My trusty reel mower had grown dull. The wonderful people at Austin Outdoor Power Equipment, who work mostly for large-scale outfits in the landscaping and tree-trimming and -felling businesses, it seemed, had worked their magic almost five years ago.

If it took a trip to 11104 North Lamar, also known as South Waco to those of us who dwell south of the river, we were game, but we thought we’d try the Knife Sharpest / Knife Sharpist on the way. If the Sears Craftsman model number 2901.91642 18″ hand lawn mower had been sharpened sooner, we could have taken advantage of the Knife Sharpest south location while it lasted, but we were too dilatory.

The Knife Sharpest stocks straight-edge razors (the “cut-throat” type), martial-arts throwing stars, tomahawks for target-throwing, and knives and blades of all sorts. The Knife Sharpest promises to remove all signs of dullness on practically any blade, and at a reasonable price.

I saw a target area out back, as well as mobile sharpening units. The mower was brought in on a Saturday, promised for Tuesday afternoon, not ready on Tuesday afternoon, promised for Wednesday, and picked up on Thursday afternoon. The price for dis-assembly, sharpening, lubrication, and reassembly was an extremely reasonable $17.

Knife Sharpest is a busy place, with customers to spare each of the three times visited, so, when a missing machine bolt was discovered when loading up the mower for the trip home, it was easier to stop at Breed & Company hardware store for a new one. We wheeled the mower in, the proper replacement was identified at once, and a most kind gentleman there even installed it while we shopped for other items, including outdoor clothes-drying supplies.

Is the mower sharp? Yes, it is. Extremely, leveling very high overgrown patches of St. Augustine where leaves of spring bulbs and other plants and flowers have been left to mature. So, there’s no need to take out the sickle and the scythe this year. The mown lawn will be green all over again this season. There’s nothing dull about Knife Sharpest.