Great topic: I have been collecting edged implements for some time too now.
I still have my first pocket-knife from the Boy Scouts and my old "Tote and Chip" card someplace.
It wasn't until I started really using edged implements in the Field with the Army that I learned to sharpen knifes. As a matter of fact, I got pretty good at it. Before long I found myself in quite a predicament, as most of my platoon would hit me up to sharpen or rehabilitate their knives.
So I have a story too....
Mine starts at Ft. Lewis in 1986 with my old Army Buddy. Now, my buddy was a beach bum from Redondo, and quite inexperianced when it came to "edged implements" Both he and I had gotten slots to attend a Winter Survival Training Course, which was being put on by US Special Forces. When we got our orders, we took our packing list to supply and drew out brand new Buck bayonets to take with us.
So the first thing my buddy did was ask me to sharpen his factory blade to razor sharpness. So, I did, after I got through with the knife, its was exactly that..."razor-sharp."
So we are living out in the sticks doing our training, both me and my buddy have teamed together. I am preparing a rabbit to eat, and my buddy in in charge of building our shelter and starting the fire.
So my buddy is hacking away like a noob on a piece of wood when he hits a knot. This causes the knife to rebound and he promptly slashes the side of his wrist in a horrendous a 2.5 inch, deep to the bone, cut. He severs the tendons, and lacerates the ulnar artery which is spurting. The Special Forces Medic comes over and after he installs a pressure bandage decides its better to just clamp it off. So he goes fishing around in my buddies wrist with a pair of hemos and finds what he thinks is the artery. He tugged on it and my buddies thumb starts to move....it wasn't the artery it was the tendons! At that time, the medic threw up all over my buddy and my image of US SPECOPS medics was never the same. It was like watching the 3 stooges on television.
My buddy had surgery and ended up having some issues with full range of motion, but otherwise, he was lucky he didn't jack himself up worse. My knife was uber-sharp! I never forget all the blood on the white snow, and the smell of copper that makes noobs sick. In fairness to the US Special Forces, I am sure this medic wasn't the norm.
So this is the Stone I want now, not the small one either, the one that's 11.5 inches!
and all those other fangled sharpening devices....
don't need em, but understand those who do.
I like to sharpen....its relaxing!
NIce posts everyone and great topic!