down the guards too. Makes the knife more comfortable to use. A good knife.
Acquired a Camillus version of this knife at a Fayetteville pawn shop back in 83 and used a carborundum stone to reprofile the edge, a buddy of mine showed me how to strop using a leather belt and it was a great blade after that. Wish I still had that one.
No luck w flat stones, strop, etc. Bought McGowan Firestone MN 1302. Works quick, lightweight. Thank you again.
Guess I'm just a old country boy but I grew up sharping knives. My dad showed me a few times. But I use Arkansas stones only or a strap. Been doing it for 50 yrs at least. Kinda just how we grew up. Always had a pocket knife in my pocket from 5 yrs old on. We carried knives to school. Just part of your everyday dressing to me.
I have watched several videos on knife sharpening and this video is the most informative. I appreciate the time taken to demonstrate to perform this task.
I bough a Gerber Prodigy from Walmart and have used it some not alot and it still shaves hair off my arm sofar I'm impressed with this knife and also really like the sheath
One of the very best sharpening how to videos on UA-cam. People need to learn how to do it this way instead of trying to use gimmicks found on the store shelves
OH Dude.. after i got over the "i had to go back to walmart" ( i so hate going back when disappointed) my next question was about your sharpening, which you brought up and answered.. GREAT JOB! Field maintenance is tricky at best, but maintaining at home is really important. wow man you nailed this one. I was given a very old knife by a friend, it is a wolf or a coyote jaw handle high carbon steel knife that belonged to her grandfather. i pulled it out if the crumbly leather sheath to check the edge.. and it was still sharp. all i had to do was put it to a steel and bring back the edge.. that knife is a prize.. it has lasted not only a good portion of her grandfathers life time but now well into my life time. I am totally down with your edge philosophy. For me when i use a stone i absolutely take my time speed is not your friend when using a stone. But i love knives so taking the time to become antiquated with knife is a relationship i enjoy developing . there is always something new to learn from your knife if you are not taking that tool for granted. Beautiful as you were using the yellow stone you could see the steel abrading on to the stone. A really good point is to also clean the stone when finished.. I have some really nice Washita stones that were my dad's. Dear old dad loved 3n1 oil.. he showed me how to sharpen my pocket knife, but i did not clean the stones well, I went to use them and used some honing oil, and mineral spirits to clean the stones and MAN they came back to life and are beautiful pieces of stone, eventually i will fill out my sharpening tools with a set of water stones and maybe a Tormek for re-profiling blades i don't like or disagree with edge on. but i digress .. man you got a monster strop cool.. i made a couple from some nice thick leather and a a piece of 2/4 ply wood and on from 2/4 oak. though dear old dad told me about stropping i didn't listen or should i say it didn't sink in until i started sharpening my marking and carving knives.. I was completely dissatisfy with my MK3 so i took it to my stone and really worked on the edge.. i it sharp enough but the factory grind was irregular so the edge is really really good. and there are still some spots where the grind was a little deep so i left that and mirrored the rest.. and man it can cut now WooooHoooo... William Collins says "maintain your edge.. if you chip it don't worry about it. just keep it sharp it will cut eventually the chips will come out"... but i can go on and on cause i love knives they are like girl friends (don't tell the long red braid that) Love this one man...
I'm with you, bro! If I can go my whole life without putting a stone on any of my blades I would be okay with that. Stropping is the way to go. Little tiny chips won't get me to bring the stones out either, just like you said I will strop it and use it until they are gone with no issue.
That Smith's sharpener is a great setup. I still my heavy reprofiling or edge repair etc on cheap diamond plates as they are faster and don't wear down as much as stones. I bought this knife years ago and never really got it as sharp as I'd like so I've never used it much sadly.
Awesome. All of your videos hit the mark. Concise and succinct. Your experience and professionalism comes through 5x5.
As a young boy l first learned about knife sharpening from a Field and Stream article, which gave me the best start on that journey that you too have provided in this video, that being "it's like you are trying to slice off a thin strip of the stone". I didn't know much else but that set me on the right road then and your video will do as much for those taking their tentative first steps there as well. Thanks from one grey beard to another man !
Somehow I've made it 40 years without knowing the proper way to sharpen a knife. I'm a Contractor, so I usually just use a belt sander to get my bades back into working order, but not razor sharp.
Thank you. I learned a lot.
I've skipped the expensive rigs and used the auto body sand paper that Walmart sells for sharpening knives in the past. They work really well and get my tools almost surgical sharp. Hope my tip helps out.
I have a variety of stones and diamond plates that I use, but typically finish with stropping on the paper you mention. I just bought one of the blocks the paper attaches too. I start at 1000 or 1500 usually and end with 3000. Edges come out so polished and sharp! As long as you aren't totally redoing an edge you can pretty much just use the paper to touch of blades for sure.
@@charliewilson1880, thought I would drop another nugget down for everyone to use after 3 years of searching. In conjunction with the 3m auto body paper I use, I also have found a doozy of a whetstone. It's located in big box hardware stores in the tile saw section and is labeled as a " Diamond circular saw sharpener". It's basically industrial grade diamond powder, silicon carbide and ceramic all blended up and cast into a bar. Usually you'd cut it into slivers to sharpen your diamond impregnated circular saw blades, but it makes a real gem of a whetstone. One of those plus a fine double cut bastard file, and a strop is perfect for going out into the feild.
THANX for heads up on this Grey Beard!! I have an old one of these I think VN era with top of hilt broken off, totally mistreated.
.just want to fix up and make it a great tool again!
I was issued one of those in 1986 and still have it. Once you get it sharp its a pretty good tool and sturdy. You've convinced me that stropping is an essential follow up to sharpening ,something I've neglected to always complete. Thanks for sharing. Great video!
Good video.. The Air Force survival knife is actually a really good knife.. I have botton and sharpen 2 of them. And gave one to my son in the Marine Corps. They are very strong and hold a really good edge. Once you put the work in. I need to do a mode on the sheaf so it can hold a Ferro rod. I love tough affordable equipment.
I believe you will be satisfied with the performance of that knife.
I have seen some of the beat up, bent ones come out of the survival school at Fairchild.
Josh, I really appreciate this video. I guess I never really developed a good technique to sharpen my knives & never got a great edge. I went along with you step by step and the results are much better, which has led to a much better time of with my cuts. Thanks!
One Ontario Knife CEO gave this a thumbs down...from the comfort of his limo. Also hilarious that the commercial before the video was for a company that sharpens knives!
Thank you for doing this video, these are the basic skills that many including myself need to hone (pun intended).
I don’t want to go too far down the rabbit-hole, but it’s a sad state of affairs that mankind has lost so much basic knowledge in just 100 years. Starting a fire, sharpening a knife, basically being self reliant in any way is a lost tradition to many if not most of our population.
I look forward to soaking up as much of this free knowledge as I can, learning it in the field through training and trial and error on my own and most importantly teaching it to my kids.
😂😂😂 that's great that YT placed that ad there, very fitting. I always wonder what ads are being placed on my videos for everyone. I figure they could be anything
It was a company that you send kitchen knives to, they sharpen and send back to you. Needless to say, they’ve aired their commercial to the wrong demographic, lol. You’ve probably got guys out in their garage sharpening the wive’s kitchen knives as we speak!
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As a young guy only 24 I can say it's a major rarity to meet people who know even a little about self reliance in almost any scenario. I taught myself alot of what I know through trial and error as a kid and eventually when my mom put me in boy scouts, I ended up teaching wilderness survival and archery not long after. Nowadays I get crazy looks and "huh"s if I bring up that kinda stuff...
@@sterlingd1984 that’s awesome that you have the skills and knowledge already at that age. The same people that seem indifferent or uninterested would become very open minded about it in an emergency, and hopefully you’ll be there for them if it ever comes to that.
I like how the sound changed when the knife got sharper and sharper
Knife sharpening ASMR
I’ve found great success using the “Sharp Maker” and all four pairs of stones. I’ve always had trouble sharpening knives with a stones, however this system makes my knives shaving sharp.
I love it when you start throwing stuff.
Thank you for your service. I always sharpen the first side until I form a bur then do the other side until it forms a bur and go through the stones until stropping at the end. I guess the end result is all that matters and there are different ways to get there.
I have decided to do Search and Rescue, these videos are teaching me so much!
It really is geometry in the end. Thanks for the close-up of sharpening.
Putting the initial edge is a time consuming art, if done correctly. Thanks for the great video explaining all the steps. Keep up the great content.
I have the exact knife, and it had four different angles …. I almost trashed it and was able to give it a great edge… I now have it back in my go bag.
Fantastic video. I work retail and we carry these sharpeners. Thanks for sharing the knowledge
I'm not sure how long it will hold up since I just got it, but I actually like that sharpener
Same technique I learned in Boyscouts. Used it right on through military
............Great video on recovering or establishing a sharp edge on your knife. I too bought that same knife at Walmart and the edge grind was passable but not as I would like it to take to the field. I know Ontario to be a good American brand in business for many years so I knew the modest price of less than 50 bucks was a worthy purchase. My answer to getting a very good edge on that knife or any other made of quality steel for hand sharpening is simple and inexpensive....Belt sander belts in a variety of grits and lengths.....I cut one and stretch it to the edge of my plywood work table and hold it tight and in place with simple clamps I use for my leather work....maybe even available in the Walmart tool section......It gives me a working surface of approximately 30 inches by two inches....change grits from course to super fine as needed.....also works on a machete or axe........Also.........a common complaint of the Ontario USAF Pilots Survival Knife in knife reviews is the saw teeth on the spine will not cut wood.....Several UA-cam commenters have answered that it is not supposed to cut wood.....it was designed for use by aircrews to cut through the aluminum skin to escape from downed aircraft....I have not tried it but sounds reasonable to me...............Hope this helps......I enjoy my Ontario knife and I hope you do too......
Places like Walmart or home depot, etc... require the companies to provide a lower price to sell in their stores, and as a result the companies provide a cheaper and lesser product just for that store. Same is true of fertilizers, camping gear, hand tools, or almost any product. Thanks for sharing, keep up the good work!
Dammit, I just ordered a Work Sharp Ken Onion from Home Depot
Great video, Josh. Thank you for taking the time to post this. In an emergency, I use the back of my leather sheath as my strop - because I always have it with me. And then the "fingernail test" is a super easy way to detect those micro-nicks.
great content, J. knife maintenance is my deficiency. pull thru's, flat stones, diamond sharpeners but, no table stand sharpening systems(don't have the space). i either have to have my knives sharpened by a third party or buy new knives. loving the Walmart kit video series. Semper Fi.
I have been trying different systems and sharpening knives for many years. I’ve been frustrated because I feel they are never sharp enough. Just adequate. I tried your way and am more than surprised. Everyone should try this route. Thank you for your videos. Survival techniques, big out bags and fire starting are my favorites. Keep up the good work and you are much appreciated. You ever try the sheep shank knot in replacement for the truckers hitch? You should check it out. Much better knot! Thanks again my friend!!
The two knives and the machete I bought from that company had edges on them. With a little strop...you can now shave with them. Good video though 👍. Thanks for taking the time to make it.
Hello my helpful friend, thank you for sharing your fine video. I purchased that same knife two weeks ago. It was medium sharp out of the box. Looks like I will need a better quality sharpener. 🤗
Ontario usually produces good products however, our issued aircrew knives were the same. I think KA BAR puts out a far better product when it comes to a military knife.
K-Bar might be better but, there are still way better knives out there for the money. I retired from the Marine Corps and I can tell you that I never carried a K-Bar. They were very tough knives but didn't keep an edge very long. Now a days you can get a great field knife for less than a $100. Just one man's opinion.
ontario sucks i have 2 knifes from this company never again
@@RetiredTop43 Do you have any suggestions for a "great field knife for less than $100"? I've been watching tons of videos, specifically GB2, but others also, and the knives usually suggested are typically more than $100.
@@dtigue Check out the Buck 863 Selkirk. I think that is a great knife. There's a ton of good knives out there for cheap. If you are ever interested in a custom knife, check out Ed Martin. He makes great knives.
You were more excited on this vid than the walmart gear overnight vid. Thank you for keeping it real.
I believe these knives are made overseas for Ontario for Wal mart. The air force issued are still made in USA.
I've been working on freehand sharpening. I think anyone that uses a knife should at least try to learn how to freehand.
Freehand sharpening at home is good practice for sharpening in field conditions, that's for sure.
I use one those USAF pilot survival knife in my web. They are tough as neils.
Smith's wet stone diamond home sold at Walmart , I've had one for years and they work
An Ontario Knife humiliated me somewhat over half a decade ago. Buddy received his RAT series knife, a fairly expensive piece of steel, brand new yet it couldn't cut 550 cord but in one place for him. I was the only guy that deployed (OEF) with a full sharpening system. Since I didn't want him to dick up the stones so I told him that I'd sharpen it myself. It took me quite a while to understand that, like Josh's blade here, the grind was at very uneven angles. After many, many strokes it eventually took a working edge on it but nothing better. Terrible quality blade but it did teach me I knew more about honing than sharpening :D :D
For that price point at Walmart, I would suggest the Gerber Prodigy. I have both it and the air force survival knife and minus the stainless vs carbon steel part I feel the Gerber has more going for it. That is just my opinion.
"for the good of the series". Totally get it - selfless service. Good vid. DOL
Thanks brother! DOL
Prep work is always as important as procuring the gear, each piece, no matter where you get it from!
I use a yellow diamond impregnated plate, my edge stays very good ,through alot of use/abuse,
If you have a knife that needs a touch up and you dont have a strop or stone etc. just grab a ceramic mug or plate and use the bottom where it wasn't glazed. makes a great fine stone.
I don't know Jack Smith either.
That's why I'm watching your videos
As I’ve watched Josh work throughout his videos, I’ve gathered that he has a wicked sharp sense of humor. Not only was the video on point (I find sharpening knives almost therapeutic), but it’s one of the funniest videos I’ve seen in a long time. I could hear more hairs turning gray during this video. Thank you, Josh!
Yes, I use puns. I own it.
Puns are the best
Very good video and proper instruction
I haven't been inside a Walmart in about 8 years. I certainly don't need to go there to get one of those. I see that you like the Morakniv. I've become a real Morakniv fan. They are cheap, durable and come razor sharp.
I definitely made the mistake of using oil rather than water when I started out till I realised.
Amazing how much work goes into correcting a poorly sharpened knife (been there). For maintenance I have a small clam shell case with a small 12k grit slate hone, a lightweight rolled up leather and canvas strop and stropping compound. worth taking every time. Not a bad set from smiths though a bit bulky for my liking for mobile field use. But from Walmart appreciate the choice is limited. Saying that I wonder if a slate dinner plate or coaster would be available in Walmart to improvise with? Now you've got me thinking
I think I would cut down those guards to about .25" and soften the edges. They stick out like a sore thumb. I'd probably soften the edges on the pommel as well. And soak some wax into the leather.
I used to have one of those it was an okay knife The edge didn't stay very long I remove the top gard for better Field use
I have been in huge arguments with BUTCHERS about the direction of honing. Forward to redo the edge and to hone the blade goes backward? Love your teaching.
JUST SUBSCRIBED! Reason is: Your honesty about how crappy Wally's knife is right out of the box is: "Total garbage". This tells me you know a little about knives. You didn't say|: "It's an ok knife right out of the box"! You respect your knife enough that you take the extra step to be honest. In return, I respect you enough to want to watch more of your videos. Thank you The Gray Bearded Green Beret! With respect, I humbly raise my hat to you.
Welcome to the channel!
Had me laughing “right out of the package.” Very funny stuff...!
That said, your diligence sharpening and honing a blade before you go to the field is crazy admirable, and instructive. Always making us better.
They must be made for wallmart.. I have 2 Ontario knifes Rat 3 and A Rat 7 they are great and were wicked sharp from factory 50 to 100 bucks
They've actually been making them for the airforce for ages, but apparently they have always come dull. They have a reputation for being tough. Also, as he said, these are only $40. OKC other knives like the RATs etc. are probably just made to a different level of quality for hard long-term use.
@@jameswoodard4304 When I think about that I think I remember hearing that about that knife not being sharp out of the box. And I really like Ontario knifes. MId range pricing, nice quality. I have used the heck out of my Rat's and the keep on cutting very happy with them. Walmart has a lot of goods in there sporting department any more. I saw some name brand red dots, and scopes at a great price just last week. I wander about there quality or if they are not seconds.
The reason you get it for 30.00 is because they didn't sharpen it. Good steel and will be a good knife after you put in the work.
I agree,very dull😩need to get the stones
The best way to tell that you are done on the coarse stone is to check for a burr that pushes side to side as you change sides. Then move on to the next stone.
I have a couple ontario knives and I'm really surprised that you got one that was so sub par. I love my RAT 1 edc folder and fixed blade fighter blades. I had no issues with them holding an edge. But that said, I do believe your complaints are valid.
Solid video. Great content for the community.
I love the Lanski sharpeners.
I bought the same knife for my son and it would not cut cardboard when I got it. Sharpening started with my bench top belt sander with 120 grit so I could have better control on material removal. The angle at the curve in the edge was way off from the rest of the edge and needed correction. Next I proceeded to my wet stones for about an hour. It works well for bush crafting but you cannot fillet a fish with it. The edge held up nicely after making 2 walking sticks for my kids, it would still slice paper almost as well as before. IMO it's not a bad knife for the $$$$ _IF_ you don't mind putting considerable work into the edge.
This I can agree with. Considerable amount of work to bring the edge up to par
Hi, When you do your next sharping video could you mention how much pressure you use during the various stages of sharping. Thanks
I was wondering the same thing. I did some research and found out that it's about 4-5 lbs of pressure for honing, and 8-9 lbs for sharpening. But most of the experienced guys just do it by feel.
He knows his stuff great videos keep them coming please 👍 and hi from the UK
Ehh, it is an Air Force survival knife. Not much need for an edge at a desk. 😉
Hahaha
You broke the internet with that
Good ome lol
It should have been in office supplies under “Letter Opener”
It used to be called the pilot survival knife. Specifically for downed pilots.
I bought that same knife, & had the same issues. ...ty
Another great video. I needed a great instruction on knife sharpening and you did an outstanding presentation. As for the ads that interrupt your video I remember two. One was for Hillsdale College for a WW II course and the other was a watch advertisement. As always keep up the great job you do and I am looking forward for your future videos and to be able to go back and watch your other videos over and over they are always great.
I use emory cloth to set an angle and sharpen a knife starting with 120 grit then work up too 1000 after that I use Craytex strips then go to stones and stropping the blade.
A customer of mine brought his son one of these knifes to go off on a bushcraft course. He brought it to me to sharpen. I used a stronger word then garbage and told him to send it back. Bearing in mind by the time its been shipped to this side of the pond its an $82 knife!! As my old Army buddy Teddy would say "Thats as blunt as a Badgers backside!!" No exscuse for it to be that dull. Anyway, it went back and he braught his son a Mora Kansbol for less money :-)
A magnesium fire starter from the big box stores fits almost perfect in the old stone pouch on those sheaths and from what I understand at least with older military pilots knives the bevel on the edge is incorrect to hold a sharp edge as it's designed to be used for cutting yourself out of a wrecked aircraft
The ontario AF survival knife i got was much like that. I re-profiled the edge & honed it; that blade is harder steel than any of my
Pocket knives. It’s sharp as can be & will hold an edge. I re-profile most knives i get; i never expect them to be the best out of the store.
If You really want to try GBGB’s patience, give him a wally world schrade bowie w one of those hollow handles...got one of those too, & it’s a sharp beater knife.
I can't thank you enough for the time and effort you put into your vids. For guys like me who were raised by their moms, couldn't join the scouts and had no one to show them these skills. What you do is awesome. Keep up the great work big brother.
Those mosquitoes that didn't like the vid. They're just mad you wouldn't let them feed off you. 😄
How do you check the knife's sharpness when you purchase or are done sharpening a knife?
Thank you, thank you, a million times bro!! 🖖
GBGB, did you ever pick the right knife for the title of this video!! I was given an unused, sharp, Vietnam era, USN 499 by a Navy Veteran. The knife is a piece of history and it went in the safe. I purchased a new 499 from Ontario. Unusable as a "field knife" from the factory. For me, difficult to sharpen. I understand the edge and saw-back were designed to cut through metal, allowing a pilot to escape from a downed aircraft.
Can confirm. In this case the knife picked the video. I hadn’t even planned to do this video but it was necessary with the condition of that knife.
I bought the same sharpening kit. It isn’t too bad for a cheap kit just don’t lose the base. I ended up taking the stones off and throwing out the plastic triangle part.
First time I sharpened a pocket knife I used a pocket Arkansas fine stone. I figured out the knife was sharp when it took the tip of my finger off! Great memories!
Thanks for the tutorial. That was great. I always wanted to learn how to do that. Gives me some starting points now and what I need to buy. 👍
Wait for Fridays video before you decide on buying anything. This kit was limited to Walmart, this isn't my typical kit. Friday will be about field sharpening and what my actual kit is for that
Don’t get anything from Walmart! For a cheaper blade you get a better sharper knife from Mora.
Of course you can, but the video this knife was for was a Walmart only video.
@@GrayBeardedGreenBeret Thanks. I wasn't going to buy anything from Walmart. I'm looking forward to the next vid and I'm glad you are going to show what you use. 😁
I saw that problem a long time ago.. I got a little cheap file that was a dollar or two.. and filed a good edge on it before I started trying to sharpen it on a stone. I've have tried to sharpen some of those knives on Stones before.. and it's a waste of time. When the edge of your knife is as thick as a nickel it takes forever. But a good file can knock it down quick. You can do the same thing with cheapo swords or machetes that come out of the box as dull as a butter knife.
It took me literally hours to put an acceptable edge on my Aircrew "Survival" Knife using a Lansky Kit. It usually takes 5 minutes or less with a new knife. I expect this knife to hold that edge forever and a day.
Glad to hear it wasn't just me.
In survival you are always supposed to learn new things to improve your self-sufficiency. The way I see it, purchasing this knife has taught you the most important thing about knives: What do I look for in a knife before I buy it? How to sharpen a blunt knife? It's actually a win situation for you! Cheers!
I have a condor kephardt that was dull out of the box and has never ever taken a proper edge. It will baton well though
That's the exact knife I was issued by the Coast Guard in the 1980's. Crappy knife, but if you had lots of spare time you could sharpen it with the included stone. I got it very sharp. Lost the knife after I got out. Oh, well...