Sharpening a Marking Knife

[Bod]

Having just bought a rather rusty marking knife, (50p carboot) on cleaning found it to be Marples, with rosewood handle.
It appears to have had little use, and may have the factory bevels.
Should the bevels be knife like, ie both equal, or be chisel like, ie only one bevel?
My modern one, has only the one bevel, but this older one at present has two!

Bod

 

[AndyT]

It should be sharpened to suit your preferred way of using it.

 

[bugbear]

Having just bought a rather rusty marking knife, (50p carboot) on cleaning found it to be Marples, with rosewood handle.
It appears to have had little use, and may have the factory bevels.
Should the bevels be knife like, ie both equal, or be chisel like, ie only one bevel?
My modern one, has only the one bevel, but this older one at present has two!

Bod

Traditional practice is single bevel, on the right hand side, so that the mark is right where the straight edge is.

I would recommend a TINY back bevel, just to bbe sure the knife won't actually cut the straight edge.

BugBear

 

[MMUK]

Having just bought a rather rusty marking knife, (50p carboot) on cleaning found it to be Marples, with rosewood handle.
It appears to have had little use, and may have the factory bevels.
Should the bevels be knife like, ie both equal, or be chisel like, ie only one bevel?
My modern one, has only the one bevel, but this older one at present has two!

Bod

Traditional practice is single bevel, on the right hand side, so that the mark is right where the straight edge is.

I would recommend a TINY back bevel, just to bbe sure the knife won't actually cut the straight edge.

BugBear

Assuming you're right handed that is :wink:

 

[RogerP]

For many uses I find marking knives can be too sharp and the line can be almost invisible.

 

[bugbear]

Traditional practice is single bevel, on the right hand side, so that the mark is right where the straight edge is.

I would recommend a TINY back bevel, just to be sure the knife won't actually cut the straight edge.

BugBear

Assuming you're right handed that is :wink:

In traditional practise everyone is right handed .

BugBear

 

[Racers]

Sinister people where corrected.

Pete

 

[Jacob]

Having just bought a rather rusty marking knife, (50p carboot) on cleaning found it to be Marples, with rosewood handle.
It appears to have had little use, and may have the factory bevels.
Should the bevels be knife like, ie both equal, or be chisel like, ie only one bevel?
My modern one, has only the one bevel, but this older one at present has two!

Bod

I'd sharpen it as it is and not remove a lot of metal. Different bevels make a slight difference in use but nothing you wouldn't get used to quite easily.

 

[Bod]

Having just bought a rather rusty marking knife, (50p carboot) on cleaning found it to be Marples, with rosewood handle.
It appears to have had little use, and may have the factory bevels.
Should the bevels be knife like, ie both equal, or be chisel like, ie only one bevel?
My modern one, has only the one bevel, but this older one at present has two!

Bod

I'd sharpen it as it is and not remove a lot of metal. Different bevels make a slight difference in use but nothing you wouldn't get used to quite easily.

Thanks for all the replies, I shall keep it as is for the time being, the more I handle it, the more certain I am that its never been altered from the factory.
An old book I have, "Joinery and Carpentry" vols 1-6 mentions marking knives having two bevels, and an awl point at the other end. Wasn't sure wether handled knives would be the same.
I suppose having two bevels, will allow for right or left handed use!

Bod