All About Pocket Knives

Finally got my Robeson USN #20 yesterday and am pleased with it. My question and although it may sound stupid, I just dont know?
This knife appears to have never been sharpened. It has just a little bit of an edge and I mean very little. I dont think it would even cut a tomato and I can run my finger down the length and it has no bite at all on my finger nail.

I have heard others in some forums indicate "never sharpened" and I am wondering what that means (other then the obvious) and to what extent as it relates to military or civilian knives. I would think that for WWII etc that it should be ready to go out of the leather. I dont think the knife has been dulled and the finish is almost mirror with patina spots of varying darkness. I looked under a mag glass and I dont see any grind marks. Im not sure if it was ever issued. I see some surface dents in the leather and the wooden pommel seems none the less for the wear if any. I dont see colored washers if there was supposed to be any. I am doing some searches on all forums for more data.

Can someone fill me in. I didnt take any pictures as I am hoping my question fills the bill.

Again thanks for taking the time to answer newbie questions.

Mike

Mike, I can't help you with the other issues but I can give my definition to you of "never sharpened".

When I say or see "never sharpened" (usually along with "never carried" & "never used") I mean, after it was sharpened at the factory, subsequent owners have not sharpened the blade(s) nor attempted to sharpen the blade(s). There may be other opinions on this but that's what it means to me.

In your case, it could mean the knife wasn't even sharpened at the factory. I've heard it happens.

Thanks for that input. It would stand to reason that some kind of minimal edge would have been put on it; however, I think I could understand that during the war and production was in full swing some knives could go out the door like that. And now I know what never sharpened means. - Danka


Mike

If, indeed, the knife left the factory without having been sharpened, I certainly would not sharpen it now.

Photos would help.

Charlie Noyes

Here are a few. The wooden pommel is unblemished and the blade is or was bright. The USN has deep crisp engravings and if it was sharpened I cant tell. I mean it does come to a grind point but thats all. There might be some grind marks left over on the one picture, hard to get close up. Regardless its a keeper and I wont touch the blade. There is no rust at all on it but there is discoloration and some of the blade is brighter then other areas.

thanks
Mike

I think the knife has been poorly resharpened by someone.
Charlie Noyes

Of course that would explain it entirely and never thought of that to quite honest and makes much more sense.!!!!!!!


Thanks

MIke