Eye Opening Stat that will make you feel better

[Snaz]

Sharpening steels do exist, but they really are just used to straighten the edge, polish it a little. They barely remove any material at all. "Iron" is not used in any blades, knives in modern metal working. Its brittle and you can not forge it. Only cast it as in a engine block.
There are very high carbon steels used to cut mild steel. But its steel, not cast freaking iron which is useless for a blade.
Not sure what you looked up, but if you are using heat and a hammer to make a edge on a piece of metal you are hitting steel, not iron. There is a difference and its a big one.
Try heating up a chunk of cast iron and smashing it with a big hammer and you will have a splattered mess. Now a true blacksmith as in the craftsmen in Japan who made Samurai swords they could take iron and add carbon, hammer, role quench and all that, real craftsman to be sure but what they end up with is high carbon steel. Not iron. So such thing as "forged iron". Forged steel is a different story and that is what knives and blades are made from.
And when you sharpen it, you use a stone grinding wheel.

I know, I have worked with Making Armor and Blades in the past. I have a full suit of plate armor made to fit my body. Of course I'm 53 and the armor was made when I was 19.

I was only referencing the "iron sharpens iron" and that was the results I had found, that in the past, it was used a lot.
I did not understand the reference either, from what little I new of Smithing.

 

[VeteranRamFan]

Sharpening steels do exist, but they really are just used to straighten the edge, polish it a little. They barely remove any material at all. "Iron" is not used in any blades, knives in modern metal working. Its brittle and you can not forge it. Only cast it as in a engine block.
There are very high carbon steels used to cut mild steel. But its steel, not cast freaking iron which is useless for a blade.
Not sure what you looked up, but if you are using heat and a hammer to make a edge on a piece of metal you are hitting steel, not iron. There is a difference and its a big one.
Try heating up a chunk of cast iron and smashing it with a big hammer and you will have a splattered mess. Now a true blacksmith as in the craftsmen in Japan who made Samurai swords they could take iron and add carbon, hammer, role quench and all that, real craftsman to be sure but what they end up with is high carbon steel. Not iron. So such thing as "forged iron". Forged steel is a different story and that is what knives and blades are made from.
And when you sharpen it, you use a stone grinding wheel.

Actually, that was rather interesting!

 

[RamFan503]

Sharpening steels do exist, but they really are just used to straighten the edge, polish it a little.

Yep. You're simply realigning the edge with a steel. Diamond steels will take a little more material off but you're not going to get a real good edge with it. Even diamond sharpeners aren't that great for getting a good edge. My nephew makes fine cutlery. https://www.ironsandmalibu.com/ He does the whole process. I bought one of his knives and he tells everyone to simply run a steel over it a couple times if it starts to seem a little dull. I use it all the time and it is still sharper than hell. He uses a stone wheel (and I believe a leather strop) on all his blades.

 

[KJD_Ram]

I let smithing Master Hewg sharpen all my iron....

 

[BigRamFan]

Yep. You're simply realigning the edge with a steel. Diamond steels will take a little more material off but you're not going to get a real good edge with it. Even diamond sharpeners aren't that great for getting a good edge. My nephew makes fine cutlery. https://www.ironsandmalibu.com/ He does the whole process. I bought one of his knives and he tells everyone to simply run a steel over it a couple times if it starts to seem a little dull. I use it all the time and it is still sharper than hell. He uses a stone wheel (and I believe a leather strop) on all his blades.

Nice looking cutlery! The workmanship looks to be top notch.

 

[Mackeyser]

Yeah, looks amazing. I choked at the price, though. I wish I could afford knives that nice. Would make prep so much nicer for sure.

 

[RamFan503]

Nice looking cutlery! The workmanship looks to be top notch.

They really are. He has a guy that seeks out the steel he wants, then he does everything from start to finish by hand. He makes all his own handles and everything. They are very functional and each one is a piece of art that loves to be used. And they make every job so slick. He’s a really great kid too with three little kids. He spent years honing his craft while being a chef at some of the top restaurants in LA, Malibu, Hawaii, and Miami.

Yeah, looks amazing. I choked at the price, though. I wish I could afford knives that nice. Would make prep so much nicer for sure.

No doubt about it. They are very expensive but not as expensive as some that are not as well made. Certainly not for everyone but I sure love mine.

 

[CGI_Ram]