Sword Sharpening Guide Needed

by Harry Fletcher
(Flower Mound, Texas, US)

I had to learn the hard way (well almost!) how to sharpen a katana. Everyone sells swords but there is a paucity of guides on sharpening. The nearest I found was a YouTube video by a teenager who really knew what he was doing. I can only suggest that you buy a cheap katana and practice sharpening it. Use it to cut until dull and sharpen again, and again, and again.

What is truly needed is a written guide supplemented by a video with step by step instructions. Different katanas have different blade shapes and sharpening techniques vary. Hard targets require one type of blade geometry while another type of target may do well with another.

Finally, a really good set of sharpening stones should be made available for sale with the guide. Try buying the proper stones at your local superemporiam such as Lowes or Home Depot, forgidaboudit. Local hardware stores have all but disappeared at least on the American scene. Best source is Midway or some big mail order retailer like Brownells. Yeah, I know that they are for the gun people but they do have some good sharpening items for sale and are dependable. If you don't like wwhat you get, you can return it.

I think that a sharpening guide should be made available by the manufacturer showing their techniques and how they can be duplicated by the sword owner at home using stones supplied and sold by the manufacturer.

That's it folks. Look sharp, be sharp, and have a sharp katana by your side. Forget about the jug of wine, a loaf of bread and thou beside me in the wilderness business...give me a sharp katana and the guide that shows me how to keep it sharp!