So you have a dull knife.
We sincerely regret this and would like to offer our deepest sympathies.
But have no fear. Here are our top picks for the best knife sharpeners.
It’s time to get your sharpener!
If your knife becomes dull, you need to do something about it. For many knife collectors, the natural next step is to purchase a new knife. And you know what? Please, it’s okay! I won’t try to stop you! If you find yourself choosing this option, please feel free to forgive. Visit our What’s New page to see the latest information. Of course, if you would like to learn more about sharpening, you are also welcome to interact with other members here.
But eventually, every knife user has to give up and get a sharpener. A good knife will probably cost less than a new knife and will breathe new life into a pile of dull knives that are staring at you judgmentally. If you’re really desperate, she suggests using river stones and leather or cardboard. However, I think it requires special skills. Also, I’m not always near a river. (If so, we’re jealous.)
But if you’ve ever spent any amount of time watching daytime television, you know that there are countless methods and devices out there that promise scalpel-like effects but end up disappointing you. Probably. Here, we will sort out the Sky Mall gimmicks and help you find the sharpener that is right for you.
You will find that it feels good to have a sharp blade. It makes your daily tasks so much easier. It is also less dangerous. We tend to cut ourselves with dull knives. If the knife is not sharp enough, the force exerted by the knife will be stronger, causing it to slip.
How sharp can your blade be?
dull vs. sharp
First of all, all knives are serrated knives, but regular blades are microscopically serrated. A knife that has become dull from use will have its rough edges flattened and become unusable.
The photo on the left is a photomicrograph of a dull knife, and sadly a badly chipped one, while the blade on the right has a very sharp edge. Did you notice the little serrations? Cool, right? We had a lot of fun playing with our new microscope/camera.
sharpness test
You probably already know if your knife is dull, but if you want to try it, try cutting thin slices of tomato. Are thin slices difficult to cut? Are you crushing, nicking, or denting the tomatoes before you cut them into the skin? This will dull the knife.
Some people test the sharpness by slicing the paper. Hold the paper and cut from top to bottom. Will the blade slip? Or are you stuck and struggling? The proof of a sharp knife is that it cuts easily and cleanly.
The most common test I see here at Blade HQ, along with paper tricks, is arm shaving. If the blade can easily remove some hair, it’s already sharp. Just as swimmers don’t have leg hair, Blade HQ employees and fellow knife enthusiasts often don’t have arm hair.
best sharpener
pull through sharpener
Our pick: Smith’s Pocket Pal
This sharpener is a great option depending on your budget. Honestly, this model is a great price.What’s great is that the pull slot has a carbide blade and Ceramic stone helps you get a sharp cutting edge. Carbide gives the blade a quick edge setting, and ceramic whetstones are made to give a sharp edge with a regular or serrated edge. The collapsible diamond coated rod is made for sharpening serrated blades and small gut hooks. Light, compact and great price. There’s nothing better than this.
This process is quick and very easy for beginners. However, if your knife is particularly dull, you may need a sturdier sharpener. When using, apply even pressure each time you pull to avoid uneven edges.
whetstone sharpener
Our pick: Real steel Japanese whetstones
If you want more control, a whetstone is the best choice. In particular, Real Steel’s Japanese-made whetstones are highly praised for their reliability and reasonable price. For these prices, you can buy several grit variations and switch to a non-slip silicone base.
It requires more skills, but it can be learned. If you aim for perfect edges, you can learn and achieve perfection. Whetstones are generally preferred by chefs for sharpening knives. Also, if you need to sharpen your knife with complex sharpening, it is more effective to use a whetstone.
diamond sharpener
Our Pick: Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener
I can’t praise this sharpener enough. George, our resident steel expert here at Blade Headquarters, says that even the toughest old knives can be sharpened to razor-sharpness with this work sharpener.
A complete sharpening solution. Despite its compact size, it can be sharpened in 5 stages. This system includes coarse and fine diamond polishing plates, fine ceramic rods, and a razor strop for polishing. You can also sharpen saw teeth, fishing hooks, and scissors. Additionally, a removable plate hides space for a wide head wrench. Take this to the job site and you won’t need anything else for sharp, pointy tools.
ceramic sharpener
Our Pick: Arkansas Super Stick
Also excellent for honing and sharpening. At 16 inches long, this huge rod has a lot of room to sharpen. It can be placed at the most comfortable angle, and since the rod is not enclosed, you can also sharpen scissors, machetes, axes, and other sharp tools. The wooden handle is curved for maximum comfort. Another advantage is that it can be sharpened with oil or water if necessary. Just don’t drop it!
This is a very fine grit, so if you need more work with your knife, you’ll probably need a coarse grit one first.
electric sharpener
Our Pick: Work Sharpening Knife and Tool Sharpener MK. 2
We like this one because it’s a Work Sharp MK. 2 was the first portable and adjustable system with an abrasive belt instead of a regular stone. The MK features variable speed, adjustable guides, and leather-coated blade guides. 2 Incredibly versatile. This user-friendly sharpener was created to help even beginners quickly improve and get great sharpness on their knives and tools. Fine ceramic rods hone blades to hair-cutting sharpness after initial sharpening with an electric belt or to fix a slightly dull blade.
It comes with two easy steps to replace the sanding belt, plus instructions and a quick start guide.
V style sharpener
Recommended: Spyderco Sharpmaker Triangle Knife Sharpening Kit 204MF
There’s a reason this Spyderco sharpener is so popular. We have everything you need. This set includes two sets of high alumina ceramic whetstones, two sets of medium-grain (brown) whetstones for aggressive knife sharpening, and one set of fine white whetstones for professional-level finishes. There are grooves along the length of each rod that can also sharpen sharp items such as fishing hooks.
Includes a set of aluminum safety rods to protect your hands when sharpening. However, please be careful. Ceramic rods can easily break if dropped, so please be careful when handling them.
Best affordable fixed angle sharpener
Our pick: Work Sharp Precision Adjustment Knife Sharpener Elite
You may have noticed that there are a lot of Work Sharps here. Well, as their motto says, “Making things sharp” is what they do best. They make you feel good at it too. I was tempted to choose the less expensive WorkSharp Precision Angle Adjustment Set Knife Sharpener, but the Elite comes with more whetstones and a razor strop to sharpen your hair-popping, newly sharpened blade. You can finish it.
A self-centering clamp stabilizes the knife when repairing, reworking, or mirror-finishing the blade. bliss!
Best midrange fixed angle sharpener
Our pick: Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjustment
I was nervous when I used this sharpener for the first time as a beginner. Luckily, I had a few colleagues nearby when I had questions. The first operation gave me a beautiful edge.
The sharpener contains 7 abrasive grits to provide a clean, sharp, and accurate blade. Whether you’re sharpening a chef knife, survival knife, or other bladed tool, the WorkSharp Professional Precision Angle Adjustment Set Knife Sharpener has everything you need. The clamp support holds the knife securely and at the right angle for a perfect cut. To check if you have the correct angle, use a sharpie along the blade of your knife. The correct angle is the one that removes the ink.
The angle can be adjusted from 15 to 30 degrees using the included digital angle indicator. The diamond abrasive grains are 220, 320, 400, 600, and 800 diamonds, and it comes with a fine ceramic honing plate and a leather strop.
Also, the whole process is incredibly Zen.
Watch the video below of George repairing and sharpening knives using Work Sharp Pro.
Best high-end fixed angle sharpener
Our Pick: Wicked Edge Pro-Pack 2 Precision Sharpener Knife Sharpening Kit
If you want everything you need to sharpen your knives, this is it. This is a complete professional package. And when I say everything, what I mean is:
- 2 x Coarse 100 grit / Medium coarse 200 grit diamond stones
- 2 x Medium 400 Grit / Fine 600 Grit Diamond Stone
- 2 x Extra Fine 800 Grit / Extra Fine 1000 Grit Diamond Stone
- Extra-fine 1.4/0.6 micron ceramic stone
- 1/0.5 micron diamond and leather strap
- Guide rod pivot: ball joint/L-bracket
- digital angle meter
- Angle range: 13-35 degrees
- Angle setting: manual, independent angle adjustment
- Main angle adjustment: 1 degree increments
- Fine adjustment: 0.05 degree adjustment
- Clamping system: Parallel jaws with hex wrench operation
- Knife Alignment: Standard Wicked Edge Alignment Guide
- Guide rod length: 8 inches
- Maximum clamp width: 3/8 inch
- Attached aluminum base
Sure, it’ll cost you a pretty penny, but if you have one and want the ultimate knife sharpening system, we’ve got your back.
conclusion
To be honest, I had no idea how great it was to have a sharp knife. Apparently, if your knife is sharp enough, you can cut an onion without crying. (I’ll be sharpening my knife so I can check that out.) It makes perfect paper-thin tomato slices. When you train outdoors or go camping, you won’t get hurt by the dull blades and slipping. Fishing is more fun when you can process your catch quickly than when you mess up the process. The same goes for hunting.
Fortunately, there are viable solutions to suit every budget and skill level.
As I said before, take care of your blade and it will take care of you. And that, knife friends, is about living life in grand style.
Don’t let your guard down!
