How sharp ?

[Samalan]

1 hour ago, Alexis1234 said:

After reading the replies, my knife is no where near sharp enough!  I have stones and stropping compounds, but I struggle with getting the correct angle. 

It's all in the angles. and you knowing that is most of the battle. learn those angles by eye and feel you don't want to be clamping in some jig every time sharpening should be fast and easy .

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

What kind of round knife do you have?  The steel is so poor in some, that you never would get it sharp enough.

[Samalan]

4 hours ago, Big Sioux Saddlery said:

What kind of round knife do you have?  The steel is so poor in some, that you never would get it sharp enough.

CS Osborn when i flik it with my finger it rings like a bell and holds a good edge but it is an old one

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

4 hours ago, Samalan said:

CS Osborn when i flik it with my finger it rings like a bell and holds a good edge but it is an old one

Was actually asking the OP, but no matter, I like round knives no matter who owns them..   And that's why yours does hold a good edge, because it IS  an old one!  I have a newer CS Osborne that came in a lot of other stuff.  It has the prettiest sound when I tap it with my finger, but the knife itself isn't worth a damn.  Won't keep an edge.  My main everyday user is a CS also, but it's old.  It could hold an edge better, but the pattern is perfect for cutting parts.  I have a couple W. Rose knives. . .now those knives hold an edge!!  They are both bigger, wider knives than my CS, so I don't like them for pattern cutting, but they are awesome for skiving and straight cuts.  

[RayTada]

I use a Fiskars 65mm  Rotary Cutter instead of round knife. I got  mine from Jo Ann fabric using a 40% off coupon.  Also at Hobby Lobby, Michaels or any craft store.  Very sharp and blade is replaceable 

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

25 minutes ago, RayTada said:

I use a Fiskars 65mm  Rotary Cutter instead of round knife. I got  mine from Jo Ann fabric using a 40% off coupon.  Also at Hobby Lobby, Michaels or any craft store.  Very sharp and blade is replaceable 

That mine be fine for lightweight and chrome tanned leather, but there's no way anyone could cut saddle parts out of 13/15oz saddle skirting or harness parts out of 10/12oz harness leather.  Round knives were designed to enable the user to cut the intricate pattern pieces used in saddle and harness making.  A round knife is also used to skive material away when needing to reduce the thickness.  There is no single other cutting tool that is as versatile and indispensable as a round knife to the saddle and harness maker.

[Rolandranch]

I know my knife is sharp enough when I see the blood on the ground before I realize I cut myself... Although it gets the point across, I don't suggest this method. 

[Alexis1234]

I have been using an old Osborn.  Originally, I bought a knife from Tandy, but found it was useless. 

4 hours ago, Rolandranch said:

I know my knife is sharp enough when I see the blood on the ground before I realize I cut myself... Although it gets the point across, I don't suggest this method. 

I never felt any pain from this cut, crazy but I didn't!

[TargetRockLeather]

I give mine a quick strop before and after each use. If you get in the habit of doing that it will stay sharp. Leather is really tough on a blade, so even if you get it as sharp as everyone is describing, it will quickly dull if you don't maintain it.

[bikermutt07]

Here are my two new real strops.

 

This one I had the idea for awhile back and finally made it last night. I used a piece of 8oz Herman Oak belly split down to 5 oz with grain side up and scuffed it with a wire brush. The pipe is a 2in. PVC. I'm sure I could have went with a smaller diameter but this is what I had. Seems to work like a charm.