Tested: The Best Pocket Knife Sharpeners For The Money

Pocket knives have long been one of the most commonly-carried EDC staples, offering an unparalleled combination of utility and self-defense capabilities. The more it’s used, however, the faster a knife will lose its edge, becoming dull and making simple tasks and cuts markedly more difficult and less efficient. Fortunately, restoring your knife’s blade to its factory edge has never been easier thanks to an impressive array of modern systems that allow their users to achieve a perfect edge, grind, and bevel every single time. With so many different types of sharpeners and so many models occupying each sub-category, it can be difficult to even know where to begin when shopping. Recognizing this reality, we’ve gone and done the heavy lifting for you, scouring the product space to deliver this hand-picked guide and hands-on review of the best pocket knife sharpeners.

Selection & Testing

Between field sharpeners, fixed-angle systems, whetstones, and pull-through models, there’s an enormous number of available options when it comes to purchasing a sharpener for your pocket knives. In a bid to uncover the best sharpeners on the market, we began our search by first selecting a sharpener from each of the aforementioned categories. Because tabletop-style fixed-angle systems offer the best performance, we doubled down in this area, rounding up what we suspected may be some of the best models on the market. On top of sharpener type, our search was also primarily guided by factors such as material selection, included items, upgradability and modularity, size and portability, and price and value. 

Using these areas to spearhead our search, we then leaned on this criteria in order to generate a shortlist of sharpeners that we felt may represent the best of the best. Because they’re often extremely technical, the only way to gain a true comprehensive understanding of how a sharpener operates and performs, one has to actually use the thing for an extended period. So, that’s exactly what we did, sourcing examples of each system on our shortlist in order to put each one to the test, getting acquainted with every model through hands-on experience. This hands-on testing also revealed other crucial areas to us such as ease of use, ease of assembly, and repeatability. Armed with the knowledge from our hands-on testing, we were then able to narrow our initial shortlist of picks down to a hard list of what we found to be the best pocket knife sharpeners on the market. 

Smith’s Pocket-Pal

Best Budget Pick: The Smith’s Pocket-Pal is an ultra-compact and thoroughly pocketable pull-through-style sharpener that can easily be used by just about anyone, just about anywhere. Measuring approximately 3.0” x 1.0”, the Pocket-Pal features a plastic body that houses a more coarse pair of carbide blades for resetting a blade’s edge, as well as a set of finer ceramic blades for finishing an edge. Preset sharpening angles on both the ceramic and carbide sections make for a wildly uncomplicated sharpening experience that offers consistent results, time after time. 

In addition to this item’s two pull-through-style units, Smith’s Pocket-Pal also comes loaded with a fold-out, tapered, round, diamond-coated rod that’s made for re-honing and sharpening serrations — an element that affords this already-value-laden product with even greater bang-for-your-buck. Though I didn’t notice any loss of performance during the time I spent testing and using this sharpener, I nonetheless appreciate the fact that Smith’s has designed it with both reversible and replaceable carbide and ceramic blade sets that can be had for less than $5 — an element that practically guarantees a lifetime of use. On top of sporting a lanyard hole for even more carrying and mounting options, the body of the Pocket-Pal also features grooved depressions that perfectly fit its user’s thumb and trigger finger — providing a surprising amount of grip when sharpening despite this item’s diminutive size. 

Acknowledging the elephant in the room, I will readily admit that the Pocket-Pal does remove a lot of material — at least compared to whetstones or a fixed-angle sharpener. For this reason, I would never recommend using it on a knife with premium blade steel. And while I wouldn’t necessarily describe the Pocket-Pal as one of the most effective or high-performance sharpeners on the market, it does offer basic sharpening and re-honing capabilities in an incredibly small, incredibly affordable, and incredibly easy-to-use package. If you’re out in the field and new to freshen up the edge on a camp knife or resharpen a budget kitchen knife, the Pocket-Pal is an almost unbeatable option. Does it achieve as sharp and precise of an edge as a fixed-angle unit? Definitely not. In the right circumstances, however, Smith’s Pocket Pal is a great choice. For an even deeper dive into pull-through sharpeners, YouTuber OUTDOORS55 has a stellar video detailing exactly what V-style systems do to a blade.

This isn’t necessarily Smith’s fault, as these aforementioned issues pertain to pretty much all pull-through sharpeners. What really sets this model apart from other pocketable pull-throughs on the market is its combination of a tiny footprint and great ergonomics. Additionally, its inclusion of a tapered diamond-coated rod coupled with its replaceable ceramic and carbide blades further elevate it over other pocketable V-sharpeners. Its roughly $10 price further bolsters it in this area. 

Verdict: Though it doesn’t offer anywhere near the same level of performance as other larger, more robust, and more expensive systems — and we wouldn’t recommend using it on premium blade steels — the Smith’s Pocket-Pal is still a fantastic travel-ready sharpener that can deliver basic re-honing and resharpening abilities at a pretty unbeatable price. 

Benchmade Guided Field Sharpener

Best Portable/Field Sharpener: The Benchmade Guided Field Sharpener is an all-in-one five-stage system that’s small enough to be packed away and brought along on all your adventures. Born out of a collaboration with industry-leader Work Sharp, the Guided Field Sharpener is essentially just a Benchmade-specific version of Work Sharp’s slightly cheaper, existing Guided Field Sharpener model — albeit with an angle guide made to accommodate the 15° to 17° (30-35° inclusive) angle bevel found on almost all Benchmade knives. There’s also an integrated 25° guide as well. Spanning a tad under 7.0” in length, the Benchmade Guided Field Sharpener features main 220 and 660-grit diamond stone faces bookended by 20° angle guides at either end, top and bottom. The top of the system is capped off with a rotating ceramic rod with coarse and fine settings for tackling serrations — as well as a special setting for resharpening fish hooks. Meanwhile, the bottom of the thing features a built-in leather strop for finishing. 

Benchmade’s Guided Field Sharpener truly offers an impressive amount of performance for being as small as it is. While most field sharpeners force you to make at least some sacrifices, this model is different, including everything needed to perform basic sharpening — and nothing more. Whether you’re simply aiming to re-hone an edge or give it a full polish, this pocketable system has you covered. It’s also made in America and backed by Benchmade’s usual lifetime warranty. Weighing in at around 5oz, this five-stage system also tips the scales at roughly the same weight as your average full-size pocket knife, too. It’s also pretty durable, plus requires zero assembly whatsoever, and is completely ready-to-go right out of the box. 

While there’s certainly a whole lot to like about this Benchmade x Work Sharp collab, it does have a few minor issues that revealed themselves during the time I spent testing it. For starters, it doesn’t come with any kind of carrying or travel case, meaning its sides and edges — including its 220 and 660-grit faces — are completely exposed to whatever bag or pocket you store it in. I also have to applaud Benchmade and Work Sharp for utilizing a magnetic-coupling design for its grit plates that allow them to be swapped out as needed — meaning you don’t have to throw it away once a single element wears out over time. The use of standardized 4.0” x 1.0” plates also makes it incredibly easy to find replacements for this model as needed. What’s more, with its plates removed, this system also features a hidden integrated broad head wrench. I will admit that if you’re not experienced using whetstones, you may have a tough time keeping your blade at a consistent angle — even with the benefit of the 20° angle guides — though this no doubt applies to pretty much all manual stone sharpening systems. 

Sure, Benchmade’s Guided Field Sharpener doesn’t offer the same level of performance as a tabletop-style fixed-angle system, though it nonetheless affords an unparalleled sharpening experience for its size and portability. True, it does require its user already possess some basic experience hand-sharpening on stones, though it also makes this as easy-as-possible for novice users. I was also pleasantly surprised by how perfect the ergonomics were on this sharpener, as the trigger finger and thumb groves just beyond its angle guide actually provide enough grip to sharpen a knife with one hand while holding the sharpener with the other — rather than having to set it down on the ground or a table. 

Verdict: As far as genuinely-capable multi-stage all-in-one sharpening systems go that can be used just about anywhere, the Benchmade Guided Field Sharpener is unequivocally one of, if not the single best option currently on the market. Sure, it may have a few limitations, but for its size — and price — the level of performance it offers is beyond impressive. 

Spyderco Tri-Angle SharpMaker

Best Compact Complete System: Though Sal Glesser had previously designed and prototyped the “Portable Hand” a couple years prior, it wasn’t until 1978 that Spyderco released its first-ever official product, which was interestingly a sharpener, rather than a knife. Christened the Spyderco Tri-Angle SharpMaker, this sharpening system is brilliant in its simplicity, while still affording incredibly precise results. This self-contained travel-ready system consists of a base that comes with two different sets of 7.0” x 0.50” triangular sharpening stones — a fine ceramic set and a medium-grit set — that slot into the base at perfect 15° or 20° (30° and 40° inclusive). A set of rods also slot into the base, acting as guards so you don’t cut yourself should the blade slip when being sharpened. 

What makes this system so clever is the fact that it allows the user to sharpen a blade by simply holding it at a normal upright angle (with the blade’s edge pointed down and spine pointed up). Just hold the knife upright, run it along the triangular, pre-angled stones, and you’re good to go. This not only makes for a sharpener that’s ridiculously easy to use — even for novice sharpeners — but it also completely removes any and all guess work from the equation, which is something very few other (non-fixed-angle) sharpeners can say. In fact, the Tri-Angle SharpMaker is so clever and innovative that, despite nearly half-a-century having passed since its debut, it remains one of the best sharpening systems on the market. 

It’s not just the Tri-Angle SharpMaker’s actual sharpening system that’s so cleverly designed, but its case is also admittedly pretty ingenious in my opinion. For starters, it not only houses both sets of triangular stones and the pair of guide rods when traveling, but it also can be snapped down onto one half of the base, thereby doubling as a handle to keep the whole thing steady when being used — though predrilled holes also mean it can be mounted to a table, workbench, or desktop. Spyderco has also opted to use guide rods that are composed of a soft metal, ensuring you won’t nick a blades edge or undo the sharpening you’ve just carried out should your hand slip and have the blade make contact with the rods. 

Unsurprisingly, the immense and continued popularity of this system has also resulted in Spyderco selling replacement triangular stones, as well as upgraded stone options including a diamond stone and a Cubic Boron Nitride stone. The only real downside to this setup is that it limits the available stone options you can use, as they have to be in this unique shape in order to be compatible with the system — a very minor downside considering the array of stones available directly through Spyderco. And, while it only ships with two sets of stones, this system nonetheless offers pretty extraordinary value. In fact, I’d argue that dollar for dollar, no system on the market is able to achieve as sharp of an edge for this low of a price — plus it makes achieving that edge ridiculously easy thanks to its wildly-straight-forward design. 

Verdict: As far as sharpening systems go, nothing on the market offers the use-of-use, bang-for-your-buck, precision, or overall sharpening abilities of Spyderco’s legendary Tri-Angle SharpMaker — making this an obvious go-to choice for anyone looking for an affordable yet effective, travel-friendly, no-fuss sharpening system. 

Shapton Ha No Kuromaku Ceramic Whetstone A-Set

Best Whetstones: As much as I can appreciate today’s most advanced fixed-angle systems, there’s still something immensely appealing about using a traditional set of whetstones to sharpen your knives. And when it comes to classic whetstones, very few outfits do it better than the team at Shapton Co., Ltd. Based in Japan, this world-renowned outfit has been in operation since 1952, and since that time has carved out a reputation for delivering sharpening stones capable of offering years of dependable performance. Case in point; the Shapton Ha No Kuromaku Ceramic Whetstone A-Set. 

Comprised of Medium Grit (1,000) and Fine Grit (5,000) stones, this synthetic set doesn’t offer any particularly special or innovative features. Put simply; what you see is what you get. In this case, that’s far from a bad thing, as Shapton’s A-Set does everything a quality whetstone set should — and does so at a pretty reasonable price. Made in Japan, the whetstones have a very short break-in period that reveals a grit that appears to be exactly as advertised. Each stone in the A-Set — or any of Shapton’s Ha No Kuromaku Ceramic Whetstones — come in a color-coded travel case that doubles as a stone-holder when the set is being used for sharpening. Additionally, the case also features rubber feet in order to keep the set in place while being used, plus boasts a perforated bottom that allows the stones to dry even if put away when still wet. Speaking of wetting the things, I also thoroughly appreciate the fact that these stones don’t require soaking and simply need to be splashed or sprayed-down and they’re good to go. 

Combining the ease-of-use and convenience of synthetic items with the raw sharpening capabilities of a Japanese natural stone, the overall quality of these stones is also top-notch, and while my testing only allowed me to spend a few days using these stones, other HICONSUMPTION team members personally own this exact set and have gotten years of faithful use out of them. Extremely consistent from end to end, the stones I tested were also perfectly flat right out of the box and required zero lapping whatsoever. And, while I didn’t experience this myself, I have read reports that they can occasionally be a bit prone to dishing. 

The only other issues I noticed when using these whetstones aren’t really the fault of Shapton, and more apply to using any whetstones. For starters, utilizing this set (or any whetstones) does require practice and patience in order to successfully use. And, compared to buying extra stones for modular fixed-angle sharpeners, Shapton’s A-Set requires a greater investment if you want to expand your sharpening kit and add additional grits. This set doesn’t come with any angle guides, but we opted to pair the A-Set with the Sharpal 196N Angle Pyramid set which can be picked up for less than $10 (or alternatively you can always make your own guides by folding a piece of paper). Lastly, this set doesn’t come with a strop, so if you want to use one you’ll have to purchase it separately. These minor gripes aside, I was beyond impressed with Shapton’s Ha No Kuromaku Ceramic Whetstones A-Set — even as someone that normally uses a table-top fixed-angle system when sharpening my own collection of knives. 

Verdict: The Shapton Ha No Kuromaku Ceramic Whetstones A-Set offers a simple yet effective means of sharpening your knives the old-fashioned way — and one that can be upgraded or supplemented to build out an even more robust suite of sharpening kit as your needs and collection grow. 

Hapstone RS Black

Best Modular/Upgradable Pick: I was already a huge fan of Hapstone’s R2 system, but the Ukrainian outfit has outdone itself — and proved why it’s a global leader in the sharpener space —  with the debut of its newer Hapstone RS Black system. Built atop a heavy-duty 8mm steel base with grippy silicone feet, there RS Black features a cleverly-designed rotating clamp module and wood handle-equipped grit holder arm that connects to the base using a powerful magnetic ball joint. Fully adjustable, this system allows you to simply clamp a knife in place, set your angle, lock in a grit plate using a spring-mounted system, and you’re off and sharpening. Easy peasy. 

Made in Ukraine, the Hapstone RS Black features absolutely stellar build quality and benefits from what’s clearly a highly-calculated design conjured up by true blade enthusiasts for true blade enthusiasts. This next-level craftsmanship is further elevated by Hapstone’s use of premium materials, with solid aircraft aluminum being used to construct this system’s stone holder, screws, clamps, and the rotating module’s frame. Compared to other similar fixed-angle systems like the TSPROF Pioneer and Edge Pro Apex Model 4, the Hapstone RS Black just feels incredibly sturdy and solid. Coupled with its included digital angle finder, using the system is remarkably simple and straight forward, requiring very little time to get acquainted and comfortable with sharpening on. These areas by themselves already make Hapstone’s RS Black a wildly impressive system, though what really pushes it over the edge for me is its unparalleled modularity and range of configurable options.  

From Boride to Naniwa Chosera to  Venev to Shapton to Edge Pro, this system is offered with more than a dozen stone set options, though it doesn’t end there. The entire system can also be optioned with other genuinely useful add-ons such as a light module or a digital microscope. This essentially allows you to build out the exact sharpening system you desire based on your own specific wants and needs. What’s more, it can also accept a slew of aftermarket stones in both 6.0” x 1.0” and 4.0” x 1.0” sizes. Its adjustable clamp system also enables it to accommodate just about any size of knife, from tiny pen knives to full-size chef’s and fixed blade survival knives. It can even be optioned with an available attachment for sharpening scissors. 

While I was honestly blown away but just how well this system works, how easy it is to use, and how consistent its results are, there are a few minor gripes I had when testing this system — granted all of them are hugely outweighed by this ingenious system’s slew of aforementioned strengths. For starters, while I’d argue the RS Black actually offers pretty decent value considering everything you get, it is crucial to note that its roughly $300 MSRP does NOT include any stones — though there’s over a dozen available stone set options starting from as little as $65 (in fact half of them start at under the $100 mark). Second, while I’ll readily admit its clamping system does a great job keeping blades firmly in place, I didn’t love how mounting or removing a knife requires you to tighten or loosen a set of screws each time. It’s not difficult to do and it only takes a few seconds — Hapstone even provides a handy handle-equipped tool for tightening and loosening — but it’s admittedly not quite as effortless as the V-Clamp on the Work Sharp unit or the self-tensioning, DualCam Vise found on Wicked Edge’s Gen 4 Pro sharpener. And, while it’s still undeniably easy to use, the RS Black is a bit less novice-friendly than Work Sharp’s Pro-spec model. 

Verdict: The Hapstone RS Black is an incredible fixed-angle sharpening system that allows users to build out and upgrade their setup with the exact stones or modules they require as their needs and collection grows and changes. Due to the immense demand for these sharpeners, Hapstone’s systems often sellout quickly, though fear not as the company is constantly producing new batches, so be sure to sign up for updates on Hapstone’s site if this system is sold out. 

Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener

Best All-In-One System: In 2020, Work Sharp forever changed the sharpener landscape with the release of the Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener — an ultra-user-friendly fixed-angle system that could be picked up for under $75. In addition to an upgrade kit with additional grits and a carrying case, the immense success of this game-changing system would ultimately prompt Work Sharp to return to the drawing board, harnessing an enormous amount of customer feedback in order to deliver something of the ultimate novice-friendly, pro-grade all-in-one fixed-angle sharpening system known as the Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener. 

Built atop a markedly heavier and more robust weighted base, this fixed-angle unit is comprised of a main tower with a riser system that allows angle to effortlessly be adjusted. Using the original model’s innovative  rotating V-Block Clamp, the Professional Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener uses an ultra-simple threaded arm system that accommodates the system’s magnetically-coupling, swappable 6.0”x 1.0” grit plates — a full assortment of which comes with this set, with a 220, 320, 400, 600, and 800 diamond grit plates, as well as a ceramic honing plate and a leather strop. Loaded with everything needed to achieve consistent, professional-quality results, the system also now ships with an included digital angle finder that makes it even easier to double-check your angle before putting grit to blade steel. Additionally, on top of a grit holder handle with an integrated ceramic rod for honing serrations, the Pro-spec also ships with a new small knife table attachment for sharpening pen knives and other smaller blades. The new tilting system also allows it to sharpen even large kitchen knives and outdoor fixed blades. 

As an owner and longtime user of the original Precision Adjust system, it’s abundantly clear that the new Pro model benefits from an enormous amount of customer feedback, as it sees a myriad of minor areas improved that collectively elevate the system as a whole. For example, the coating V-Clamp setup has been supplemented by the tower’s new ability to tilt back 45-degrees — providing enough space for larger knives to be rotated 180-degrees without having to remove it from the clamp. What’s more, the new system’s base also features pre-drilled holes that allow it to be fixed to a workbench or desktop. The massive popularity of the original Precision Adjust also gave way to numerous aftermarket grits and plate holders for the system, and while we have yet to see aftermarket items available for the new Pro-spec, I imagine it’s only a matter of time until some come to market. This system also serves as an excellent jumping off point for anyone looking to learn more about knife sharpening, as it provides a super easy — and fairly affordable — means of getting your foot in the proverbial door. A slew of tutorial videos on Work Sharp’s YouTube channel further this area as well. 

There are several factors that make Work Sharp’s Professional Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener so special in my mind. First off, on top of addressing and remedying practically every issue and shortcoming on the original model, I love how the PPA legitimately comes with everything needed to achieve professional-grade results — not a bunch of superfluous bells and whistles, but all of the must-have essentials, and little to nothing else. And, while I do have a few years of experience using the older non-Pro model, I was nonetheless still blown away with just how easy it was to use this fixed-angle system, as it’s just about as idiot-proof and intuitive as a table-top-style sharpener can get. Mount your knife, set your angle, mount a grit plate, and you’re off and sharpening. Even at $300, the system’s bevy of included components and grit plates actually result in a value-laden sharpener — and that’s before even factoring in this fixed-angle system’s legitimately stellar and decidedly robust build quality. The only real downside to Work Sharp’s Professional Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener is that it lacks the modularity and customization options offered by system’s like Hapstone’s RS Black.

Verdict: If you’re interested in investing in a novice-friendly fixed-angle system and don’t want to go through the trouble of building out your own sharpener and selecting modules and add-ons, the Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener is without a shadow of a doubt the best option on the market — and one that will likely only get more attractive over time as aftermarket upgrades are released. 

Wicked Edge Generation 4 Pro

Best Pro-Grade/Premium Pick: If money is no object and you’re simply seeking the absolute best sharpening system currently available, well then let me introduce you to the Wicked Edge Generation 4 Pro. Epitomizing what it means for a sharpener to be professional grade, the Gen 4 Pro is a wildly robust fixed-angle system that outperforms practically every other sharpener across the board. From its build quality to its ease-of-use to its repeatability  to its unparalleled performance, practically every aspect of this system outshines its competitors — and often by a pretty substantial margin. 

Designed, manufactured, and assembled in America, the Wicked Edge Generation 4 Pro features a ridiculously precise yet easy-to-use angle adjustment system where you simply move a slider to your desired angle, clamp in your knife, slide a set of stones onto its guide arms, and you’re good to go. With the even more precise Micro-Adjustment option, this system is able to see angle figures dialed in by increments of 0.05-degrees. Equipped with a self-tensioning, DualCam Vise that’s said to provide the strongest, most secure clamping experience currently available on a fixed-angle system — or any system — the Generation 4 Pro boasts a set of 8” guide arms that bookend either side of the DualCam Vise clamp. Able to be upgraded and optioned with additional stones, this system ships with three pairs of diamond stone packs that each feature two different grits — 100/200, 400/600, and 800/1,000. It’s also by far the most robust and heavy-duty system I’ve ever used, with the entire thing tipping the scales at around 13.5lbs (without any of the stones). This ultimately makes for an extremely stable and secure platform capable of delivering ultra-consistent results. And, while I wouldn’t exactly call it travel friendly, it is small enough to easily fit in a bag or pack when broken down. 

Not only does the Gen 4 Pro offer better precision and sharpening performance than its counterparts, but it can also sharpen knives up to four-times as fast, as the dual guide rod and stone setup means both sides of the knife can be sharpened at the same time — unlike other fixed angle systems that require you to rotate or flip the knife to do each side. This configuration also removes any guess work or having to remember how many swipes or passes you’ve made on each side. And, while it admittedly took me a few days to develop the correct technique and muscle memory, I eventually really came to enjoy the unique process of simultaneously sharpening both sides of the blade with the pair of guide rods and stones. Everything about it is just well-considered and easy to use. It’s a bit more complicated than Work Sharp’s Pro-spec model, though its learning curve is still pretty minimal — plus it comes with a practice knife so you can get up to speed without harming any of the everyday carry knives in your collection. 

Despite spending countless hours using this system to sharpen several dozen knives from my own personal collection, I came across very few issues — the biggest and most obvious of which is unquestionably the Gen 4 Pro’s admittedly steep price. Sure, it doesn’t offer the same level of bang for your buck as any other model on this list, though I’d argue you really do get what you pay for here (and then some). It also no doubt lacks some of the modularity and upgradability of models like the Hapstone RS Black, though Wicked Edge does sell a few optional upgraded stone sets, a digital angle finder, and a few other odds and ends. Fortunately, because it’s already comprised of so many essentials, there really isn’t much need to upgrade or option the thing out — above and beyond maybe purchasing its available 1,500/2,200 grit and 2,200/3,000 grit stones pack and one of its leather strop packs. I’ll also point out that, for the price, I would have liked to see Wicked Edge include a higher-grit set and a strop, though that’s where my complaints end. Able to sharpen knives as long as 15” (or even longer with a longer guide rod), the entire system can also be purchased for a grand when not optioned with its available Micro-Adjust component and storage shelf — both of which are $300 upgrades (albeit very worthwhile ones in my opinion). 

Verdict: The Wicked Edge Generation 4 Pro is unequivocally the most high-end and advanced professional-grade fixed-angle sharpening system that money can currently buy. It admittedly doesn’t come cheap — far from it, in fact — but the level of performance, convenience, and precision it offers is unlike anything else I’ve ever used or even come across.  

Knife Sharpener Comparison Chart

Sharpener Types

Despite pretty much all performing the same basic task of sharpening a blade’s edge, modern pocket knife sharpeners actually take many different forms — each of which has its own particular strengths and drawbacks. Below, we’ll briefly touch on the main types that exist.

Bench-Top Sharpeners: Also called “tabletop sharpeners” or “fixed-angle sharpeners,” this is a type of largely non-mobile sharpening system that — as its name suggests — is used on a bench or tabletop. Bench-top sharpeners usually see a knife clamped down before the user selects an angle and then a sharpening stone or steel that’s evenly guided over the blade’s edge via a mounted arm (or arms). While usually more expensive, these sharpeners almost always offer extremely precise sharpening, and can even be used to achieve special finishes such as a mirror polish. 

Pull-Through Sharpeners: Also commonly referred to as “V sharpeners” and “draw-through sharpeners,” pull-through sharpeners consist of two pieces of metal oriented in a V shape that the blade’s edge is run (or drawn) through the bottom of. While simple and easy to use, these sharpeners aren’t very effective and tend to do a very uneven job. More important is the fact that pull-through sharpeners remove an enormous amount of metal in order to sharpen a blade. As such, we would NEVER recommend using a draw-through sharpener on any high-end knife or blade steel. 

Electric Sharpeners: Functioning like a small belt sander, electric sharpeners — or “belt sharpeners” — feature a motorized abrasive belt or wheel that rapidly spins, allowing its user to simply hold the knife in place and rotate and angle it as needed while the rotating abrasive element does its job honing an edge. When operated correctly, electric sharpeners can be incredibly convenient and easy to use, however, like draw-through sharpeners, they can also remove excessive amounts of material — and do so very quickly. As such, we urge anyone to be extremely careful when first learning to use a belt sharpener. 

Field Sharpeners: Also called “pocket sharpeners,” these are compact systems that are designed to let you hone our blade’s edge from practically anywhere on the globe. Field sharpeners tend not to be the most feature-laden models, though what they lack in bells and whistles they can more than make up for with their highly travel-friendly nature. 

Honing Steel: Commonly found in kitchen knife blocks, honing steel typically consists of a metal rod with a handle attached to its bottom end. Rather than removing material to sharpen a blade’s edge, honing steel reshapes it, smoothing over and removing nicks and burrs and ensuring a smooth belly and a sharp point that will guarantee better cutting and performance. 

Sharpening Stones: As the name suggests, sharpening stones are exactly that; stones that are used to sharpen a blade. Typically part of or mounted onto a larger set or fixed-angle system, these items sport at least one abrasive side that a blade can be run along to hone its edge. 

Sharpening Steel: Composed of a rod or cylinder of regular steel, diamond-coated steel, or ceramic, this is another item that features a flat plane with an abrasive surface that can sharpen a blade’s edge. Like sharpening stones, sharpening steel is typically utilized as part of a larger setup or sharpening system.

Whetstones: Though they admittedly do take a bit of practice to develop the muscle memory needed to use them correctly, whetstones are another extremely precise blade-sharpening option. As you may have inferred from the monicker, these items are comprised of small blocks that feature an abrasive stone, diamond, or ceramic surface. These stones are then wetted and then used to sharpen a blade. Often sharpening whetstones will boast two different sides; a coarse side that pre-sharpens the blade and removes any burrs or rough edges; and a fine-grit side that completes the sharpening, honing out smaller imperfections and leaving a razor-sharp edge.

What To Look For When Shopping

Now that you’re privy to the different types of contemporary sharpeners on the market, let’s move on to the half-dozen most crucial areas you should consider when shopping around for a pocket knife sharpener. 

Type Of Sharpener: The jumping-off point for any search should always start with determining which type of sharpener you want — an area that can typically be determined based on the knives you plan on sharpening. Once this area is figured out, you can move on to the more nitty-gritty elements of sharpener shopping.

Included Elements: No matter the brand or model, almost every sharpener in existence will feature an abrasive surface (or V-sharpener) that removes varying amounts of material in order to leave behind a sharp edge. With that said, some sharpeners come with markedly more items than others. This typically takes the form of different types of sharpening metals and stones with varying grit counts, but can also include everything from compounds to strops to honing steel rods to carrying cases. 

Materials: Like any product, the materials used to construct a sharpener will play an enormous role in its overall quality and performance. Unsurprisingly, these items are typically crafted from a combination of metal alloys like steel and aluminum and hard plastics and/or polymers. 

Size & Portability: While larger sharpening setups offer greater precision and control, they’re seldom very easy to transport, with bench and tabletop sharpeners not only being large and rather heavy but also typically including a myriad of small but important elements that can easily be lost while in transport. We personally enjoy having a pocketable field sharpener that can easily be tossed in a pack when headed off-grid, while keeping a larger, more refined, and less portable sharpening system at home. 

Versatility: Every sharpener that was hand-selected for this list was primarily chosen for its conduciveness to sharpening everyday carry pocket knives. With that said, some of the sharpeners on this list manage to deliver better value thanks to their ability to also sharpen kitchen knives and even outdoor fixed blades. Having the ability to be upgraded can further bolster a sharpener’s versatility, as well. 

Upgradability: It’s pretty standard for knife sharpeners to be offered with optional upgrades such as additional sharpening steels and stones, different angle guides/tools, microscopes with LCD screens, and digital angle displays. Not only do these upgrades provide better performance or utility, but they also allow their user to slowly upgrade and improve their sharpening system as their knife collection and sharpening needs change and grow. 

Matters Of Modern Metallurgy

While the techniques used to sharpen a knife are pretty much the same regardless of the blade’s construction, the type of blade steel used will play an enormous role in the sharpening experience. Generally speaking, more premium blade steels — like CPM 20CV, Böhler M390, and CTS 204P — will be extremely hard and will do a phenomenal job of holding their edge. With that said, the same properties and hardness that allow these blade steels to offer such excellent edge retention also makes them sharpening them a markedly more difficult — or at least time-consuming — process compared to sharpening a blade steel like 8Cr13MoV, D2, or AUS 8 which are incredibly easy to sharpen but don’t do anywhere near as good of a job at holding their edge. Long story short, there’s usually a trade-off between edge retention and ease of sharpening — though some of the latest blade steels like CPM MagnaCut manage to break the mold, offering close to the best of both worlds. 

Honorable Mentions

A true game-changer, the Work Sharp Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener is a highly-accurate and incredibly easy-to-use fixed-angle sharpening system that can be picked up for less than $75 — giving it absolutely unbeatable value. While we personally prefer the more robust (and most expensive) Pro-spec version of this system, it’s nonetheless a worthwhile option to consider, especially if you’re on a budget. It can also be upgraded via an available kit from Work Sharp, or using the aftermarket stone holders made specifically for this value-laden system. 

With its unique roll-to-sharpen setup, the HORL 2 is another easy-to-use sharpener that combines diamond and ceramic discs with a magnetic angle-guide system — an arrangement that makes for a ridiculously simple sharpening experience. Because it lacks some of the precision and adjustability of other above models, we’ve opted to bump this model down to an honorable mention. 

Due to the amount of material they remove coupled with their general lack of precision compared to fixed-angle systems, we generally aren’t big fans of electric sharpening systems, though the Work Sharp Ken Onion Edition Sharpener is the exception to our rule, as this easy-to-use belt-style system actually does a pretty terrific job of returning factory edges to their former glory. 

Made in America, the Edge Pro Apex Model 4 is a minimalistic fixed-angle sharpening system that’s crafted from premium materials and highly portable thanks to a design that allows it to fully breakdown without requiring any tools. Because it’s less robust and novice-friendly, this otherwise solid fixed-angle system has been relegated to an honorable mention. 

If you’re drawn to Hapstone’s RS Black, we would also recommend checking out the TSPROF Pioneer as it offers many of the same benefits as the RS Black, though is generally a bit less refined — plus lacks the huge wealth of available options and modules that collectively elevate the Hapstone model. 

The Complete Guide To The Best EDC Knife Steel

In order to fully wrap your head around sharpening, you need to possess some basic understanding of modern blade steel metallurgy — a subject we take a deep dive into in our complete guide to the best EDC knife steel.