The Razor Edge Book of Sharpening (Paperback)

by John Juranitch (Author) "Few people realize how important the edge is, not only to their everyday lives, but to mankind as a whole..." (more)
Key Phrases: single bevel blade, slash factor, hollow grinder, Edge Tester (more...)

Editorial Reviews

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

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

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

Product 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.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 143 pages
• Publisher: Razor Edge Systems, Inc. (July 5, 2000)
• ISBN-10: 096660590X
• ISBN-13: 978-0966605907
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #481,521 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real Expertise on Getting Your Knives Really Sharp, June 9, 2000

By	"sabatked" (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Razor Edge Book of Sharpening (Paperback)

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.)

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Old book but very informative - shave your legs and slice that onion, September 18, 2006

By	Amateur Handiman and Athlete (DC Metro) - See all my reviews

I like this book. I only give it 4 stars cause it is old and not very pretty, but it is very useful. It gave me a new perspective on grinding and sharpening. I am sure there are others, but this works for me. The book outlines and discusses various thoughts on sharpening and picks up apart all kinds of traditional notions that you keep running into when researching sharpening on the web. Yes, it talks a lot about the meat cutting industry, but heck, few places demand better edges. Anything that works for their knives will work for anyone else that needs a sharp knife. It is an old book and you will not leave it on the living room table for decoration. It has basic old illustrations and cheap print on cheap paper, but that doesn't make the contents any less useful. He does promote his approach to sharpening and sells the hones etc. I bought the book and the company's 8 inch 2 hone kit (for dry grinding, nice, no oil, no water, just wash the hones in water after use). I have tried many things over the years to keep things sharp. I read the book a couple of times (which doesn't take long) and then went ahead and worked with the sharpening kit. I ground new edges and sharpened a half dozen kitchen knives, from a cheap Martha Stewart/KMart 3-inch paring knife to 8 inch chef knives (steel Wusthof and Sabatier carbon steel) and long thin dangerous looking Finnish fish fillet knives, and for fun a cheap basic thin bladed kitchen knife I found in the back of a cabinet. Every one of them now easily shaves hair from arms, legs, chin etc. They just glide smoothly through an onion, even with skin on. Very happily applying the same techniques to sharpening my chisels, planes, etc. too. Just make sure to grind until you get the burr on the coarse hone, and use a light touch on the fine hone.

Way cool. After reading the book and getting a couple of good hones you will be able to grind a new edge on any knife in 15-20 minutes. The edge is the kind that you will (carefully) show your friends while asking them if they have ever seen a sharp knife.

"Be careful, I keep my knives sharp. No, I mean really sharp".

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Rough edge, October 4, 2002

By A Customer

This book is a disappointment. The folksy conversational tone cannot hide the weaknesses. Afer the introductory section of empty chit-chat you will be entertained or further irritated with endless anecdotes about the author's long and serious study of sharpening problems and how his intervention saved the day time after time. You will see a number of pictures Mary holding the knife or shaving the author. The illustrations are poor and crude (Figure 1-2 displays % - percent - when it means degree). Others' opinion and method of sharpening is "bull" and "bung." While the author is wondering why so much attention has been paid to hollow grinding, he proceeds to give a detailed description of how to build your own hollow grinder. The presentation is hodge-podge, with a section on knives followed by a discussion of scissors, then back to knives again. And if after all the "theory" of sharpening you still cannot tell whether your knife edge is sharp, well, he has the solution: just buy his edge tester. If your blade is still dull, you may want to try the "advanced" method of sharpening - full-proof, of course - with his special guide. For the most part, this book is a ... self-advertisement and product promotion. The author may be a good sharpener, but this book is a disappointment.