Should I sharpen a brand new knife?

Should I sharpen a brand new knife? - Woman holding book with blank pages

I recently bought a Wusthof Chinese chef's knife. When I tried it out the other day I was a bit disappointed by how sharp it is. Compared to the no-name £20 knife I have had a few years and sharpened myself on a 6000 whetstone (I'm not an expert by any means, but I guess I did a reasonable job) I had trouble getting through whole carrots and onions.

Would it be crazy to sharpen it out of the box? Or am I just using it wrong?



Best Answer

I'm by no means an expert on this, but a couple of thoughts…

Firstly, I wouldn't risk an amateur hand-held re-shape on an expensive factory-edge knife without due caution.

In the past, I've often thought that a knife fresh out of the box is not as sharp as once I've sharpened it myself - but as my sharpening skills are a bit hit & miss, I've been hesitant in the past. My current favourite veg knife spent 10 years in the drawer unloved because it just didn't cut well. After some TLC on a series of whetstones, & more recently a 'pro' electric sharpener which really pulled it into shape, it's now almost never out of my hand.
Having said that, before sharpening it, I'd most definitely try just honing it. The current factory edge might actually be just a bit too smooth, something a quick hone might see improvement on.

Secondly - drag. How much drag there is on a deep-bladed knife compared to a slim blade. An onion is kind of middle ground on this factor, a whole solid white cabbage might be your decider.
A skinny blade [both narrow and shallow] will make short work of a tomato, so long as it can make the initial incision in the skin.
By the time you're up to cabbage, then drag becomes a much bigger factor. A blade that is too deep [top to bottom] yet skinny [thickness] will quickly lock in a cabbage. A fat blade will push the cut portions apart & prevent this sticking.

So you have two things to consider before you risk taking off a good factory edge - not just how sharp is the blade, but also how 'fat' is the blade?
I'd try the tomato test for sharpness, & a cabbage for 'fatness'. See how they both feel.




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Should I sharpen my knives or buy new ones?

If the blade's rivets have come loose or its handle has fallen off, then yes, you should buy a new knife\u2014this time, one with a single-piece construction . But if you're thinking about tossing out your old, trusty knife just because its blade has gone dull, you need to think again. Almost any blade can be sharpened.

Is it important to sharpen a knife before use?

It allows you to hone your knife skills, allowing for more precise and fine work. It is also HUGELY important in terms of safety (case in point: slicing though tomato skin with ease rather than having your knife push against the tension and jump onto your innocent thumb).

Should I hone a new knife?

Honing is just maintaining an edge that is already sharp. A honing steel pushes the edge of the blade back into alignment. This may also be referred to as "folding back the burr." It is recommended that you hone your knife frequently, some choose to hone their knives after every use.

What should I do with a new knife?

I'm talking about your very first task with your new knife before you really get cooking. Before you get going with your new knife, cut up a few lemons or limes. Why? This will allow you to get used to how the knife feels in your hand and will give you a good idea of just how sharp (or not) the blade really is.



KnifeCenter FAQ #84: Is D2 Hard to Sharpen? + Scottish Kilt Knives and Sharpening Choils




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Answer 2

I could imagine different reasons why the edge is dull from the factory:

  • They put a larger angle on the blade to make it tougher at the cost of sharpness to make it less susceptible to chipping - you can try grinding it to a sharper angle
  • The edge just needs to be honed as @tetsujin pointed out
  • The blade was designed to be sharpened before first use as is the case with most handmade traditional Japanese knives
  • They just suck at sharpening (probably unlikely given it's wusthof but you never know)

At some point soon you will need to sharpen the knife anyway so if you have the feeling that it is too dull already and you feel confident enough in your sharpening abilities I would go for it.

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