The Razor Edge Book of Sharpening by John Juranitch

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Hand Tools Book

The Razor Edge Book of Sharpening
by John Juranitch

Paperback: 143 pages
Publisher: Razor Edge Systems, Inc.; (July 5, 2000)
ISBN: 096660590X

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Andy Anderson, outdoors writer, Dallas Mornig News: "...most bases covered in the book from knives-folding, skinning, sheath - to axes, fishhooks, chain saws, arrowheads, and adzes."

Butch Winter, The National Knife Magazine, National Knife Collectors Association: "There is absolutely no doubt that Juranitch is an expert in his field..."

Workbench: The Do-It-Yourself Magazine: "Will show even rank amateurs how to put long-lasting razor-sharp cutting edges on even the dullest planes..."

Book Description: Universally recognized as "The Bible of The Cutting Edge", this book belongs in the library of anyone who is serious about sharpening. Written by Guinness world record holder John Juranitch, it contains all the knowledge and insights gained during his more than 40 years in the sharpening industry. The 145 page book is crammed with photos, illustrations and cutting edge secrets you won't find anywhere else. Its 14 chapters cover topics like how to choose a knife, sharpening theories nad applicaitons, steeling, using a hone and much, much more. You'll get answers to the most asked questions. You'll learn the truth about common myths like why you should never use oil on a hone. And you'll get the insights necessary to put a great edge on knives, axes, fish hooks, arrowheads, chain saws and other tools. It's a history, a handbook, a reference manual that is the simplest, most complete way to give yourself a razor edge on sharpening.

From the Inside Flap: From a Fishhook to an Ax... Learn How to Sharpen Like a Pro!

Hunters, fishermen, hikers, campers, homemakers, do-it-yourselfers-here at last is the book you've always wanted but could never find. John Juranitch shows even the lowest ranked beginner how to put the sharpest edge on the dullest tool, and also restore old tools for years of trouble-free service and wear. Everything you need to know is here:

The basic theory of sharpening Safe knife handling and use Handling a hone The best angle to sharpen at How to buy a knife-and kiss the gimmicks good-bye What to look for when buying hones Carbon steel versus stainless: finally, the real winner! How to tell if your knife is sharp Serrated edges: how good are they? For what? Sharpening the most popular blades in use today: including scissors, knives, axes, chain saws, adzes, folding knives, and plane blades - specific techniques, detailed "how-to" photographs and precise drawings How to build your own hollow grinder - instructions within! Step-by-step lessons featuring over 100 photographs and diagrams for ease and accuracy-and much more!

MEET THE PRO: John Juranitch has been a professional sharpening consultant since 1951, numbering among his clients Country Pride, Oscar Meyer, Swift & Co., Northern Seas, and others throughout the midwest and Canada. For his company, Razor Edge Systems, Inc., he makes frequent appearances at annual sportsmen's conventions and on televisions demonstrating the remarkable feat of sharpenig and shaving with a double-bitted ax-a show-stopping accomplishment for which Juranitch holds the Guinness World Record (14 minutes).

About the Author: I've spent the better part of 45 years reseaching the cutting edge and passing along what I've learned. That's what our patented Razor Edge products are all about. Helping you get an edge that cuts safer, surer, and with less effort.

I first became intrigued with the straight razor, hone and strop in 1951 during the Korean War. That fascination was to become the core of my life's work. After the service, I began to compile information for the world's first detailed book on the art of sharpening. Researching the subject led to perfecting the tools and methods necessary for the ultimate edge.

Today, the Razor Edge Systems, Inc. company is known as the world's leading authority on the cutting edge. We're involved with machines, tools and technology in markets from meat to medical.

The products in our catalog make it possible for anyone to put a professional, razor edge on any blade or cutting edge. The Razor Edge Book of Sharpening combined with the right Razor Edge Sharpening System for your application will soon have you giving all your blades an unbelivably sharp edge. You'll come to realize these are indispensable tools for every aspect of your life, your shop, kitchen, job or in the field.

Over the years, we've become famous as the Guinness Book world record holders for sharpening and shaving with a double bladed axe. That's something I wouldn't want you to try at home. But believe me, when you try our products on your own tools, you'll come away knowing there's simply no better way to produce a safer, surer, better performing cutting edge than with these Razor Edge Systems.

In this chapter we will answer some of the questions that we hear most often., They come from sportsmen, professionals, people we've met at sports shows and packing plants, and in letters form people like you. The answers to these questions will give you a good start in understanding what sharpening is all about, and perhaps you will find sharpening to be much easier than you ever thought it would be.

We do not claim to know everything there is to know about edges-in fact, we are still learning things that sometimes surprise us-but we are the only company in the world that specializes in the study of the edge. We have been involved in this study for over thirty years, and one of the most important lessons we have learned is that "it pays to listen."

In our early years of experimenting, things were very interesting, very rewarding, and something else-hectic! We could even underline that last one. There were several reasons for this, and certainly financial problems were among them. Another was the fact that we didn't really know what we were doing and had to rely on the opinions of others to grade our efforts.

Many times when we would go into a packing plant, the supervisor would give our edges to the top men in the plant to evaluate. Now here was another problem. You see, being a butcher is not just cutting meat. Being a butcher is sharpening the knife, and the ability to sharpen is what separates the good butchers from the poor ones. The best butchers in a plant are superb, but they are few and far between, 5 percent at the most. They have pride, they are looked up to, and they are something of a hero in the eyes of their fellow workers, and naturally they enjoy this. Being the best, they have a right to be proud. But then one day something happens to these men. A stranger walks into the plant and tells them he is going to sharpen their knife. They resist giving up their knife because they don't want anyone ruining it, and because they resent someone else's ability to sharpen. Then the real shock hits them. The new edge is better than theirs was, and now all of a sudden! everyone is equal because they all have the same edges, and they are losing their status. So what do they do as a defense! They fight back by being as difficult as they can. You can't blame them. Who wouldn't? As first we didn't know what was going on. Why were these men nasty to us, when all we were doing was trying to help them? We should have been given the red carpet treatment for even trying to help them, but instead there was abuse, even though we made their day easier.

It took us quite a while before we caught on to this problem, and it became clear that solving the problems of the edge was only apart of our job. So what did we call this problem? Certainly it had to have a name, as it was going to become a part of our daily work. We decided on professional jealousy. Little did we know, but professional jealousy was going to follow us wherever we went.

Edge problems have led us into other industries, such as textiles, film, fiber, and surgical equipment. Wherever we went, our old friend professional jealousy was waiting for us. A film company asked us to come in to talk about the problems of slitting film. The film in your cassette is manufactured in huge, wide rolls, and is then slit into the thin, desired sizes. A battery of slitters is used, and sometimes something happens to the slitters that no one understands. The result is a considerable loss. Well, we did all right with the fellow who had sought our help, but that is where it ended. We met the man responsible for technology in this department, and it was clear that we would never get beyond the lobby. "My name is Doctor So and So, and do you know that I am an expert in sharpening?" was his opening sentence. Clearly his goal was to get rid of us as quickly as possible; he obviously felt that we were a threat to his security. But he is still living with his s! litting losses, needlessly.

We realize that everyone is not going to agree with everything we say in this book. But keep in mind we are stating what we have found and believe to be true as a result of our many years of intensive study. Each of our conclusions is based not on speculation or opinion, but on the results of numerous experiments and experiences.

If you find something you disagree with, by all means study it and do some testing on your own. You may be surprised at what you learn, and you may even end up finding yourself in total agreement with us.

Customer Reviews
Great eye-opener and troubleshooting guide!, March 2, 2003
Reviewer: Thomas N. Brogan from Derry, NH United States
Book tells you how to sharpen a blade and how to use a smooth steel to maintain it. Would have liked information on convex grinds, but that can be found on Bladeforums.com. It was good to see that hollow grinds are as utilitarian as they are cosmetic: they make it easier to resharpen the knive because there's less steel to be removed.

Simply, the best book written on knife sharpening., February 21, 2003
Reviewer: Terry Norman from Alington, Texas USA
If you have a hard time sharpening your knife to a razor edge like I did, then this book will teach you. It goes against some things you've been told, but don't worry. John Juranitch knows the edge like nobody else. Get this book.

Classic Sharpening Book, February 4, 2002
Reviewer: fc11 from Shaker Heights, OH 44120
John Juranitch was a pioneer in developing knife sharpening technology, and this 15 year old book is a classic. It describes the Razor Sharp method, which requires buying his products. A more up-to-date book that covers newer sharpening systems is Sharpening Made Easy by Steve Bottorff....

One of the Best!, January 28, 2002
Reviewer: A reader from Whiteville, NC USA
John Juranitch has compiled an amazing amount of knowhow in this book, all of which is based on his lifetime of experience doing one thing - - sharpening knives!. As a world record holder, he knows his stuff and I have been able to achieve amazing results sharpening knives using his directions. Best of all, his company sells all of the equipment mentioned in the book and it performs as described. I'm sold on this one and recommend it absolutly!

Real Expertise on Getting Your Knives Really Sharp, June 9, 2000
Reviewer: sabatked from Tucson, AZ
This books slashes through the old wive's tails and misinformation in which the subject of knife sharpening has been known to be shrouded. Juranitch teaches with authority, and gives specific instructions which with a little practice make it fairly straight forward to get knives amazingly sharp. He also recommends the guides and hones manufactured by his own company. Though a little skeptical, I bought some equipment and found its performance to bear out his claims. Amazon has been indicating for quite a while that the publisher is out of stock, however the book is available from the Razor Edge Systems website. (Amazon frowns on URLs in reviews so I won't include it, but you can probably get it on your first guess. Otherwise use a search enginge.)

Perfect for the beginner and expert alike!, August 29, 1999
Reviewer: udcrangemaster@go.com (Glenn Perryman) from West Jordan, Utah
I learned how to sharpen knives from my father and he his father, this book covers what your father never knew. After practicing on old knives for a month or two I was sharpening like an expert. People are amazed at how sharp I can make an edge, it's a thrill to watch a persons eyes pop out of their head when, in a very short period of time, you have taken their dull, bent and rusted knife edge sharpened it to a glistening working tool and are using it to shave your beard! I've had friends drop off buckets of knives they thought they'd never use again. This is THE BOOK, the bible of tool sharpening. It's simple and easy to understand. If there is someone who would like to give this book to me as a gift, I won't turn it down. My local library is getting tired of me checking out the same book over and over again!

"Excellent", "No nonsense", "The Bible for blades" all apply, January 11, 1999
Reviewer: jjlawler@oakland.edu from Rochester, Michigan
A straight forward, no nonsense look at sharpening almost anything that cuts. I've had my hands on the book twice, one belonged to a friend, one to a cutlery store. Neither could be had for less than the first born male child of the family. (I have no kids, so I'm still looking for my own copy of the book.) The scientific and metallurgic aspects were addressed, but in plain English (for a change), and the book was generally a good read too! More than a little humor involved. If you have a copy and want to sell (for less than a first born, of course) e-mail me!

Less is more., December 24, 1998
Reviewer: aboon@netscape.net
For those inspired by the Razor Edge Systems catalogue: don't expect a single word about hollow grind straight razors in this book because you won't find it; in general, the care for this type of grind could have been treated in more detail.So far the missing star. But it offers simple and no-nonsense techniques to sharpen axes, knives, arrowheads, chisels or chainsaws yourself. It will keep both dummies and experts from bringing their tools to the local store for sharpening.

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