We know the drill… You grab your favorite Swiss number ‘cuz you need to ward off an angry grizzly, or maybe it’s time to field dress that buck you just took down. Maybe you’re just about to whip up a goulash for your camp compadres but low and behold, you’re knife wont cut through butter.
What’s a fella to do? Well just keep reading mi amigos because we’re about to tell ya how to sharpen a pocket knife with a rock.
Take a look below as we guide you through the steps or hit play on the vids and follow along.
Step 1: Get a Rock
Seems obvious enough. But what kind of rock should you grab?
A smooth and relatively flat river stone is the way to go. River stones are great because over time the water smooths out the stone and creates a great surface for sharpening.
You’ll want to look for one with a nice, nearly 90 degree edge so that you can sharpen that blade all the way down to the handle. And it’s a good idea to find one that’s larger than your blade.
Go ahead and find your rock now. It’s Ok , we’ll wait…
Got it? Great. Now go ahead and wet that sucker down. Pour some water on it or even spit on it if you have to.
The water on the rock is important for a couple of reasons. First, it’s going to help lubricate the surface so that your blade slides easier while you sharpen it. Second, it will help to keep the pores of the rock free from rock and metal dust. And third, it will also help to dissipate the heat generated from the friction of the blade moving across the rock.
Step 2: Sharpen That Blade
I know you were probably expecting more steps but let’s be honest… thats about it.
When it comes to the actual technique there are a number of ways you can go about it.
Some folks, like our pal in the first video, like to use circular motions when sharpening. Small circles back and forth along the edge of the blade.
Others recommend using a flat method. You do this by angling the blade, with the edge pointing away from you, onto the stone and running it across the length of stone in a sort of arcing pattern to ensure that the entire blade from tip to handle is getting some action on the stone.
Regardless of the technique you prefer it’s important to remember to count the number of passes or circles you make and repeat that number on the opposite side of the blade. That will ensure that the blade edge is even.
These tips and videos are tremendously handy when you’re in the wild with no other options but if you’re the type of individual who likes to think of themselves as prepared then there’s a good chance you’ve got your self a proper sharpening stone already. And… if you’re looking for a little info on how to use that, check out this next video.
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