Best Hunting Knife Sharpeners - Reviews and Buying Guide
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One can find different ways as well as tools for the maintenance and sharpening of knife blades. There is a wide variety of hunting knife sharpeners all over the world for you to choose from.
One of the questions that every knife lover is asking: what is the best hunting knife sharpener?
Page Contents
- Top 10 Best Knife Sharpeners in 2018
- Edge Pro Apex 1 Knife Sharpener Kit Review - Best Sharpening Kit
- Chef's Choice 130 Professional Review - Top Knife Sharpener
- Wicked Edge Superfine Ceramic Review - Greatest Ceramic Knife Sharpener
- Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker Review - Greatest Sharpening Kit
- Work Sharp Combo Knife Sharpener Review - Simplest Knife Sharpener
- Benchmade Guided Field Sharpener Review - Best Blade Sharpener
- Naniwa Blue Super Stone in Stand S1000 Review - Best Japanese Knife Sharpener
- Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener 2.2.1 Review - Best Field Knife Sharpener
- Lansky QuadSharp Carbide Ceramic Multi Angle Knife Sharpener Review - Most Reliable Knife Sharpener
- Tungsten Carbine Ceramic Rod Review - Best Pocket Knife Sharpener
- Hunting Knife Sharpeners Comparison Chart
- Hunting Knife Sharpeners Buying Guide
- Final Verdict
You need to keep your knives in the best condition if you want to get the best results when using them. The choice of a sharpening method largely depends on the job your knife is intended for as well as the steel of your blade.
Using a blunt knife is dangerous and tiresome because you have higher chances of injuring your fingers. Knife sharpening involves making your knife sharp by grinding it hard against a stone or using an electric sharpener.
The sharpness of your knife will depend on the angle between the blade and stone; the smaller the angle, the sharper the knife.
It is also important to note that not all knives are sharpened in the same manner.
Additionally, the stone that you decide to use will also influence the sharpness of your blade. Knife sharpening is dine in a series of steps so as to get the best results. Before you begin sharpening your knife, you need to assess its sharpness.
There are ways of knowing how sharp your blade is because it is hard to know by just looking. For example, for knives used in the kitchen, you can test their sharpness by cutting carrots or tomatoes. Any nicks will be sensed as obstacles.
This is a useful skill to have for both the home and outdoor activities. However, you need to be careful not to damage your blades.
For you to be good at sharpening knives, you need to understand whatever there is about knife blades and the various sharpeners available in the market.
The condition of your blade will determine what is the best sharpener to use.
Top 10 Best Knife Sharpeners in 2018
Below you can find a nice selection of ten best hunting knife sharpeners on the market.
- Edge Pro Apex 1 Knife Sharpener Kit
- Dimensions: 17.5 x 5 x 2.4 inches
- Weight: 3 pounds
- Brand: Edge Pro
- Price:
- Chef's Choice 130 Professional
- Dimensions: 12 x 6 x 6.2 inches
- Weight: 1.88 pounds
- Brand: Chef's Choice
- Price:
- Wicked Edge Superfine Ceramic
- Dimensions: n/a
- Weight: 0.35 pounds
- Brand: Wicked Edge
- Price:
- Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmake
- Dimensions: 7 x 0.5 x 1 inches
- Weight: 1 pounds
- Brand: Spyderco
- Price:
- Work Sharp Combo Knife Sharpener
- Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.5 x 4.5 inches
- Weight: 1.2 pounds
- Brand: Work Sharp
- Price:
1
Edge Pro Apex 1 Knife Sharpener Kit Review - Best Sharpening Kit
At first glance the Edge Pro Apex 1 Knife Sharpener Kit looks like something straight out of a Harry Potter film. The Edge Pro Apex sharpener is a bit on the pricey side. However, This sharpener, gets the job done.
Weighing in at 3 lbs. and a measurement of 5.5 x 1 x 18 inches, this knife sharpener has various adjustable sharpening angles (10, 15, 18, 21 and lastly 24 degrees).
Mounted on the plates are water stones that can be easily changed by simply twisting the knob.
Things to Consider Before Buying
- Pricing: Is the price of the product within your budget, can you afford it?
- What kind of blades you have: The kind of blades you own will determine if this sharpener, in particular, can sharpen them.
What's In The Box?
The Edge Pro Apex 1 comes in a fancy black bag adorned with the Edge Pro Apex logo.
It is proudly made in America as stated on the backpack. It requires setting up in order to start using it, luckily an instruction manual is also included in the packaging.
Features & Benefits
The Apex Edge pro features a guide system that is able to sharpen any type of blade including serrated blades.
The easy system ensures that the knives are sharpened at the exact same angle every single time which makes re-sharpening them a lot easier in the future.
This little tool works impeccably all while not emitting any heat. Unlike electric sharpeners, it does not remove a lot of metal doing away with wavy edges that appear on knives after being sharpened.
This allows for a longer lifespan of your knives since it will neither damage nor tamper with your knife’s initial design.
What We Like
- Sharpens all types of blades
- Easy to use
- No power required (isn’t electric)
- Portable
- Comes with a bag
- Requires no maintenance aside from cleaning up when it gets dirty
What We Don't Like
- A little bit pricey
- Although not strenuous, manual labor is required
- Limited to only knife sharpening
Who Is it For?
This is a tool is one that can be used by just about anyone.
It will sharpen virtually any knife provided its girth does not go beyond 3.5 inches. Meaning bigger tools such as axes cannot be sharpened.
Final Verdict
The Edge Pro Apex 1 Knife Sharpener Kit is a sharpener that is a bit pricey, this may be a bit off-putting to some who are looking for something slightly cheaper that can still get the job done.
However, due to its pricey nature, it can easily slide into the category of luxury. The best part about this sharpener is the fact that it does not need any maintenance.
Warranty is offered but only upon request. In my opinion, this tool is great and can make a fine gift.
2
Chef's Choice 130 Professional Review - Top Knife Sharpener
Are you looking for an easy to use knife sharpener?
What's In The Box?
The Chef’s Choice 130 sharpens steel and strops most brands and types of knives.
It comes equipped with angle guides to ensure foolproof sharpening, stabilizing feet to hold it in place and on/off switch.
It measures 10 by 10 by 4 inches.
Additionally, it also comes with a 3-year warranty justifying that value for money.
Features & Benefits
This knife sharpener is a bit on the pricey side, however, it is so worth it!
You can use it for just about any type of you knife you could think of; from quality kitchen knives to sports and pockets knives, both straight edges and serrated blades, the possibilities are endless.
It's a fairly small compact and has 3 stages for the sharpening process:
- You start with stage 1 to get the new edge applied on your knife.
- Then you proceed to stage 2 or 3 or a combination of both for the finishing.
You do this depending on the type of knife and exactly what type of food you're looking to cut with the knife.
What We Like
- It's electric, therefore not a lot of manual labor needed.
- It isn’t limited to knives only, it can sharpen scissors too.
- No experience needed to operate it.
What We Don't Like
- No variety in color
Who Is it For?
This tool is geared towards household use but is surely not limited to kitchen use only.
At first it might be tricky getting the knife to obtain a burr but once you master the technique with the generally easy to follow instructions, it's smooth sailing from there onwards.
Basically, all you have to do to start sharpening the knife is to turn the chef's choice on, and gently glide your knife through the precision knife guides pulling it towards you in slow strokes. The angle guides will sharpen the blade at just the right angle. Alternate between the left and right slots in each stage.
Once you form a burr on the edge, you're ready to move to stage 2, where finer diamond discs supply the second bevel. Repeat the process as you did in stage 1.
Bringing us to stage 3, this is the polishing and strobing stage to give it a fine finish. Stage 3 is also used to sharpen serrated knives.
It will realign, straighten and sharpen the teeth of the serrations. You only need about 3 to 4 alternating pulls in this stage to achieve a razor sharp blade.
You can test the sharpness with a piece of paper, with an easy slice you will know that cutting through anything will be a breeze. This is a very good alternative especially if you get frustrated using a butcher’s and always notice those in perfect burr.
The Chef's Choice M130 easily creates a perfectly steeled edge making cutting and slice a breeze.
You knife collection will look sharper than new.
Final Verdict
Although it's a little pricey, this tool would make your life a lot easier.
It doesn’t hurt that it not only sharpens bowie clips knives, but also serrated blades. I strongly recommend it.
3
Wicked Edge Superfine Ceramic Review - Greatest Ceramic Knife Sharpener
The Wicked Edge Superfine Ceramic - 1200 and 1600 Grit is a knife sharpener made out ceramic stones that do an exquisite job at sharpening knives and putting a double edge on your blade giving it a razor-sharp feel.
They are the most exquisite step between the strops and the diamond stones.
The product is truly a final touch to one’s sharpening collection.
Things to Consider Before Buying
- Product price
We all know the price of a product determines the quality of a product. The higher the price, the better the quality, however there’s no point hurting your pocket. Therefore, before making a purchase make sure it is within your means.
- What type of blades do you have
Always make sure the knife sharpener you want to purchase is compatible with the type of blades and tools you own.
What's In The Box?
As the name suggest this knife sharpener comes with two different ceramic stones.
These are mounted side by side onto handles and help create a mirror edge on your blade/ tool.
Features & Benefits
Weighing in at 5.6 ounces, The Wicked Edge Superfine Ceramic is very light in weight with a width of 6×2.3 ×15 inches.
The two ceramic stones are mounted side by side and to give you blades a nice clean razor-sharp finish.
What We Like
- Gives fine finish to your blade
- Easy to use
- Light in weight
- Finer, as compared to automotive sand paper
- Stones can be used as intermediate
What We Don't Like
- Comes in one color
- A tad bit pricey
- Chips around the edge
Who Is it For?
With the exception of serrated knives, this knife sharpener can sharpen just about every kind of knife/ tool.
This means the product is not limited to a certain group of people.
Housewives, knife enthusiasts, hunters and survivalists can all enjoy this wonderful easy to use tool.
Final Verdict
This specific sharpener is a bit pricey but also worth every penny. It is sold as a pair; the package includes both ceramic stones one with 1200 grit and the other 1600.
When using the 1200 grit stones, they sometimes get seriously bumpy, but this can be remedied through consistent use. For instance, the company suggests that if the consumer wants to wear out the bumpy grits, lapping the stone with one of the finer diamond stones will smoothen it out.
The stones are not sold separately as many were under the notion.
Having succinctly elucidated the pros and cons of this product, it suffices to say that it is one of the most brilliant household items from Wicked Edge.
It elevates knife sharpening, making it a brilliant tool for culinary experts, amateurs and knife enthusiasts.
The efficiency and effectiveness of the product makes it ideal for home, office and outdoor use.
In my opinion this is a sharpener I would vouch for.
4
Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker Review - Greatest Sharpening Kit
The Spyderco Sharpmaker is a sharpening kit that's small and compact yet so easy to use especially for beginners.
It comes in a very nice package, accompanied with an in-depth manual with color pictures showing the different types of setups to sharpen all kinds of knives.
These can be serrated edges, scissors, re-curved blades, kitchen knives, as long as its purpose is to cut or slice.
What's In The Box?
When you open the package you will notice it comes with a pair of medium grit stones and another pair of fine grit stones.
The top two stones come off pretty easily. You need a bit of effort to slide the bottom stones out though.
Also, inside are a pair of brass poles whose purpose is to protect your hand from getting cut when using the device.
For the stones, depending on the angle you place them in will result in a different edge on the on the knife.
Features & Benefits. How It Works.
There are also two compartment holes to place these stones; one is a 40° edge and the other is a 30° edge.
You need to know that just about every knife you can think of can be sharpened with the 40° edge. Unless you have a special type of knife or aren't sure, in that case you can always refer back to the instructional manual for a better understanding.
So, when starting out, have the stones’ corners facing each other, and do 10 strokes on each side. Slowly slide the knife straight up and down. Turn the stones to their sides and repeat the process.
In fact, after using just the first two stones you will notice that's it starts to get pretty sharp but we aren't done yet. You then replace the medium grit stones with the fine grit stones and re-do the process.
Once completed you will have a very sharp edge that can cut through enough.
A few issues one would have with this device are:
- Stability: being a compact device and small in size for portability you need to use your other hand to hold it in place. This can be dangerous if you know you're clumsy because you could still cut yourself.
- Stones get dirty as time goes by and also depending on how often they are used. But this shouldn't really be an issue because you can wash the stones. Most of it will come off but don't be worried if you can still spot a few dirt spots because that only shows that they are doing their job.
What We Like
- Simple to pack and carry
- Has high quality stone
- No experience needed
What We Don't Like
- Cannot sharpen thick knives with angles greater than 40 degrees.
Final Verdict
The Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker is overall a very good sharpener because it will get you the result you want, especially if you're just getting into knife sharpening on an occasional basis.
You can carry it around with you and use it just about anywhere since it has a really quick setup.
There is nothing more you could ask from a knife sharpener in such a quick amount of time.
5
Work Sharp Combo Knife Sharpener Review - Simplest Knife Sharpener
Things to Consider Before Buying
- Price Range: Is the price of this sharpener within your means?
- Does it satisfy your sharpening needs?
- What type of blades do you have and can this particular sharpener suite your every need?
What's In The Box?
The greatest thing about this product is how small it is in size yet it delivers a great deal of satisfaction.
It only comes in black, luckily its impossible to go wrong with black.
Weighing in at 1.2 pounds, this device is one that will benefit you a great deal.
Features & Benefits. How It Works.
The mechanism is simple, you have two angle guides that you will pass your knife through.
The reason it's double sided is basically just for convenience. One side is for the left side of the blade while the other is for the right, so you alternate sides back and forth without turning you're knife or flipping the machine.
It's a 120 grit belt to sharpen the knife bare in mind this is the only size work sharp provides for the belt.
Once you get the sharpness you want, you can move on to the ceramic rod. It has guides to help achieve a fine polish.
When sharpening the blade, press the on switch, and start from the edge of the handle, follow the angle guide, don't apply any pressure, leave that to weight of your blade. Pull the blade towards yourself in slow strokes.
And then follow it up with the ceramic rod as mentioned earlier. When you notice the ceramic rod turn a bit dark, with a little bit of pressure and two fingers you can turn the rod on its side and you'll have a fresh surface.
It's also replaceable just in case you thought it wasn't. With some effort, you can pull off.
That's basically the design purpose of this device, a quick sharpen, a quick finish and you're back in business.
You don't have to pull out a whole bunch of tools, just this little combo sharpener to do the job. You have everything you need in one package, you don't even really have to put in a lot of effort because it's electric.
Just plug it in, turn it on, four to five swipes on either side on the belt, five to ten swipes on the ceramic rod for the finish and you're good to go. You get a lot of value for your money.
What We Like
- Sharpens quickly
- Minimal effort or skill required
What We Don't Like
- Comes only in one color (black only)
- Has only 1-year warranty
Who Is it For?
This sharpener caters to the needs of almost anyone provided they own a knife.
It sharpens serrated knives too meaning hunters and knife enthusiasts are also invited to this soiree.
Final Verdict
This knife sharpener is designed for people who want to sharpen their tools perfectly and in the shortest time available.
There are however some few pointers:
- The combo knife sharpener will convex your edge even if your knife doesn't have one, it will go ahead and put a convex on your blade, so that's just a heads up.
- Also, this is not a one size fits all kind of device, it has its limitations. Different knives have differently angled convex on their blades. So you risk altering the look of your knife if the angles aren't the same.
- Benchmade Guided Field Sharpener
- Dimensions: -
- Weight: 1 pounds
- Brand: Benchmade
- Price:
- Naniwa Blue Super Stone
- Dimensions: 8.3 x 2.8 x 0.4 inches
- Weight: 1.12 pounds
- Brand: Naniwa Abrasive Mfg
- Price:
- Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener
- Dimensions: 1 x 1.5 x 6.8 inches
- Weight: 0.4 pounds
- Brand: Work Sharp
- Price:
- Lansky QuadSharp Carbide Ceramic
- Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.5 x 2.2 inches
- Weight: 0.4 pounds
- Brand: Lansky
- Price:
- Tungsten Carbine Ceramic Rod
- Dimensions: -
- Weight: 1 pounds
- Brand: Alpha Tek
- Price:
6
Benchmade Guided Field Sharpener Review - Best Blade Sharpener
Things to Consider Before Buying
- Price Range
- What type of blades do you have?
The blade type will always determine the sharpener that is best for you.
What's In The Box?
The Knife Guided Field Sharpener comes accompanied with two plates, one side of the plate is coarse while the other is a finely textured plate. Both of these plates are guided at 20° angles.
Both are also removable so that means you can replace them and they also snap back on really easily since they are magnetic.
In fact when you snap off the plate, inside the compartment is a neatly rolled paper, that's the instruction manual.
Features & Benefits. How It Works.
On the side there is a ceramic rod that has three different modes, you can change to the different modes with a nob, labeled with the letters showing which texture you're using.
The sign that looks like a fish hook is obviously to sharpening fish hooks and then where you see letter C that stands for coarse. Letter F stands for Fine. All you need to do is rotate to the mode you prefer. There is also a leather strap on the opposite side that is also guided.
This is the final process when polishing the blade.
When using the device, place your knife along the 20° guide and just keep the angle consistent and slowly drag your knife towards you.
Then you turn your knife on the other side of the blade while still on the same plate and repeat the process slowly just like you would do on a whetstone. That's how you will keep a good consistent angle of 20 degrees.
One other thing the device has is a serration sharpener that caters to a serrated blade, it's right next to the ceramic rod, quite short but it gets the job done for those serrated blades.
It's designed perfectly not only to fit the big teeth on your knife but also the small ones. You just place your serrated blade on where you need it and gently rub back and forth moving it along the teeth as desired.
It also has some space for you to place your thumb for grip while putting your index finger under to hold it in place.
However, it would have been ideal for that small handle to be extended in order to achieve a far tighter grip especially for those with butter fingers. That might be the only negative about this device.
What We Like
- Easy to use
- It's not limited to knives only, can sharpen fish hooks too
- Affordable
- Portability
What We Don't Like
- Missing small handle for a better grip
Who Is it For?
With the unlimited tools this sharpener can sharpen, this is a sharpener that can be enjoyed by anyone.
It can be used by hunters, housewives and even fishermen.
Final Verdict
Finally the leather strop, this would be the last stage of your knife sharpening.
Just run the blade backward along the strop, this gets off all the last tiny burrs and also gives your blade a shine. This is really good for those knives with convex edges.
For the price, this multi-purpose tool is true value for the money.
7
Naniwa Blue Super Stone in Stand S1000 Review - Best Japanese Knife Sharpener
The Naniwa Blue Super Stone In Stand s1000 is the best knife sharpener that comes from Japan with love.
Weighing in at only 440 grams and with a measurement of 210 x 70 x 10 mm, this small but yet useful tool is made in Japan.
It does not require a battery as it is manually operated and therefore only needs elbow grease and willpower.
Things to Consider Before Buying
- What type of blades are you sharpening?
This sharpener is limited to only clip point bowie blades, therefore if you have serrated blades, this is not the sharpener for you.
- Price range
This goes without saying, the pricing of an item should always be within your means.
What's In The Box?
At first glance, the Naniwa Blue Super Stone may appear as a plain Jane, nevertheless this particular stone sharpener has a few tricks up its sleeve.
As the name suggests, it comes in blue color, unfortunately, it does not come in any other shade leaving consumers with only this color.
Features & Benefits. How It Works.
Naniwa Blue Super Stone s1000 is petite and can fit virtually anywhere you place it.
As you are aware most stone sharpeners require water to work, but unlike the traditional Japanese stones, this particular stone does not require any soaking prior to being used, you, however, have to sprinkle some water on top of it and voila you are good to go!
What We Like
- Guaranteed to put polished edge to any type of knife
- Does not require soaking prior to usage
- It is easy to use
- Affordable
- It is petite in size and can fit almost practically anywhere
- Light in weight
What We Don't Like
- Does not sharpen serrated blades
- Comes only in one color
- Manual labor required
- Has to be held in place when being used
Who Is it For?
This product is intentionally designed for small-time knife sharpening since it is all manually operated.
Despite being able to handle sharpening as many knives as possible, it is bound to tire your hand down.
It can be used to sharpen kitchen knives and tools as well as outdoor tools such as machetes and hunting knives, provided they are not serrated blades.
Final Verdict
In my opinion, this blade sharpener may be a bit dull in design despite this it still serves its purpose.
Although it comes in a ravishing shade of blue, I'd have much rather preferred it came in an array of other colors.
It, however, has the ability to sharpen all sorts of tools and knives with the exemption of serrated blades. This would be a turn off for those that have such knives.
On the plus side, it does not scratch or damages the edge of your blade. It is however small in size which is a bit of a problem for those with big hands. It sharpens very fast and wears out really slowly, meaning it will not need to be replaced anytime soon.
I would recommend this stone sharpener to any chef out there since it seems to get the job done.
8
Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener 2.2.1 Review - Best Field Knife Sharpener
The Work Sharp 09DX100 Guided Field Sharpener 2.2.1 is a sharpener designed largely for field use.
This immaculate sharpener comes outfitted with five different simple steps for sharpening your knives to ensure your knives are sharpened just right.
The different parts do not require any set-up nor does it require assembly.
The guided field sharpener not only sharpens knives but also fish hooks, garden tools, scissors, and machetes as well as serrated blades, adding a whole new criterion of people in the scope of those that can use it.
Things to Consider Before Buying
- Price range
- Is this going to cater for your needs?
Does this tool, in particular, satisfy your knife sharpening needs?
What's In The Box?
This guided field sharpener comes in a simple package that sports its simple instructions at the back. You can keep it for future reference.
It comes in only one color; yellow, and also features a hole that makes it easy to carry around with you.
It is both compact and durable and can be used virtually anywhere, making it a plug and play since it does not require setting up.
This product is also proudly made in America.
Features & Benefits. How It Works.
The Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener features built-in angle guides that guarantee a stable bevel angle across the entire edge of the blade.
The good guys over at Work Sharp assemble everything for you, meaning no need for the tedious set-ups that can be frustrating and frankly ego-bruising.
After purchasing it you receive a lifetime warranty, if that isn’t value for your money I don’t know what is!
This also says a lot about Work Sharp’s dedication to providing extraordinary customer care services and products of a high caliber.
What We Like
- Affordable
- Easy to use
What We Don't Like
- A lot of elbow grease needed.
- Comes only in one color
- No fancy backpack
Who Is it For?
The fact is that this knife sharpener can sharpen virtually anything. This one size fits all phenomena allows it to cater to everyone’s needs.
Fishermen can sharpen their fish hooks, farmers can sharpen their machetes, a housewife is able to sharpen her kitchen knives and hunters are also invited to this party as it sharpens pocket knives clip bowies and serrated blades alike.
Final Verdict
This knife sharpener does require some manual labor, although minimal still worth acknowledgment. This might not sit well with some given the dotcom era we are in.
It is amazing that it is so affordable given its ability to sharpen just about any knife.
The greatness does not stop here, it has the ability to sharpen serrated blades as well catering to the needs of knife collectors.
I would strongly recommend this product to anyone who incorporates the use of knives in their daily life.
9
Lansky QuadSharp Carbide Ceramic Multi Angle Knife Sharpener Review - Most Reliable Knife Sharpener
This knife sharpener is not one for the faint-hearted as it sharpens not only one side of the blade but both sides.
I am not going to over-exaggerate and say this sharpener is the best thing since sliced bread but the Lansky QuadSharp Carbide Ceramic Multi-Angle Knife Sharpener is truly worth a mention.
As the name suggests, this sharpener has four different angles, enabling you to sharpen your knives in 17º, 20º, 25º, and lastly 30º.
Things to Consider Before Buying
- How is this tool useful to you?
This is a question that you should always ask yourself before making any purchase. Is this particular tool going to contribute to the betterment of your life?
What's In The Box?
This sharpener only comes in blue, which is one of my favorite colors. I am therefore not disappointed in their color choice.
Features & Benefits. How It Works.
This sophisticated hunting knife sharpener has four different angles that aid in sharpening knives in as low as 3-4 strokes.
The fun does not stop there because it also has the ability to sharpen not only straight, but also serrated blades.
How It Works.
- Using the Pull-Through Feature
In this method, the user holds the knife using their dominant hand while the other hand holds the sharpener in place.
Pull the knife through the desired angle slot using light but firm pressure to restore your blade.
- Sharpening Serrations
Serrations on knives allow a blade to deliver as much damage as possible in one cut on both the forward and the reverse stroke. However, due to the nature of this knife, once it gets blunt there’s close to nothing to do about it.
The good thing though is that this sharpener enables you to sharpen your serration blades as well. Although a job and a half as you have to sharpen one serration at a time, this is still worth it.
For serrations larger in size, use the rolling motion to sweep at the corner of the sharpener from side to side of the serration.
Repeat this until you achieved your desired sharpness.
What We Like
- Petite in size
- Sharpens serrated knives
What We Don't Like
- Comes only in one color
Who Is it For?
This tool is not limited to a specific group of people; it can be used by just about anyone. It is however mostly aimed at hunters and survivalists as well as knife collectors.
Final Verdict
What I like most about this sharpener is its ability to get the job done with minimal effort and time.
I also like that it sharpens serrated knives, meaning you do not have to throw away your knives all because you are unable to sharpen them.
It is truly a predator when it comes to knife sharpening.
10
Tungsten Carbine Ceramic Rod Review - Best Pocket Knife Sharpener
Things to Consider Before Buying
As with any product, there are a couple of things to consider before making a purchase.
- How badly do you need it?
Are you a hoarder or are you really in need of a knife sharpener or will it just add on to clutter your house?
- How will it benefit you?
Is this product beneficial to you and your pocket-knife collection?
What's In The Box?
Retailing at a very low price, The Tungsten Carbide Ceramic Rod is pocket-friendly and comes in three colors: Black, Day Glow orange and OD green which is my personal favorite.
This amazing pocket knife sharpener is sleekly designed and is small yet so powerful.
Features & Benefits. How It Works.
Despite this particular knife sharpener being advertised as a pocket hunting knife sharpener, it is not limited to just pocket knives.
It has the capability to sharpen just about any other kind of knife but do not get ahead of yourself and attempt to sharpen a machete.
Due to its petite build, it can be kept just about anywhere; in your pocket, your toolbox, hung on a wall, the list is endless.
If it can fit, it will be able to sit! It has a no skid base for much needed stable sharpening.
It is also so easy to maneuver as it quickly sharpens the knives with simple directions that are neither time nor energy consuming.
All you have to do is:
- Insert the blade into the slot at a 90-degree angle to the sharpener, place the blade in carbide cutting heads which are black in color and begin to pull the knife straight back towards you. Repeat this 2-3 times.
- Place the blade in the ceramic fine smoothing rods which are white in color, pull the knife towards you 5-6 times while applying heavy pressure. Repeat this process if your blade is still blunt.
What We Like
- Easy to operate
- Lightweight and petite and practically fit anywhere
- Can sharpen any other type of knives, provided they are similar in size and girth
- Affordable
- Package includes a backpack that it can be hung on.
What We Don't Like
- It is limited to smaller knives
Who Is it For?
This product is geared towards outdoorsy people, hunters, campers, and the likes to sharpen their hunting or survival knives and would be a great addition to your hunting/survival gear.
Although it has been marketed as a hunting knife sharpener, it can easily switch up as a kitchen item. Household knives have needs too!
Final Verdict
The best part about this product is its affordability. What’s even better is the fact that it is actually useful.
It doesn't hurt that it is also not limited to hunting knives only.
I think this is something every hunter or housewife could find really useful.
Hunting Knife Sharpeners Comparison Chart
Rank | Name | Dimensions | Weight | Brand |
---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | Edge Pro Apex 1 | 17.5 x 5 x 2.4 inches | 3 pounds | Edge Pro |
#2 | Chef's Choice 130 Professional | 12 x 6 x 6.2 inches | 1.88 pounds | Chef's Choice |
#3 | Wicked Edge Superfine Ceramic | - | 0.35 pounds | Wicked Edge |
#4 | Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker | 7 x 0.5 x 1 inches | 1 pounds | Spyderco |
#5 | Work Sharp Combo | 7.8 x 4.5 x 4.5 inches | 1.2 pounds | Work Sharp |
#6 | Benchmade Guided Field Sharpener | - | 1 pounds | Benchmade |
#7 | Naniwa Blue Super Stone | 8.3 x 2.8 x 0.4 inches | 1.12 pounds | Naniwa Abrasive Mfg |
#8 | Work Sharp Guided Field | 1 x 1.5 x 6.8 inches | 0.4 pounds | Work Sharp |
#9 | Lansky QuadSharp Carbide/Ceramic | 4.2 x 0.5 x 2.2 inches | 0.4 pounds | Lansky |
#10 | Tungsten Carbine Ceramic Rod | - | 1 pounds | Alpha Tek |
Hunting Knife Sharpeners Buying Guide
You first need to know the features that the best knife sharpeners possess:
- Great performance: the most important trait in a knife sharpener is its power to produce a consistently keen and smooth edge free of any nicks or scratches
- A hard and abrasive surface: diamond is the hardest and fastest sharpening substance. The next is tungsten carbide and polished ceramic. The abrasiveness of a material is measured in terms of grit, meaning, the higher the grit number, the finer the abrasive. Consequently, a 120-grit substance is very coarse while 1000-grit is very fine.
- An angle guide that is adjustable as well as accurate: some knife sharpeners make it simple even for first-time users to hold the blade at the required angle while others need practice. The best angle guides adjust to accommodate several blade angles, mostly 15 and 20 degrees. These are the two most popular blade angles for kitchen knives.
- Multiple stages of sharpening: a coarse abrasive is used for the purposes of reshaping the edges of really damaged or dull knives while finer ones are used for polishing and touching up. Owning both of them is important because if you use coarse material for small touch-ups, you will remove a lot of steel from your knives.
- Enough safety features: it needs to be easy to use your knife sharpener without injuring yourself in the process. Manual sharpeners offer safety by putting a physical barrier between your fingers and the knives’ blades. On the other hand, electric sharpeners use slots or rails to guide your knife into the sharpening belts or disks rather than into your hand.
- A good warranty coupled by great customer service: this is important for electric sharpeners that are costly.
Furthermore, before going out and purchasing the best hunting knife sharpener, you need to know a few things:
The type of knives you own
Your patience
Space
Your budget
Noise
Are you right-handed or left-handed?
Types of Knife Sharpeners
There are several tools that can effectively sharpen your knives.
- 1. Sharpening Stones
- 2. Sharpening steels
- 3. Knife hones
- 4. Electric knife sharpeners
They are also referred to as whetstones and they are a common way of sharpening knife blades.
These stones come in a rectangular block that is about one inch thick and they are made from materials such as diamond, ceramic and natural sharpening stones.
Sharpening stones work very well with knives that are very dull because depending on the grade, they can remove a lot of material from the blade.
One of the main advantages of stones is that they can be used on many other steel products such as scissors, razors and equipment with larger blades.
Shopping Guide For Knife Sharpener
When sharpening knives, you need to be conversant with terms such as:
- Bevel - this is also referred to as grind and it is the shape of the blade’s edge.
- Edge - this is the sharpened or bottom part of the blade.
- Grit - how small or large the abrasive material on a sharpening stone is.
- Honing - the art of maintaining the sharpness of a blade that is already sharp.
- Sharpening - physically removing metal from a knife to form a new age.
- Spine - top part of a blade.
- Swarf - the leftover particles after blade sharpening.
Bevel types
They vary depending on the knife’s usage.
- Convex bevel - this kind is characterized by an outwardly curving taper which keeps more metal behind the edge to make it stronger while at the same time still allowing for a moderate degree of sharpness. This bevel needs someone that is skilled to create on a sharpening stone. It is mostly found on cleavers.
- Chisel bevel - only a single side of the blade is ground down and the alternate side remains flat. This bevel offers a very sharp edge and is mostly found in Asian culinary knives. This bevel is also available in in left and right handed varieties.
- Double bevel - also referred to as a compound bevel and is popular with western kitchen knives. So as to keep the blade thinner and enhance the ability to cut, a second back bevel is added above the edge bevel. Even though it is not as sharp as other bevels, it is strong and resilient.
- Flat bevel - this is characterized by a taper that starts at the spine of the blade. This bevel is quite sharp yet hard to create because if the amount of metal that one gets rid of. This is why it’s availability in commercial use is limited.
- Hollow bevel - this one tapers inwardly to form a very sharp but weak blade edge. This bevel is mostly used on straight razors.
- Sabre bevel - also known as a V-bevel. It is similar to the flat bevel but the taper starts around the middle of the blade rather than the spine. It is found on several types of kitchen knives and offers a lasting edge while compromising the ability to cut.
Blade angles
The knife angle measurements represent the angle at which each side of the blade is sharpened. For instance, a blade that is sharpened at an angle of 20 degrees has a total angle of 40 degrees.
The most popular angle for kitchen knives is 20 degrees even though selected manufacturers make their knives with an angle of 15 degrees.
Generally, the greater the angle of the blade, the stronger and more durable it will be, even though you will lose sharpness as the angle increases.
- 30-35 degree angles - mostly found on cleavers or other blades used for purposes of chopping. Chopping needs a lot of force and angles as large as 30 to 35 degrees offer the blade with the strength and durability required for this task.
- 25-30 degree angles - used on hunting, pocket and other outdoor knives. Such knives need to be capable if cutting and slicing in tough conditions that are not usually experienced by kitchen knives, hence the reason for a larger blade angle.
- 18-25 degree angles - common usage is on kitchen knives. The angles create a delicate balance between sharpness and durability required for cutting veggies, meats, fruits and cheeses. Boning, chef and carving knives make use of angles within this range.
- 12- 18 degrees angles - they are reserved for knives that need to be very sharp such as fillet and paring knives. Since these angles create a weaker blade, they are used on knives that mostly do fine slicing.
Tips For Sharpening Your Outdoor Knives
The most important part of sharpening a knife the right way is knowing the angle. For you to get the angle right, you need to know your angle.
You can look at the manufacturer’s page to find this information:
- Hunting knives, pocket knives and survival knives - 25-30 degrees
- Smaller knives such as boning knives- 18- 25 degrees
- Machetes - 30-35 degrees
- Razors and X - Acto knives - 12- 18 degrees
Begin with a whetstone
There are many types of sharpening stones but even though ceramic and diamond stones are superior in several ways, the best option would still be a whetstone, especially if you are a beginner.
Prepare your stone before sharpening
- Clean the stone - all the shavings and oil on the stone can make it become dirty quite fast. You need to clean it before using it. Use some water and scrub it with a brush for a few minutes.
- Wet the stone - soak the whetstone in water for approximately five minutes before using it.
- Stabilize the stone - place a towel under the whetstone so that it doesn’t slide as you sharpen.
- Add oil to it - adding oil to the whetstone helps carrying the shavings away from the stone thus preventing friction and heat which may warp the blade. Oiling also prevents the pores from getting clogged with shavings. Mineral oil is the most recommended since it is food safe.
Using the Sharpie trick
This is probably the best knife sharpening tip you will ever know.
You draw a black line over the knife bevel using a sharpie or marker. What follows is you take several strokes with the knife over the stone.
All of the sharpie should be gone if you maintain the required angle of sharpening. Failure to maintain the angle will result in you seeing black on the bevel.
Additionally, if there is still black on the bottom edge of the knife but the top is clean, then you are laying the knife too flat and you should increase the angle. In case there is still black on the top edge of the knife but the bottom is clean, then you are probably holding the knife too high and you should lower the angle.
Starting with the right grit
Many people think that one needs to start with a coarser grit then the finer one, but this is not always true. Knives with soft blades wear down quicker and you need to start with a coarser grit then move to the finer one.
However, you need to leave the edge rough because it wears down fast. On the other hand, knives with harder blades don’t wear down rapidly and you need to start with a medium or fine grit.
When to switch to a finer stone
When you start with a coarser grit, you are more likely to over-sharpen your knife and take away too much material. You will know when to progress to the finer grit by listening to the burr.
As you sharpen one side, some material will definitely build up on the knife’s edge. This is known as a burr and is easy to see when you are using a coarse grit.
However, the burr becomes difficult to see when you switch to the finer grit and this is the reason why some experts even wear magnifying glasses when sharpening. Even if you are unable to see the burr, you can still feel it.
Make sure never to run your finger along the edge of the knife because you will cut yourself but you can run it from the spine to the edge to feel the burr.
As you alternate sides when you sharpen, you should feel the burr switch from side to side. As soon as you can feel this, it is a signal that you should move to a finer stone.
Please note that you should not switch sides after every stroke because this will make it difficult for the edge to build up a burr. On the contrary, use at least five strokes on each side before alternating.
Count the strokes
One should use at least five strokes on each side. In case the knife is really dull, you may do ten to fifteen strokes before alternating sides. One thing is common though, one must use the same number of strokes on either side of the blade.
This will make sure that you are taking away the same amount of material on every side. So, you need to count the strokes accurately.
Sharpen your knives before they get blunt
The blunter your knives are, the harder it is to sharpen them. Sharpen your knives regularly.
Please note that in case you are using an assisted opening knife, it should be clean before you store it or it will get dull quite fast.
Get your sharpening motion correct
Use your stronger hand to hold the knife by the handle and place the other hand over the blade’s face. You also need to firmly apply pressure to the knife as you drag it along the whetstone in an arching motion.
The arch shape males sure that the entire blade touches the stone. In case you realize that you are finding it hard to keep a consistent angle, use circular motions instead.
With the edge facing right, keep the edge on the surface of the stone and use clockwise motions as you count them. Flip the blade over for the edge facing the ledge. Use the same number of counter-clockwise motions.
Repeat until you have the desired sharpness.
Get a sharpening guide
To consistently get the angle right for sharpening a knife requires a lot of practice. Rather than troubling yourself, get a guide.
Grits of Sharpening Stones
- 220 grit - it is ideal for reshaping or repairing chips. Be aware that the 220-300 grit stones are very abrasive and it will definitely shave off a lot of material. This is not recommended for beginners.
- 300 grit - it is recommended for very blunt knives.
- 1000 grit - it is a basic sharpening stone that is recommended to many customers.
- 1200 grit - it is the best for sharpening traditional Japanese blades because they are more delicate as compared to western knives. However, the 1000 and 1200 grits can be used interchangeably. If you need a more abrasive grit, it is recommended that you use the Nagura stone on your 1,200 grit stone then using the mud produced to sharpen.
- 2,000 grit - this is still considered a medium stone. It is not as abrasive as the previous two discussed and it takes longer to sharpen. This grit stone is recommended for those who prefer to sharpen their knives regularly because it does not wear off much material as compared to the lower grit stones.
- 3,000 grit - it is easier to use this grit stone as a buffer instead of moving form a 1,000 grit stone to a 6,000 stone. Cutting oily ingredients leads t shorter edge retention. In case you plan to cut meat such as chicken, you are advised to stop at the 3,000 grit stone. Even though the 6,000 grit stone offers a more refined edge, it will dull faster. Using a rougher edge will also maintain your blade longer. This is also the best stone for boning knives. A word of caution is never to soak fine stones unless instructed by the product. When preparing you just need to wet the surface. If you don’t wet it, your stone will crack and weaken.
- 5,000 grit - this is a great stone to be used in between the process of sharpening. When you use a stone in between a medium stone and a high grit fine stone, your sharpening will be faster and easier. This stone is recommended for western blades.
- 6,000 grit - a basic finishing stone
- 8,000 grit - this is the best finishing stone if you need the sharpest and most polished blade. This is recommended for people with produce and non-fatty foods.
Types of Sharpening Stones
Nagura Stone
Dirt is usually trapped in medium and fine stones after being used. The trapped dirt makes the stone slippery and unable to sharpen.
The Nagura stone assists in cleaning the stones by removing the dirt.
If you have a 1,200 grit stone but would want a rougher stone for a specific knife, you can use dirt or mud in the stone for sharpening your knives.
The dirt or mud makes the 1,200 grit stone to become a 1,000 stone or lesser. Depending on how much mud you use, sharpening your knives will be faster and easier.
Natural Stones
These stones are carefully selected from the mountains, hand quarried, hand cut and polished, thus being expensive. These stones may have holes towards the middle and the grit may vary on different sections of the stone.
Natural stones are however not recommended for new users.
Diamond Sharpening Stones
They are becoming more popular with professionals. These stones need less maintenance and are never soaked. Just a light splash of water is what they need.
They offer quick sharpening and are never recommended for new users.
Sharpening Angles for Knives
Many of the knives have a bevel on either side. When one is told to put a 20 degree angle on a knife, it means that the knife should be sharpened at 20 degrees on both sides.
This totals to 40 degrees. In short, the angle on the knife means the angle at which you hold the knife on the stone.
There are isolated cases where the total knife angle is not double the angle that you sharpen each side of your knife. Some selected traditional Asian knives are only beveled on one side.
However, most of Asian knives retailing in the USA are not single bevel but traditional blades with bevel on both sides.
Selecting an angle to sharpen your knife depends on the sharpness and durability of the edge.
It all depends on the intended purpose for your knife.
Hardness and Strength
A majority of people appreciate high quality knives and good steels. Toughness is the ability to withstand breakage. Making a knife harder will reduce its toughness. This is the same compromise that determines the sharpening angle.
Below 10 Degree Angles
The lowest angles are for edges that are used for cutting softer materials. The edges are not subjected to a lot of strain and so, the lower angle can be maintained without damage. The lowest angles are on straight edge razors and they are sharpened at an approximate angle of 7-8 degrees. A straight razor has a very delicate edge that can be easily damaged.
10-17 Degree Angles
This is still low for many knives. This edge is too weak for any knife used for chopping. If you use your knife for cutting soft materials like meat, this angle is ideal and will work just well.
17-22 Degree Angles
Most kitchen knives fall under this angle. Japanese knives are mostly sharpened to about 17 degrees while western blades are roughly 20 degrees. Kitchen knives sharpened to between 15 and 20 degrees cut quite well and are also durable.
22-30 Degree Angles
Within this range, the knife edges are more durable.
Over 30 Degree Angles
A knife sharpened beyond 30 degrees will be very durable but its cutting ability will be greatly compromised. Durability has an advantage because more force can be used when cutting.
Final Verdict
Many people always ignore the fact that knives and blades require regular maintenance for them to work effectively. One needs to sharpen the knives regularly, and this guide has informed you of the various types of sharpeners and how to go about the whole process of knife sharpening.
Even though the knife wears on the edge when being sharpened, many people always think that a knife becomes dull by thickening and blunting of the edge. The truth is that the edge of the knife folds and this what makes it dull. This is something that we can’t see with our naked eyes. Furthermore, many people are also of the idea that blunt knives are safer because they can’t cut our fingers.
A blunt knife is more dangerous than we think because you need more force when using it. This extra pressure can make it slip and cut you.
A knife that is sharp need little force and is easy to use.
I know you may be wondering where you could buy your knife sharpeners. Where knives are sold, you are most likely to get sharpeners too. Examples of such places include stores that sell housewares, kitchen supplies, hardware stores and even online. Please be careful and always read the manufacturer’s instructions.
Lastly, keep in mind that you are safer with blades that are correctly sharpened and well-maintained. You have a lot of options to choose from when it comes to knife sharpening even though each one of them functions in a different manner.
Whichever choice you make, be sure to use it in the correct way so that your blades and knives can have a longer lifespan.
Feel free to watch videos just to perfect your sharpening skills.
Well-maintained knives will speed up your food preparation time and you will have fun in the kitchen.
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