Its straightforward two-stage sharpening system first grinds straight-edged blades into the right shape with a diamond-coated coarse wheel, then polishes them to a razor edge with a ceramic fine wheel. These can include things like fire starters or a small flashlight. It has a two-stage system that quickly sharpens any non-serrated edge and is designed with a guide to position your knife at the perfect sharpening angle without guesswork. The slots each have a different angle (17, 20, 25, and 30 degrees) so youll be able to get the right angle for each of your knives. 12 Best Pocket Knife Sharpeners (2022 Reviews), Lansky Blade Medic PS-MED01 Best Pocket Knife Sharpener, Fallkniven Knives DC4 Diamond/Ceramic Whetstone. The most affordable sharpener on this list, with an MSRP of $10.99, AccuSharps Knife and Tool Sharpener can sharpen your kitchen knives, your EDC, and even the axe you keep in the shed. Given how much a good quality knife can cost, it makes sense to invest in something that will keep that knife in proper working order, especially when it wont break the bank. Is It Cheaper To DIY? Its small size also allows you to store it easily in your kitchen, whether it be on the counter or inside a drawer or pantry. There are, however, only a handful of edge honers that are small enough to fit in your pocket and still manage to sharpen your knife without compromise. The Diamond Carbide sharpener is suitable for smaller garden tools as well as sharpening a dull blade while the V-shape slot puts a fine edge on all types of cutting tools. The other has ceramic rods that will hone that edge to a razor. If you've noticed that your ceramic knives haven't been getting the TLC they need from your standard sharpener, investing in an electric grinding stone, like this one from Shenzhen Knives, will restore and maintain their original sharpness. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The dual diamond-honed tungsten carbide blades quickly carve off steel, leaving behind a sharp edge. Perfect for kitchen knives but designed for Swiss army knives, the Roadie ROAD1 is very easy to use and has a safety bar to prevent inexperienced users from chopping their fingers off. The device comes with two sharpening options: The coarse setting has carbide blades, which quickly set a knife's edge, and the fine setting consists of ceramic rods to hone just-sharpened blades or provide quick touch-ups to keep your knife at its best between sharpenings. From the same company that makes the iconic Swiss Army Knife, you can trust that the Dual Knife Sharpener, with an MSRP of $19, will be sharpening your knives for years to come. We love the Chef's Choice ProntoPro Knife sharpener for its versatility and overall value. If you have to exert a lot of force to make a cut, youre more likely to slip and end up causing an injury. The best pocket knife sharpeners allow you to continue on with the more important workwhether thats carving a Figure 4 trap to catch dinner, or carving the Sunday roast. Thankfully, it's a breeze to use. That said, if youre determined to use an electric powered sharpener, look at picking up the Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener Mk.2. A knife sharpener is an easy and helpful tool to keep your knives sharp and in good condition. Theres also a small LED light that can help light your way in the dark. It's made from highly durable silicon carbide and designed with a 400-grit side for extensive grinding and a 1000-grit side to smooth and polish the edge. Maybe your EDC took a beating while you were cutting up boxes as you cleaned your job site. The slots are only good for straight-edged blades. You can even toss it in your dishwasher. Carbide V plates provide quick edge setting capability for dull or damaged knives and are reversible and replaceable. Weighing just 1 oz, the Smiths PP1 Pocket Pal is lighter than the Lansky Blade Medic thanks to the lightweight plastic casing (instead of metal) and the shorter length. Those extra centimeters really do make a big difference considering there is no handle or grip. Your choice of pocket knife sharpener should be dictated by the types of tools you are going to be sharpening, which for some outdoors people will range from homemade throwing stars to a 12 Bowie knife. Looking to amp up your beef stew but unsure where to start? Overall, my knife wasn't as dramatically transformed as the others that I sharpened on the electric and even manual options. Dont press hard, just a light touch and let the sharpener do the work. Gearassistant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. The double-sided design has a 360 Grit coarse grain for sharpening on one side and 600 Grit on the other for fine edge honing. It sounds almost counter-intuitive, but a sharp knife is safer than a dull one. You simply draw the knife-edge through the v-shaped slot a couple of times and it will shape and sharpen your blade to that specific angle. For my money, the best pocket knife sharpener is the Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener. Plus, the friction can heat the steel to the point that it can affect the metal. AccuSharp takes the concept of grab and go to a whole new level with their Knife and Tool Sharpener. Anything beyond that is simply a bonus. Use it by pulling it through the coarse sharpener to make a spark. The Lansky Quadsharp is also worth a look, you can read the full review here. At just under $16, the PriorityChef Knife Sharpener is practically a steal for anyone looking to try sharpening knives, themselves. At 32 mm x 100 mm as opposed to the DC3 25 mm x 75 mm and 20 grams heavier, the DC4 is far more practical for bigger knives and more regular use. Keeping these criteria in mind, we found that the Chef's Choice ProntoPro Knife Sharpener is our top pick. These small knife sharpening stones dont take up much space or weigh very much and they are versatile enough to use on most edged tools. It is important to understand the difference between sharpening and honing. The thumb groove and lanyard hole are a nice touch but it is the compact design and lightweight materials that make the PP1 our favorite pocket knife sharpener. It also takes anywhere from five to 10 minutes per side, and even longer when you're first getting the hang of it. You can run the machine at three settings controlled by a button: Shape, Sharpen, and Refine. Ceramic V plates provide a smooth, polished edge for an already sharp knife and are also reversible and replaceable. To use, just hold the sharpener steady on a table and pull the knifes edge through the appropriate V slot. With DMTs monocrystalline diamond surface, no oil is needed, you can get a razor-sharp edge by using it dry or with water. This sharpener from WorkSharp can sharpen straight-edge knives, serrated knives, and fish hooks. How Much Does It Cost To Get Skis Waxed? While the metal casing on the BladeMedic feels better than a plastic casing to hold and has better longevity, this does not compensate for the extra weight it adds on. The Fallkniven FAKFS3 Flipstone Sharpener is surprisingly effective on all shapes and sizes of knife and if it starts to feel a little soft just give it a wash in warm water and its good as new again. The Fallkniven DC4 Diamond Ceramic Whetstone is almost identical to its younger brother, the DC3, apart from its size. The simple design gives you a large handle for control and a short sharpening blade you can really put your pressure into. For example, many kitchen knives, particularly in the West, are sharpened with to a 17 to 20 angle. If you are using edged tools a lot in your daily routine and need to keep a knife sharpener in your pocket while you are working then this would be our choice. Plus, its two-stage design sharpens and hones the knife's blade as opposed to solely sharpening it, creating that same fine, smooth edge that it had when you first bought it. I tried out the Sharp Pebble, and while it certainly wasn't as easy an experience as some of the other sharpeners I tested, it was actually the most fun to use. The Diamond Tapered Rod is perfect for reconditioning and maintaining a sharp edge on the go and the ceramic serrated knife sharpener allows you to get inside the smallest serration. However, if you want an option that can handle a wide variety of blades and requires little to no effort on your part, it could be a good investment. I like ceramic honing steels because they're harder than metal counterparts but softer than diamond carbon steel. There are built-in sharpening guides to help you be consistent with every pass, making the job much easier. With an MSRP of $34.95, you are getting an absolute steal of a sharpener. If like many people, you prefer using a straight edge blade as opposed to a serrated edge (jagged teeth) then a simple wet stone like the DC4 Diamond is your best choice of pocket knife sharpener. When I asked Rivera why he thought more home cooks didn't use whetstones, he summed it up in one word: "patience." Edge Honersare what you might use after using a sharpening stone or steel to finish the job. We highly recommend this little keyring sharpener and it is so cheap and small you cant not really. The sharpening blade is nice and thick so will last a long time and is ideal for survival situations. A honing rod is not a standalone knife sharpener. A durable metal housing ensures this sharpener will hold up to real world use and abuse, especially out in the field where you need it the most. Wenger claims that it sharpens serrated blades however we found it incredibly tricky and if its a serrated blade you have, then have a look at some of the higher-ranked pocket knife sharpeners further up this list. I tried out the Accusharp on my big kitchen cleaver, which I picked up for cheap years ago and often use to hack through stubborn vegetables. As most of you will already know or will realize the second you read this, Victorinox is the world-famous maker of the classic Swiss army knife design which are now produced using German engineering. Natural whetstones have generally given way to high-quality artificial stones due to their consistent particle size and precision. Perhaps the simplest type of handheld sharpener to use, this will put an edge on your knives with minimal effort, and comes at a very low price. If you are not looking for a knife sharpener that will fit in your pocket and are instead looking for a knife sharpener for pocket knives then not to worry, this list is perfect for you too. The Quadsharp features four angled carbide slots to pull your knife through and a ceramic benchstone for more routine maintenance and honing. However, since the sharpener only has one angle, I'm hesitant to use it on some of my fancier knives, especially the Japanese ones, which have more of a slanted blade angle. Though it may seem like a fussy step only necessary for professional chefs, sharp knives make such a difference in everything from dicing vegetables to more technical cuts, like filleting fish, and they help reduce accidents, which might happen when you're forced to hack away at things that should only require an easy slice. Whetstones are also more versatile than most other sharpeners. While this product shouldnt take the place of a full survival kit, the components work well enough to be workable backups if youre separated from your other gear. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you shop around for the best pocket knife sharpeners available. This sharpener has five varying degrees, allowing you to go step-by-step. The ceramic rod also has a groove that can be used for sharpening fishhooks. You can get various shapes and sizes, ranging from ultra-slim to the popular, Lansky Puck which is shaped like a small hockey puck. I watched a few DIY knife sharpening videos online while I soaked my stone, then ran the blade of my knife up and down along the coarser stone for a few minutes, moving it around to concentrate on different areas. Using it is simple: Plug in the machine, insert your knife into one of the grooves on the first side, slide it through 10 times for a few seconds each, then repeat on the other side to sharpen both sides of the blade. However, once you fall into a rhythm, it's an oddly satisfying ritual. So the three main features you need from a small blade sharpener are: You should also look for things like durability as it will most likely be rubbing against your keys and all sorts of other things in your pockets. It takes a few practices to get the hang of the honing motion, in which you run the blade of the knife alongside the rod at an angle. A true multi-tool, this pocket sharpener will also light your fire, signal for help, and even keep you moving in the right direction. I had some pretty dull knives, so I started with the Shape setting. For most knives that are in decent condition, it shouldnt take more than a few passes to touch up the edge. The size is ideal for clipping on your keys or keeping in your pocket but most backpackers, campers, and hikers will generally keep one of these fastened to the inside of their backpack. However, for knives youll be using outdoors, you run the risk of chipping a thin edge. Price should not be an issue when looking for the top 10 pocket knife sharpeners as they roughly all fall in the same price bracket which should be affordable to anyone with a knife worth sharpening. Investing in the proper equipment to keep that knife ready to use is critical. by Wayne Goddard As important as this piece of kit is, theres no reason to take out a second mortgage to afford one. These are five that weve found can handle the tough task of sharpening your knives while also easily hiding away when not in use. If you prefer to use a serrated edge blade or carry a multi-tool with multiple edge styles then getting a small knife sharpener with multiple dynamic file angles is the sensible option. Weighing in at 2.1 oz and measuring 12.5 cm long, the Yoyal Folding 360/600 Grit Diamond Knife Sharpener is one of the largest and heavier tools on the Top 10 Best Pocket Knife Sharpener List. Fortunately, that need not be the case as taking just a few minutes with a sharpener will put a fine edge on any of your bladed tools. It also comes with a slip-resistant rubber base to hold the stone while sharpening, as well as flattening stone to reshape and level the sharpener. While this product works great on utility or kitchen knives, be careful using it on any high-end blades you own. I based my selections on the following criteria. If you do choose to try out a whetstone, however, you'll be rewarded with a super-sharp blade and the pride of knowing you executed it just like a professional chef. Our 22 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker Recipes. For the latter, it might be slow going as youll need to sharpen each serration individually, but it can certainly be done. However, with practice, I think I could learn to sharpen my blades with the whetstone. Weighing just 0.8 oz or 23 grams, the DMT F70F pocket knife sharpener is a lightweight fold away fine diamond sharpening stone that measures just 3.5 inches long. The dual diamond-honed tungsten carbide blades quickly carve off steel, leaving behind a sharp edge. You have entered an incorrect email address! As a rule of thumb, the edge angle for a field knife should be around 20 to 25. A fire starting flint rod, compass, signal whistle, and micro-LED torch only add on an extra 3/4 of an ounce and could potentially save your life one day. Much like sandpaper, you can get varying degrees of grit which will take more metal off your blade. Rather than pulling the knife through or across the sharpener, you pull the sharpener across the knife. I then switched to the smoother stone to polish it. Nonetheless, the Accusharp is one of the most polarizing knife sharpening options out there. When I opened up the Work Sharp Knife Sharpener, I was slightly intimidated by how high-tech it looked. Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Overall it is a simple and low maintenance pocket sharpening tool that can be used wet or dry and does not require oil. Made in the USA, solid construction will provide a consistent performance for many years, even when used on garden tools like spades and axes. This pocket knife sharpener cannot be any simpler. The question we had to ask ourselves is, which of the Best Pocket Knife Sharpener would we most likely keep in our pocket on a daily basis?. It is critical that the knife sharpener you carry does an effective job, and preferably, with a minimal amount of effort. The professional-grade sharpener has a rubber grip on the handle, which makes it easy to hold while in use. Because pocket knife blades are so small, relative to other knives in general, you only need a small knife sharpener so the picks we made above are ideal. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. Then, move on to the rotating ceramic rod, one side rough and the other smooth, and finish with the leather strop. The extra length that is added by the serrated ceramic edge is not all dead weight though, it offers a clear advantage to the tapered rods usability by allowing for longer strokes along a fixed blade. Whats better than a knife sharpener with one sharpening option? You can even remove the diamond sharpening plates to get access to the storage cavity and broadhead wrench inside of the device. You can see how nimble and easy to use the sharpener is by watching this quick video below. There are plenty of different edge honing tools out there but only 12 that could be classed as the Best Pocket Knife Sharpener for everyday carry. The Pocket Pal X2 features a coarse carbide angled sharpening slot and a fine 1000-grit ceramic sharpening slot. As youll see from my recommendations here, even the very best options on the market are relatively inexpensive, especially considering they will last a very long time with minimal care and maintenance. If the sharpener doesnt work well, whats the point? A sharp knife is a safe knife. The carbide slots are meant to revive dull and damaged blades. []. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. I might later need to rework the edge, once Im back home and have access to the proper setup. Still the most popular field sharpening tool around the world, there is something special about sharpening a knife the way your ancestors would have done hundreds of years ago. Best Knife Sharpeners for Serrated Blades, Fallkniven DC3 Diamond/Ceramic Sharpening Stone, Yoyal Folding 360/600 Grit Diamond Knife Sharpener, Lansky Sharpeners Roadie ROAD1 Key Chain Knife Sharpener, Paracord Shoelaces: A Beginners Guide With 6 Pro Tips. Opening one end reveals an angled pair of ceramic discs to pull across your blade to sharpen it. While at the core all you need is something that will sharpen the knife, some models have added features that can increase their usefulness. TheDiamond-electroplated surface increases the efficiency of each strike while the folding handle assembly allows you to hold the sharpener in a very comfortable position. Made in the USA, solid construction will provide a consistent performance for many years, even when used on garden tools like spades and, Smiths Pocket Pal X2 50364 Sharpener & Survival Tool, Wusthof 2899 2 Stage Keyring Knife Sharpener, DIamond-Electroplated Stone with Pattern Grit, Butterfly Folding Handle. There is a bit of a learning curve, but the flexible belts combined with two-stage power will help you bring back even the dullest edge. If you choose a knife sharpener with pre-set angles, choose the finest slot to get the sharpest edge and only run it through 2 or 3 times before use. With DMTs monocrystalline diamond surface, no oil is needed, you can get a razor-sharp edge by using it dry or with water. Small and easy to use, the best pocket knife sharpeners can fit anywhere and go anywhere. The stone has to be soaked for roughly 10 minutes before use and periodically re-wet during the sharpening process. Pretty speedy! The small hole is not really meant for keyrings but for a lanyard so that you dont drop it when in use. Read on to discover the best knife sharpeners on the market. You read that right five. (Just make sure to watch a YouTube video to learn how to use them first.) With an MSRP of $23.99, the Quadsharp swings way above its weight thanks to its small size, durability, and versatility. They are small rectangles of rough stone embedded with grit to shave tiny amounts of metal off your blade edge. The machine can get a bit loud, but my knife's edge was noticeably sharper by the time I finished the process, which only took around 30 seconds. Regardless, for a quick sharpening fix, the Accusharp is tough to beat. Sharpening involves removing steel from the knife to create a new edge. The 8 in 1 tool is so small it fits on your keyring and comes in handy all the time for opening things and giving your pocket blade a quick sharpen before use. | Privacy. The smallest knife sharpener that we know of is the Haofy Super Hard Diamond Whetstone which is designed to fit on your keyring. There are dozens of different models on the market, some with unique features and others that sort of blend into the woodwork because they look so much alike. The rest of my suggestions round out the best pocket knife sharpeners on the market and they are all reliable options. The only reason the Fallkniven DC3 doesnt rank number one is that it is not as practical to keep on your keyring as the very best pocket knife sharpeners. From one of the top companies for all things knives, comes a sharpener that is made for you to take into the field, keep in the shop, or use at home. Smiths has made a product that not only sharpens but does a whole bunch more. The pocket sharpening tool requires no maintenance, can be used wet or dry, with oil or without, has no moving parts to worry about, and will last a very long time if taken care of. For pocket knives that get used a lot there is no better sharpener for sorting out messy and dull edges. The Presto sharpener also has a pretty sweet price point for such a high-quality experience. The coarse carbide V plate slot sets the edge of a dull blade with a dozen swipes at a 90 angle for optimal edge shaping. But what about when youre out and about and need to sharpen a knife. Food and Wine presents a new network of food pros delivering the most cookable recipes and delicious ideas online. But out in the field, if time is of the essence, any of these products will do the job. As a sharpener, it works very well, so consider the other features to be nice bonuses. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); Caribou Media Group | All rights reserved. At just 18 grams, dimensions of 6 x 1.8 x 1 cm, and a lanyard hole to hang on your keys make it ideal for unforeseen sharpening situations. With a couple of exceptions, electric sharpeners are not recommended. Small and lightweight at only 45 grams and 7.5 cm long this high-quality pocket sharpening stone is our top pick for people who prefer this method of sharpening. The main benefits of carrying a combination knife sharpening tool with multiple angle slots and rods are that they are lightweight, require little technique to master, and can be used on serrated edge blades. Diamond-electroplated surface increases the efficiency of each strike while the folding handle assembly allows you to hold the sharpener in a very comfortable position. The three-stage sharpener has 100% diamond abrasives, which gradually hone blades before polishing edges to smooth sharpness. Others argue it's too aggressive and destroys blades without properly sharpening them. Just pull the knife through the carbide slot a few times, then repeat with the ceramic side. In addition to the four pull-through angle options, there is a bench stone on the side you can use for freehand sharpening as well as for serrated blades. One last thing we will say on this is that pocket knives tend to have very thin blades so be careful not to be too heavy-handed when sharpening. Keep in mind, once that metal has been shaved away, youre not going to be able to put it back on. This guide contains all the information we know and everything we learnt in researching the subject of small knife sharpeners. Theres a built-in whistle you can use to call for help if youre lost, though the button compass attached to the lanyard will hopefully keep you on the right path. You can see how the tool works in AccuSharps own video below. Given that these sharpeners are small enough to easily carry in a pocket or a pack, it just makes sense to keep one with you. The 9 Best Knife Sharpeners to Keep Your Blades Razor Sharp. Hone your knives once every week or so to make sure they stay at their sharpest, as well as to extend the amount of time between sharpenings. The Shape setting nudges your knife's edge back to its proper angle, while Sharpen creates razor-thin edges, and the Refine smooths out any burrs. It will handle every tool you have, from knives to axes, hatchets to fishhooks, and more. It may be low in price and small in stature, but the KitchenIQ Edge Grip Knife Sharpener can still deliver a pretty sharp edge to your dullest blades. The tool also comes with a ceramic honing rod, so you can keep your knives at their best in between sharpening sessions. The truth lies somewhere in the middle. For example, kitchen knives tend to have thin edges, around 15 to 20, which makes sense because youll be using those knives for slicing and light duty chopping. This little device wraps around your hand (don't worry, there's a plastic guard to protect your fingers), then you drag your knives through the angled tungsten sharpening blades 10 times. Knife sharpeners come in a variety of prices and sizes, and which one you choose will largely depend on your budget, kitchen storage, and personal preferences. To bring a dull knife to razor keenness properly, it should be done in stages. Owing to the way it is designed, it will shave off a fair amount of steel, especially if your knifes edge doesnt precisely match the angles of the sharpening blades. Coming it at an MSRP of $17.99, the Pocket Pal X2 is a great pocket knife sharpener and all-around tool if youre planning to do anything outdoors or to just keep in the car in case of an emergency. V-Shaped Sharpeners are 2 small pieces of sharpening stone set at a precise angle to make sharing your blade foolproof. It works on both straight-edged and serrated blades and features precise bevel angle control that applies 15-degree edges for Asian-style knives and 20-degree edges for European- and American-style knives. Packed with features, and tough enough to last for years, WorkSharp once again has made a sharpener that stands out from the pack. Along with the same knife sharpening tools as on the original Pocket Pal (tapered diamond rod for serrations and gut hooks, carbide plates, ceramic plates), you also get some survival gadgets that will no doubt come in handy at some point. The fine diamond surface allows gives the crystals a larger surface area to be up to 6 times as effective as regular sharpening stones. The benefits of using a sharpening stone are that they are reliable, have no moving parts, and allow you to easily repair a damaged edge as well as maintain a sharp one. Utilizing five stages of sharpening and honing, the Guided Field Sharpener is as dynamic as they come. Weighing in at 4 oz, the Lansky Blade Medic is not the lightest pocket knife sharpener on this list, but it is our second choice. On the other end, there is a honing stone so you can polish and maintain the edge of your knives. After just a few swipes, the blade was noticeably sharper and made slicing through a butternut squash much less of an arm workout. My experience has taught me that there's nothing like digging in and getting started. Just make sure to only run them through the ceramic opening. It was louder than I expected, but it made me feel like the device was actually doing something. If your everyday carry knife is a leatherman for example then you should get a knife sharpener that works on multitools with multiple sharpening options. The degree, or angle, of the edge varies based on the intended use of the knife. By using tungsten carbide blades, and a finger guard so you dont slice your hand, AccuSharp has made a tool that subverts what you think a knife sharpener should look like.