All About Knife Sharpening
Learn about the types of knife and blade sharpeners.
Bestsurvivalknives editors select and review knives and gear independently. We may earn affiliate commissions from buying links, which help support our testing. Support us.
About Knife Sharpening
Keeping your knife blades sharp is very important. You know how true this fact is if you have ever tried to use a knife when you really needed one and found the blade dull and unable to cut anything. At that point, the knife is more of a blunt impact tool than a precision cutting instrument. All of this can be avoided by simply keeping your knife blades sharp and ready for cutting.
Knife sharpening comes down to just a few elements. The blade edge, and the blade angle. It all comes down to maintaining the blade's edge by making sure there are no nicks, chips, or burrs along the edge. The sharp cutting angle allows the blade edge to cut cleanly through materials.
Types of Knife Sharpeners
There are several major different types of knife sharpeners and cutlery maintenance tools. They include pull through sharpeners, sharpening stones, and grinder type sharpeners. Other cutlery tools, like sharpening steels and honing rods, are not sharpeners but "edge maintainers" and keep the edge of the knife aligned. Each type of knife sharpener and tool has different traits and can be easier or harder to use depending on the experience level of the person sharpening the blade. Some of these sharpening systems are more automatic while others are more manually operated. When you are considering which type of knife sharpener is best for you, consider the following:
- Your experience sharpening and maintaining knife blades
- Knife sharpening budget - Automatic sharpeners tend to be much more expensive than manual steels and stones.
- Frequency of knife sharpening - How often will knives need sharpening? Are the knives "high use" so they will become dull faster?
- Space to store sharpening gear - Do you have a dedicated workshop or sharpening area or a multi-use area like a table?
- Your time - How much time do you want to dedicate to learning how to sharpen knives? If you have less time, automatic sharpeners are faster.
Pull Through Knife Sharpeners
Pull through knife sharpeners are sharpening systems where the knife blades are "pulled through" a set of angled sharpening rods which are usually made out of a carbide or ceramic material. These rods are angled to create a wedge which sharpens the knife blade on both sides as it slides through the opening by removing small amounts of metal from the blade to sharpen the cutting edge. These types of pull through knife sharpeners are very easy to use and relatively inexpensive (for the manual versions) while automatic versions of pull through sharpeners can be more expensive.
The knife sharpener pictured here is the Warthog V-Sharp Classic which features 325 grit diamond rods and finishing steels. It usually costs about $85 USD and is a heavy duty knife sharpening set for small and large blades.
Ease of Use: Yes
Cost Effective: Yes
Price: Mid to Higher - $$$
Requires Specialized Skills: No
Sharpening Time Required: Low
Works With Various Knife Blades: Straight Blades Mainly
- Great kitchen gadgets to have: The Warthog V-Sharp Classic II straight out of the box is a sharpening system that anyone can use like an expert. Easy to use and sharpens like a champ. Rely on the Classic II when you're at home or in the field.
- Does the job for you: With its 325 natural diamond honing rods, the Classic II sharpens even the hardest steel knives with barely any effort. Keep your blades sharp as a razor. 3 adjustable angles for different kinds of knives.
- Both sides, every time: Our knife sharpening kit sharpens the blade on both sides simultaneously. It is ideal for kitchen knives, fillet, hunting, and most other flat-blade knives.
- Knife sharpening kit for all hobbyists: The Warthog V-Sharp Classic II features a hand-crafted metal frame, solid rubber base, and durable powder-coat finish. A perfect kitchen knife sharpener for home chefs, pros, outdoorsmen, and other hobbyists.
- We're here for you: We've been around for more than two decades, and we believe that you deserve the best. Because we think that our sharpeners are such a great investment, we're offering a 30-day money back guarantee.
Last update on May 21, 2022 // Source: Amazon API
Sharpening Stones and Whetstones
Sharpening stones, water stones, and whetstones are some of the oldest and most proven ways to sharpen a knife blade. This sharpening technique involves using a gritty sharpening stone which is abrasive to move the edge of the knife against to sharpen the blade. The abrasive material actually removes metal from the knife to sharpen the edge. The stone is traditionally soaked with water or oil to allow the knife blade to move smoothly across the stone's surface while sharpening. Only one side of the knife can be sharpened at a time using the sharpening stone method.
The whetstone setup pictured here is the Sharp Pebble whetstone which uses 1000 and 600 grit sides. It usually costs about $60 USD and includes a silicon mount, bamboo base, and knife angle adjuster.
Ease of Use: Yes
Cost Effective: Yes
Price: Mid - $$
Requires Specialized Skills: Somewhat
Sharpening Time Required: Low to Medium
Works With Various Knife Blades: Straight, Fillet, and Other Edged Tools
- ✅ Premium Quality: Not all sharpening stones are created equal. We only import & source premium quality material for the manufacturing of our Whetstones. Our proprietary composition of Aluminum Oxide along with sharpening compounds provides you with a superior cutting performance. Don't be fooled by identical-looking cheap knife sharpening stones.
- ✅ Superior Bundle: Sharp Pebble knife sharpening kit comes with double-sided (#1000/ #6000) whetstone knife sharpener, Real Handcrafted bamboo base for holding the stone, knife sharpening angle guide, a simple instruction manual & detailed ebook with lots of Tips & Tricks which will appeal at every skill level.
- ✅ Safety: We understand the importance of safety when using sharpening stones for knives, your purchase comes with a rubber base for holding the stone inside a Non-Slip Bamboo base, this setup will ensure the wetstone is Fixed In One Place while sharpening. And knife sharpening angle guide allows you to maintain the Correct Angle and safely apply consistent pressure while sharpening the blade.
- ✅ Easy To Use: Our sharpening Water stone kit is extremely User Friendly & easy to assemble. Sharp Pebble whetstone uses Water for sharpening, so no need of expensive sharpening/honing oils and No Mess while sharpening & it can be easily cleaned using water.
- ✅ Multipurpose Use: This whetstone 1000/6000 sharpener kit is highly durable & long-lasting. And it can sharpen any blade out there, be it any kitchen knife set, chef knife, steak knife, sontoku knife, paring knife, sushi knife, cleaver knife, kitchen knives, Japanese knife, butcher knife, paring knife, BBQ knife, Hunting Knife, Pocket Knife, Scissor, Chisel, Blade, Straight Razor, barber clippers & more. Get this simple yet unparalleled tool for home/professional chefs or as men's gifts.
Last update on May 21, 2022 // Source: Amazon API
Grinders and Sharpening Belts
Grinders and sharpening belts use motors and powered devices to sharpen the blades of knives with moving abrasive belts. These blade sharpening systems are more automated than the other manual cutlery sharpening systems mentioned here. Their speed and efficiency make them a great tool for maintaining edged cutting instruments, knifes, and similar tools. If you do not have experience with sharpening belt systems, it is best to try them out on cheaper knife sets while you are learning. This helps you understand the belt speeds, blade angles, and how to sharpen knives properly.
The belt sharpener system pictured here is the Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener. It usually costs about $130 USD and includes the sharpening system, a variable speed motor, belt attachment, and other components.
Ease of Use: Yes
Cost Effective: Yes
Price: Higher - $$$$
Requires Specialized Skills: Somewhat
Sharpening Time Required: Low
Works With Various Knife Blades: Straight, Serrated, Gut Hook, Fillet, and Other Edged Tools
- ADJUSTABLE SHARPENING GUIDE - produce precise edge bevels from 15° to 30°. motor- 120Vac/1. 5 amp. Duty cycle-1 hr. Continuous
- VARIABLE SPEED MOTOR - handle every sharpening task, from grinding to honing. More power with improved cooling & the option of slow speed honing or high speed grinding. The variable speed control (1, 200 SFM to 2, 800 SFM) provides you with the optimal belt speed for the task at hand
- PREMIUM FLEXIBLE ABRASIVE BELTS - deliver a strong, long lasting razor-sharp convex edge
- FAST, PRECISE, & REPEATABLE - sharpening results with no set up or calibration time. The 6000 grit belt measures ½ x inches) for better contact with Serrations, gut hooks and other hard to reach edges
- PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN COMPANY - Work Sharp is part of Darex, a 4th-generation family owned company in Ashland, Oregon. For over 40 years we have been engineering industry-leading sharpening tools here in the USA
Last update on May 21, 2022 // Source: Amazon API
Pocket and Multi-Purpose Knife Sharpeners
Pocket knife sharpeners are much smaller than their larger blade sharpening counterparts, but they still have a place on this list because they are very useful and effective. They are more geared toward sharpening knives in a pinch when you don't have access to time to break out the bigger blade sharpening systems. These tools usually feature several elements of the larger systems like a small honing rod, pull through blade sharpeners, and a small stone area. They are also useful for sharpening most types of blades including straight edged, serrated, fillet, and gut hook blades.
The small pocket sharpener pictured here is the Lansky PS-MED01 BladeMedic which works great for field sharpening most bladed tools and cutlery. It usually costs about $16 USD and features tungsten carbide rods.
Ease of Use: Yes
Cost Effective: Yes
Price: Low - $
Requires Specialized Skills: Somewhat
Sharpening Time Required: Low
Works With Various Knife Blades: Most Small Blades Including Straight, Serrated, Gut Hook, and Fillet
- Tungsten Carbide Tungsten Carbide- Just three or four strokes will restore your blade.
- Ceramic Sharpening Rods- Tungsten Carbide Polish to a finished edge in three or four strokes.
- Serrated Knife Sharpener- Designed to get inside even the smallest serrations.
- Diamond Tapered Rod- For fast reconditioning and maintenance.
- Sharpening angles are pre-set at 22. 5º to achieve a 45º inclusive angle
- Tungsten Carbide-Three Or Four Strokes Will Restore Your Blade
- Ceramic Sharpening Rods-Polist To A Finished Edge In Three Or Four Strokes
- Serrated Knife Sharpener-Designed To Get Inside Even The Smallest Serrations
Last update on May 22, 2022 // Source: Amazon API
Knife Sharpening Steels and Honing Rods
Knife sharpening steels come in various forms shapes and sizes and are usually made out of steel or ceramic material. These types of sharpeners are also called "honing rods" because the actual instrument is a single rod. They also don't really sharpen the knife blade but are a maintenance tool which helps to keep the knife edge aligned. The blade of the knife is "run down" the rod to hone the edge of the blade. These types of tools work on many types of knife blades including standard blades, serrated blades, gut hook blades, and thin fillet blades because the steel can be maneuvered to contact any part of the knife blade. The honing rod pictured here is the 10" ceramic honing rod from ERTDDE. It costs about $33 USD and will keep knife edges ready for cutting, slicing, and dicing with practice.
Ease of Use: Somewhat
Cost Effective: Yes
Price: Low to Mid - $$
Requires Specialized Skills: Learning The Correct Steel Angle
Honing Time Required: Low to Medium
Works With Various Knife Blades: Most Types - Straight, Serrated, Gut Hook, and Fillet
- MADE FROM DURABLE WHITE CERAMIC - Made of ceramic alumina that is harder than regular steel and prevents rusting. This ceramic sharpener will last for years.
- SHARPEN WITH CONFIDENCE - In sharpening every degree counts. Angle consistency and repeatability. Apply only very light pressure (butterfly weight).
- PERFECT LENGTH - Rod length measure 10-inch/25cm and 5/8 inch diameter; Long enough for professional use.
- HAND WASH ONLY - Over time the rod will get gray streaks from sharpening, this can be easily removed with a mild abrasive sponge, dish soap and water. NOTE: DO NOT DROP as the ceramic rod will break if dropped on the ground.
- TIPS: The ceramic sharpener is fragile. If it is damaged during transportation, please contact us for replacement. Your 100% satisfaction is our ultimate goal!
Last update on May 21, 2022 // Source: Amazon API
Round Up of The Best Knife Sharpeners
Last update on May 22, 2022 // Source: Amazon API
Once You Have Best The Sharpening System For You Figured Out, It's Time To Learn How To Sharpen Your Dull Knife Blade