Sharpening

[Rummer]

I have a Kershaw "Outlaw Bill" that was a CHRISTmas gift from my Dad (he got tired of me borrowing his).  

I like the knife, but unlike my Dad's "Outlaw Bill" mine will not hold an edge.

I have dressed 4 or 5 deer with my Dad's and it has never needed to touch a stone.

With my knife it started to get dull about deer #2.  I also noticed chips missing from the sides of the blade.

When I dress a deer I only use my knife to cut soft tissue.  I use a small saw to go thru any bone.  I have other knoves that I use for the skinning/boning process.

I have a lansky sharpener.  Do I need diamond hones to sharpen this blade since it is stainless?  Should I just call Kershaw?

Rummer

[Joel]

I'd definetely call Kershaw.  Blade chipping is almost always a sign of improper heat treating....the blade is too hard and brittle.  Depending on how much they raised the Rockwell on it to achieve that poor heat treat, I"ve no idea what steel they are using, a diamond hone might be called for, but I certainly wouldn't waste good money on trying to sharpen an improperly processed blade.  Kershaw has a pretty good reputation for customer service, so I suspect they might help you here.  Can't guarantee that of course.