Kama knife going dull?

Hi,
I recently scored a kama knife at 3 euros, which for me is a great price. I was so enthused I bought 3 of them. It works amazingly well.

So in the last week I've been cleaning out the woods and chopping out mostly blackberry, robinia and sambuco to get the whole thing managable and walkable. After a few times my kama seems like it's not cutting as well as in the beginning.

I'm just wondering if people have had experience with these knives and know about their longevity. Since it's serrated, I don't think I can sharpen it.

Thanks,
William

Most of them are very soft steel. You can sharpen it with a small triangular or round file. YouTube for how to sharpen a serrated knife.

Ah...Yes...sharpening!

So often good tools are found...yet...many think not of the moment when the tool is no longer "sharp." I have often wondered if this is why it seems more "edged tools" are made than we actually need? Folks may use them...few think of what it takes to sharpen them...and just buy another.

Your tool William is most likely sharpenable. Some have very good hard steel laminationed with soft...some are just soft iron perhaps with only a marginal temper....Either way, you can keep them sharp with the correct "sharpening" and/or "honing," tools.






Above are just two examples of 100 (1000?) of designs. If you can get me a picture of the edge profile...I can, perhaps, give you a good outline of method to re-sharpen. Also, how long did it take in "working hours" to become dull? Please not...good sharpening "feather files," and the other file types, plus multiple water stones may cost more than the tool itself...yet...are a necessity to keeping tools in good working order.

Regards,

j

I'm interested in sharpening, since I've already bought 3 of them and they're not lasting very long. I might buy more, but I tend to keep things, especially things I can potentially fix.

Here's one.
W

Feather files are what is used for these tools typically...There are finer "honing" methods, yet for this tool...which is also use to prune roots...the finer edge is not a necessity. Practice and your own body will teach you more about the "best method" to use the files...though if you can find a Japanese Woodworker, or Gardener near by, they should be able to demonstrate the methods.

Good Luck, and let me know what else I can do,

j