Thread: Best way to sharpen Mercator Stainless?

So I've now got my hands on legit Mercator carbon steel blade but she's all rusted up. Should be able to tidy it up and get a good edge on that using a few of the tips given above.

Originally Posted by jpurdon

So I've now got my hands on legit Mercator carbon steel blade but she's all rusted up. Should be able to tidy it up and get a good edge on that using a few of the tips given above.

Only thing with rust is that it leaves 'craters' which will forever be a part of the finished edge.


Unless you can polish ALL the rust pitting out then it will never be as sharp as it could have been. In saying that, it should come up pretty mean unless the pitting is really deep. Kinda like a micro serrated blade....

you will still get ok edge on the stainless one...just have a go on your stone....as long as you keep consistant angle you cant go far wrong.

I got wise in the end, but I must have lost a few mercators, they will be sitting next to a pile of rabbit guts. Flicked into the ground prior to squeezing the guts out and stowing on the motorbike..... turn back around, and were the fuck did that go?
I hit on the idea of polishing off the black paint with sand paper, much easier to see the shiny bit sticking out of the ground! Never lost that last one for 20 years!

Loaned it to a guy to cut some wrapping plastic off at work one day, several hrs later...... bro where's my knife, 5 pocket haka and no knife.
I dont loan knives any more, not even if you stay in my sight... get ya own bloody knife.

Originally Posted by johnd

I got wise in the end, but I must have lost a few mercators, they will be sitting next to a pile of rabbit guts. Flicked into the ground prior to squeezing the guts out and stowing on the motorbike..... turn back around, and were the fuck did that go?
I hit on the idea of polishing off the black paint with sand paper, much easier to see the shiny bit sticking out of the ground! Never lost that last one for 20 years!

Loaned it to a guy to cut some wrapping plastic off at work one day, several hrs later...... bro where's my knife, 5 pocket haka and no knife.
I dont loan knives any more, not even if you stay in my sight... get ya own bloody knife.

I got caught with a Mercator in Heathrow Airport!

My check in bag was over weight so at the last minute I moved some stuff and I looked in horror as my faithful Mercator showed up on the x-ray screen..

Apparently a Mercator is over the maximum legal length for a folding knife in the UK..the guy (and his supervisor) was pretty serious about it at first, but after I explained I was a Kiwi hunter and these things are as common as muck in NZ he took it off me and let me off.

Pissed me off because I really tried to look after that one!

Originally Posted by Tui4Me

I got caught with a Mercator in Heathrow Airport!

My check in bag was over weight so at the last minute I moved some stuff and I looked in horror as my faithful Mercator showed up on the x-ray screen..

Apparently a Mercator is over the maximum legal length for a folding knife in the UK..the guy (and his supervisor) was pretty serious about it at first, but after I explained I was a Kiwi hunter and these things are as common as muck in NZ he took it off me and let me off.

Pissed me off because I really tried to look after that one!

They are usually humourless there about knives. You could have got yourself a criminal record. Deeply hope NZ does not go after UK's severe oppressive knife laws as yet another over-reaction after the New Lynn jihadi attack. Collins and Ardern seem to spark each other off to greater heights of hysteria in these situations.

Originally Posted by Tui4Me

I got caught with a Mercator in Heathrow Airport!

My check in bag was over weight so at the last minute I moved some stuff and I looked in horror as my faithful Mercator showed up on the x-ray screen..

Apparently a Mercator is over the maximum legal length for a folding knife in the UK..the guy (and his supervisor) was pretty serious about it at first, but after I explained I was a Kiwi hunter and these things are as common as muck in NZ he took it off me and let me off.

Pissed me off because I really tried to look after that one!

I took two Mercators with me to the UK, but never had any issues. Like you it never occurred to me that it could be a problem, I'm just used to having one around as a utility knife. Will often have one in my backpack and use one around the house almost daily. Promptly lost one of em shortly after getting back from the UK- left at a BBQ with a bunch of hunting and diving mates and it was never seen again.

bit of colorful string through the wee loop helps no end too...if you watch the Graf Brothers video....the young fell has his on a LONG string....

Thanks @hotbarrels

For a quick and dirty hone, believe it or not the top of your vehicle side window glass works pretty well.

Bought my Son the new slightly bigger ss version of a Mercator a couple of years ago.
I just sharpen it the same as anything else.....stone it till a featherededge...then steel it..
Steel it 4 or 5 times of touch up then stone again.

Always struggled to keep my Mercator sharp, own several used to put a very fine edge on it with an oil stone.
Have been using a lansky knife sharping system and for the Mercator the middle stoning angle works awesome and it holds its edge way better. All knifes when finished get dragged threw the end grain of a piece of 4by2 then a light steeling then check for any more feathering by slopping it on the palm of my hand. Which is a trick learned from sharping Chisels.
If the knife won't shave the hairs off your arms I start again.

Originally Posted by flock

Always struggled to keep my Mercator sharp, own several used to put a very fine edge on it with an oil stone.
Have been using a lansky knife sharping system and for the Mercator the middle stoning angle works awesome and it holds its edge way better. All knifes when finished get dragged threw the end grain of a piece of 4by2 then a light steeling then check for any more feathering by slopping it on the palm of my hand. Which is a trick learned from sharping Chisels.
If the knife won't shave the hairs off your arms I start again.Attachment 177986

I do the same as you but without the 4x2.

Lansky stone kit followed by two light strokes on each side with a very fine butcher steel.

I sharpen until the entire blade area will grip firmly on a finger nail without sliding.

Once I get the blade to this point I can cut up and bone out three deer before putting it back on the Lansky kit.

In saying that I’m very careful to avoid touching bone and taking the edge off when processing deer.

I also coat the blade with a very thin film of olive oil which does a very good job of protecting the blade.

The best way to remove the wire edge is with a hard backed leather strop and green stropping compound. This is a video I did a while back on sharpening new knives I had finished for a bulk order. The initial secondary bevel is done of the belt grinder so where I am starting from s where most will be doing so with a knife that has lost its edge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NNQ...annel=VonGruff

I have the same kit @Tui4Me (great choice in beer bud) twigged recently to get a bolt of correct size,two nuts for it and clamp the bolt head in vice,put one nut down on thread,slip lanski over it and clamp it in place with 2nd nut....means it stays still and can put a little pressure onto stones...... saves buying the stand LOL