All About Pocket Knives

I have a Case Stockman I really like except for one thing: the sheep foot blade sits a bit high for me. I'd like to file down the kick to a reasonable degree so that the blade will rest a little lower but don't have a grinding wheel.

What type of hand file would be good for this type of work?

I don't know anything about files so any information would be greatly appreciated.

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Mike

When you mentioned grinding wheel, I cringed.

Maybe you would be better off with some 240 grit sandpaper wrapped around an emery board. Stroke it a few times and test to see if it's where you want it. It doesn't take much. Slow and steady wins the race.

A small, 6", metal file will work fine, less than $10 new. It only takes a very small amount of metal removal to change the height of the blade by quite a bit. It is easy to take off too much, so do a few file strokes and close blade to see how low it seats, and then repeat, probably just a few times and you will have perfection, well perfect sheepsfoot height.
kj

I file kicks all the time, many files will work. Sandpaper or sharpening stones work but they're much slower.

As others have said, just about any file will work. I have jewelers files, and typically use them for small bit of metal removal like this. They can get into tight spots, and they aren't as aggressive as most larger files.

I just did this task on a couple of knives. I used a 'diamond file', basically a needle file with diamond dust impregnated instead of file grooves. I got a set of them at Harbor Freight for $10 or less.

If I were doing it I would use a small cylindrical or conical sharpening stone to preserve the contour and take off very small increments, as others have mentioned. Whether you use file or stone, be sure to use duct tape to wrap every thing you do not want to grind. For me, that is the best way to avoid scratches.

That's the way that blade is supposed to sit so your personal preference will impinge the integrity of the knife. Just so you know.

gsmith7158 wrote:That's the way that blade is supposed to sit so your personal preference will impinge the integrity of the knife. Just so you know.

Well, here's why I'm doing it. I lined up about 12 of my Case Stockmans and I noticed that on some of them, the sheepsfoot sits lower, and higher on others.

The one thing I've never liked is that if you look at the knife at eye level, and the sheepsfoot sits high, it makes the knife look like a long, drawn out pyramid of sorts. That sheepsfoot is the high point on an otherwise "level" looking knife.

If I can get that blade to sit just low enough where the nail nick is barely over the edge, it gives a better overall look to the knife because there's no "high point". I myself like the Stockmans with a Spey blade instead of a sheepsfoot. If you look at the 2nd photo on the original post, you can see where the nail nick has room to come down just a bit.

Anyway, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it...

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Mike

Mike I frequently do the same thing on my stockmans.

I'm the same way with all my carry stockman Mike I use a med flat bstrd and finish off with my med stone.

Many of my Stockmen have a proud sheepsfoot like this. I like it, as I can open it easily with gloves or fingernails broke down to the quick.

Mike, I use a small (6") mill bastard file and then finish up with a piece of 240 grit wet or dry. Like everyone said, take it easy and do not remove much at a time. Good luck Terry