Quick, Fast, Low Cost Mobile Knife Sharpening

Overall the cost of When someone brings my knives to be sharpened I almost always have their knives sharpened in less time than expected and for a very reasonable cost, usually much less than they expected!

Just Sharpened Slicer Knife, Kitchen Scissors and Paring Knives

Let's use these knives and scissors pictured above. The customer dropped them off — she said she is just running into the store for a few things — and if they are not ready when I come out, she can come back.

As I said sharpening is usually faster than one expects — also I do want to have the sharpened knives ready for the person, I would like to eliminate an extra trip if I can!

Of course — now I feel a little pressure. Maybe she is really going to get a few things, maybe there is no line at checkout... With these knives I sat down and sharpened them. Got them sharpened quick. No other customer approached me to ask questions, my phone didn't ring, no itchy nose so I didn't need to stop and scratch, wasn't hungry! Once I finished I did not see the owner — so I decided to slip inside to the bathroom; then I did a knife for another customer; then I sat down and picked up the book I was in the middle of reading — then she came out and picked up her knives!

Point is my mobile knife sharpening service is quick and affordable.

On Vacation! October 3 – 14

I am about to go on vacation! I have not had a real, uninterrupted vacation in quite some time.

Going on Vacation

I will be on vacation October 3 through the 14.

Please bring any knives to be sharpened now — or please wait for my return.

I will mostly be out of cell phone range — so email is best. My gmail email address is smith8273@gmail.com

Thanks for listening!

I Sharpen Scissors

My mobile knife business sharpens scissors along with knives and garden tools.

I like going to garage sales — so I always have a eye out for any high quality, well made scissors.

Garage Sale Scissors and Knife

I bought these three scissors and the one knife today when I was out doing the garage sale thing in Cupertino, California.

The orange scissors is a Clauss brande, made in the USA. I will sharpen these scissors and offer them for sale. The next one down in the photo are medical I believe, they are stamped Amico. They are old and used but will sharpen up real nice! The bottom pair of scissors are marked 530-C Italy. No name on them, but they seem to be high quality forged chrome plated scissors. I will sharpen all of these scissors and offer them for sale in my mobile knife sharpening booth.

Copco Japan Serrated Knife 

The lone knife must be a steak knife, it is a brand I have not seen before, it is marked Copco Japan. 

Copco Japan Kitchen Knife

Here is a view of the other side of the knife. I think this is quite an attractive knife. The blade seems to be well made — excellent fit and finish, the handle is wood, my guess mahogany, and it is made up of layers, maybe 30 layers. Assuming it is a steak knife — I wish I came across the entire set of steak knives instead of just this little lonely knife!

It is serrated, I sharpen serrated knives, so I will sharpen it so that it cuts like new.

I don't know what I will do with it — probably put it up on eBay.

Vintage Knife Collection Acquired

I was approached while I was sharpening knives, I was asked if I would be interested in buying some old knives. I said of course! Let me see them.

The guy is 88 and he and his daughter decided it was time to thin out his possessions — sell stuff that he doesn't need or use. He brought them to me yesterday, and I bought them all. I have five hunting / sporting knives, a handful of folding knives, and maybe six kitchen knives.

This post will be about the hunting knives.

Vintage Fixed Blade Knife Collection

This is a photograph of the complete group of knives. The knife on the left is a World War II Schrade Walden H-15; the top knife is a KA-Bar Boy Scout knife; next one down is a knife is stamped with 'P. LEPE', which is probably a Mexican made knife with horn handle and eagle decoration; then a Cutco knife, and the bottom knife is marked UNI CORP and MADE IN JAPAN.

World War II Schrade-Walden Fixed Blade Fighting Knife

This knife was brought home when the ship he served on was decommissioned  in 1946. It is in fantastic shape for a knife of this age! The cutting edge is sharp, it appears to me that the still sharp edge has the original factory edge. The handle is excellent, the leather is great. The leather sheath is in very good condition, the snap works, the stitching and the rivets are all intact. There is an image of a stag embossed on the front of the leather sheath.

Schrade-Walden H-15 World War II Knife

Here is the other side of the Schrade-Walden.

World War II Schrade-Walden Fixed Blade Fighting Knife

Here is a shot of the manufacture. It reads: SCHRADE-WALDEN N. Y.  U. S. A. H-15 You can see the handle in this picture and can see how nice the leather handle is.

Vintage KA-Bar Union Cutlery Boy Scout Knife 

This is a KA-Bar Boy Scout knife made by Union Cutlery of Olean, New York. The previous owner bought it new when he was 12 — which would be 1937!

Vintage KA-Bar Boy Scout Knife

Here is the knife out of the sheath. This knife is in very good condition for being 76 years old!

KA-Bar Boy Scout Knife

This picture shows the KA-BAR stamp and the Boy Scout stamp on the leather sheath.

KA-Bar Union Cutlery Boy Scout Knife

This shot shows the Union Cutlery stamp on the knife. It says "Union Cutlery Olean, N.Y.

P. LEPE Knife

I believe that this is a horn handled knife that was made in Mexico. I could not not find any other details on it.

P. LEPE Knife

Backside view of the knife.

Vintage Cutco Hunting Knife

Here is the Cutco knife. My guess (searching the internet) is that it is a Model 62 knife. This knife is in pretty darn good shape considering the age (as all of these knives are), all the leather is fine, snap works, no chips or dings on the blade. The only real issue is the finish of the blade has a lot of fine scratches from sharpening and handling over the years.

Uni Corp Made in Japan Knife

I could not get any information on this knife either. I like this one — it has a plain, simple 'function over  form' design. The handle appears to be bone, brass rivets. This knife is also in excellent condition.

Uni Corp Knife

Other view of this knife.

Mobile Knive Sharpening Newspaper Ad Results

I have an ad running in the Campbell Express newspaper:

Campbell Express Knife Sharpening Ad

Here is the ad. Campbell Express is a small local paper — so I decided to feature two mobile knife sharpening stops in the area of the newspaper's circulation.

I ran the ad expecting results and sure enough -- along comes a customer with a bundle of knives, and with the ad which he ripped out of the paper.

I expected people to see the ad and respond — but a quick response is gratifying.

Sharpened Knives Awaiting Pickup

I assume he had the ad with him as a reminder, and I am glad he did as now I know what brought him in.

He brought me these knives at my sharpening booth at Lunardi's Bascom.

Garden Tool and Chisel Sharpening Day at Gene's Fine Foods in Pleasanton Last Sunday

Apparently everybody got the same memo because it was 'sharpen garden tool' day last Sunday at Gene's Fine Foods in Pleasanton.

Freshly Sharpened Garden Tools

Here is a picture of the Out Trays at one point. There are hedge clippers, grass clippers, loppers and hand pruners that have all been sharpened and awaiting pick up. The guy that brought all the tools on the far left also brought a pole pruner to be sharpened, which is not in this photograph.

When I sharpen garden tools I disassemble the tool, clean all the parts, sharpen the cutting surfaces, then reassemble the tool, oil and adjust. Better than new!

Sharpened Chisels

As I said there was a lot of garden tools brought in to be sharpened, along with the usual assortment of knives and scissors. I also was brought this big box of chisels to be sharpened.

Went on a Knife Hunt Today

A sunny Thursday seemed to be a good day for a knife hunt (on my motorcycle). I visited all the usual haunts — and had a successful hunt!

Knife Hunt Bounty | Wusthof,  Forschner, Kai, Sabatier

I got a great 10" Forschner chef's knife, a Wusthof 6" chef's knife (with a broken point, easily repaired) and an assortment of other knives, scissors and garden tools.

Thrift Shop Knife Finds

Here is a picture of just the knives. The big pink on on the bottom is a Kai Pure-Komachi made in Japan, the little pink knife up top is a Kuhn Rikon made in Switzerland, a Henckels boning knife, along with a knife that has the brand worn off.

Wusthof Knife with Broken Point

Here is a closeup of the broken point on the Wusthof chef's knives. I will repair this and either keep the knife or perhaps sell it. Broken points (or tips) on chef's knives can be restored. I grind down the spine of the knife, grind up the cutting edge, until they meet as a point. I then shape and polish the spine, contour and sharpen the cutting edge.

Most of these knives (and tools) I will sharpen up and bring with me on my mobile knife sharpening stops. If you are in need of a very nice knife at a very nice price look me up! Tomorrow is Friday — and my first stop is Zanotto's Willow Glen. I will be sharpening knives at Zanotto's Willow Glen from 9 - 1pm, then I scurry over to Zanotto's Rose Garden for the afternoon shift.

Wiss Pinking Shears

I picked up a pair of Wiss pinking shears. I will sharpen these pinking shears and hopefully find them a new home.

Also visible in the top picture are two garden tools and a very long scissors. The garden tools I will sharpen and restore and bring with me on my mobile knife sharpening stops — the long scissors are for my office.

HK 'Epidemic' Automatic OTF (Out the front) Knife

Here is the Epidemic OTF opening automatic knife. This is a high quality, well made (expensive) knife!

HK Epidemic OTF Automatic Knife

This is the Epidemic -- an automatic knife, which opens out the front. Out the front is abbreviated to OTF. 

HK Epidemic Knife with Blade Extended

Here it is with the blade extended. The blade is a plain edge stainless steel. The knife's handle is aluminum. Made in America. 

I will include a video of this knife in action if I can figure out how to embed video.

Photographs of the 'Out Tray'

When I setup my mobile knife sharpening business — I use folding tables and have trays on the tables ready. When someone brings knives to be sharpened I ask them the put the knives in an empty tray. Safe, quick and easy that way. When I am done sharpening their knives I have them waiting in a tray ready to be picked up.

Henckel Knives Awaiting the Honing Step

Last Saturday at Kirkwood Plaza in Campbell I was sharpening some Henckel — and after sharpening but before the honing step I had them lined up like soldiers in a tray. I just had to take a picture and here it is.

Sharpened Darts

I field a lot of requests and questions while I am set up sharpening knives. Being setup and visible I get asked directions a lot of course, but also can this or that be sharpened.

Last Wednesday at Lunardi's San Bruno I was brought these darts to be sharpened!