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Pocket knives are essential to many outdoorsmen's possessions, and sharpening them can be done anywhere. It may sound counterintuitive at first, but if you have to exert a lot more force when cutting with your pocket knife, there is less chance that slip-up will result in injury.
In the time it takes to make a sandwich, you can sharpen your knife and get ready for whatever comes next. Whether that’s slicing through a roasted chicken or carved pumpkins on Halloween night, having dull knives is just not ideal—and there are plenty of ways around this problem.
Pocket knife sharpeners are an easy way to keep your blades in top shape. They only take a few minutes of your time and can make the difference between success on any adventure, whether you’re cooking up dinner at home or out camping with friends.
Knife sharpening the best knife with serrated edges provides a completely different challenge than sharpening a pocket knife or hunting knife. The serrated blade's edge requires a different sharpening stone, small round diamond sharpeners will fix these up with a short learning curve.
Things To Consider
How well does it work? If it doesn't fix your dull knife you aren't helping yourself or your expensive blades which just makes things worse.
The perfect knife sharpener should be effective at sharpening the blade and hopefully with as little effort as possible fixing your knife's edge.
It should have a couple of different levels of grit so that you can fix a damaged blade or just touch one up to that perfect edge without removing that expensive blade steel that never comes back.
Cost
A sharpener is a great tool to have but you don't have to go overboard to get a razor edge. Even the best pocket knife sharpeners on the market are relatively inexpensive considering their abilities and how long they last. A good knife can be expensive so investing in a sharpener to keep it nice and sharp just makes sense!
Extra Features
Some pocket knife sharpeners have features that surpass just taking care of your finest blades. These can include fire starters or even a LED flashlight. While these things might come in handy at times remember the most important feature is keeping your knife blade scary sharp!
Best Overall
Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener
- COMPLETE KNIFE SHARPENER - field, home, or shop use designed for sportsmen who need a complete, compact field sharpening solution. The diamond plates can be easily removed to expose a broad head wrench to speed sharpening in the field. Diamond plates can be attached with the abrasive exposed or flipped over during transport in your gear bag.
- DIAMOND PLATES, CERAMIC RODS, LEATHER STROP, & SHARPENING GUIDES - provide a fast, easy & consistent sharpening solution for knives & camp tools. The ceramic honing rod rotates to expose coarse & fine honing surfaces and a grooved surface for sharpening fish hooks. A second, small ceramic rod is used for sharpening serrations
- CONSISTENT BLADE EDGE ANGLES - purpose-built 20° angle guide for sharpening with the diamond plates, & a 25° angle guide for honing a strong micro-bevel. Five abrasive steps provide a complete sharpening solution: coarse & fine diamond sharpening plates, coarse & fine ceramic hones, & a leather strop.
- COMPACT & DURABLE - maintain your edge while out hunting, fishing, camping, or anywhere you need a sharp edge. All elements are self-contained & require no tools, assembly, or set-up
- 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.
Best Multi-Feature
SHARPAL 101N 6-In-1 Pocket Knife Sharpener & Survival Tool
- 6 FUNCTION: 1. No. 1 V-Notch slot (Coarse CARBIDE)-Quickly set a new edge; 2. No. 2 (Fine CERAMIC)-Hone for a smooth finished edge; 3. Tapered diamond rod (Medium 400 Grit) for serrations & gut hooks; 4. Diamond rod with groove for fishhooks; 5. Ferro rod; 6. High-pitched emergency whistle
- A portable EDC field survival knife sharpener with a built-in lanyard hole, ideal for hunting, camping, and outdoor survival use. It also works well for your kitchen chef knife.
- DURABLE ABRASIVES & SUPERIOR SHARPENING PERFORMANCE: The CARBIDE and CERAMIC abrasives pass the 10,000 times field use test. NEVER WEARS OUT—preset optimal sharpening angle.
- VERSATILE & EASY USE: This pocket knife sharpener not only quickly sharpens very dull or damaged blades, but also hones for razor-sharp; Not only for the straight edge but also for a serrated knife.
- 3 YEARS Warranty and Superior After-Sale Service: Sharpal headquarters in CA, the US with overseas branches in Germany and Australia, aiming at providing consumers with an easy and cost-effective way to obtain a sharp edge. Manufactured and field-tested to the highest standards.
Best Budget Buy
AccuSharp Knife & Tool Sharpener
- GET A SHARP EDGE IN 10 SECONDS: A sharp blade makes it easier to get work done quickly and safely. The innovative AccuSharp Knife Sharpener lets you sharpen most blades in around ten seconds.
- DIAMOND-HONED TUNGSTEN CARBIDE SHARPENER: AccuSharp sharpening blades are crafted from diamond-honed tungsten carbide, one of the hardest known materials. With its unique design, the sharpening blades can be reversed doubling their life span.
- DEPENDABLE & LONG-LASTING CONSTRUCTION: Most users report an average of five to 10 years between blade replacements. AccuSharp Knife Sharpeners are double-beveled and can be cleaned easily with soap and water or in your dishwasher.
- SAFE, UNIQUE, ERGONOMIC HANDLE: Featuring a unique, ergonomic handle, the AccuSharp fits neatly in either hand to accommodate both right-handed and left-handed users. Includes a full-length guard that protects your fingers throughout the sharpening process.
Honorable Mention
Lansky C-Sharp Sharpener
- 4 sharpening angles (17º, 20º, 25º, and 30º)
- 800-grit ceramic Bench stone for fine polishing and serrations
- 600-grit medium ceramic pull-through slots
- Durable metal casing
- 100% compatible with all Lansky Controlled-Angle Systems & Turn Boxes
Smith's Abrasives PP1 Pocket Pal Sharpener
- Tapered Round Diamond Coated Rod for Sharpening Serrated and Standard Edges
- Carbide Blades (Coarse CARBIDE Slot) Quickly Set Your Edge; Ceramic Stones (Fine CERAMIC slot) Give You a Razor Sharp Edge
- Reversible and Replaceable Carbide and Ceramic Stones for Extended Sharpening
- Lanyard hole for Carrying
- Preset Sharpening Angles provide Guaranteed Results
Wamery Serrated Knife Sharpener
- Compact Size: A mini diamond knife sharpener rod that can be retracted and is portable. It will fit in your pocket, toolbox, backpack, purse, or luggage. Give new life to all your serrated blades and home tools.
- Efficient: It comes with a half-round sharpening rod for Straight blades and a tapered diamond-coated rod for serrated blades. With only a few strokes downwards on each scallop, and on each side, your knives will be sharp and ready to be used.
- Convenient and versatile: The Camping knife sharpener you need! To work on the kitchen knife sharpener, camping outdoor knife, or army knives and fishing hook. Improve the edge of all your serrated and hunting knives every time you need them.
- Safe to use: A handy little device that can be used anywhere at any time! Its compact size makes it easy to carry wherever you go. This Pen Sharpener fits perfectly in your hand and allows you to vary the angle at which you hold the knife while you sharpen.
- Excellent Quality: A Polished Diamond rod, smooth and soft. Save money and time, with the perfect gadget to keep your tools & serrated knives sharp. 100% SATISFACTION OR MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE!
Work Sharp EDC Pivot Sharpener
- Convex-carbide - quickly creates a durable convex cutting edge on any knife/ steel
- Controlled sharpening - pivot-response follows the curve of the knife for a consistent angle and edge across the entire blade
- Ceramic hone - hones/ re-sharpens any blade steel quickly and easily with just a few passes
- Diamond plate - sharpens Fish hooks and a wide range of edge tools
- On the go - compact, easy-to-use knife sharpener to quickly and easily maintain any knife edge anywhere, anytime
Victorinox VN43323 Sharpener
- Compact and sturdy
- An Ideal portable solution for sharpening all your straight blades
- Includes a honing stone for pre-sharpening and ceramic discs for fine edges
- Made in Germany
Smith's CCKS 2-Step Sharpener
- Crossed Carbide Blades Provide Quick Edge Setting
- Crossed Ceramic Rods Provide a Razor Sharp Edge
- Non-Slip Rubber Feet for Added Safety.
- Excellent for use on all types of knives, especially filet knives
FAQs
What is the best edge angle for a pocket knife?
The best edge angle depends on your intentions for the blade. The ones most commonly used on pocket knives tend to be 20-25 degree edges. They resist chipping well and still slice through almost anything you want to cut. Whereas kitchen knives have 15-20 degree edges for finer cutting needed while preparing food.
Is honing a knife better than sharpening a knife?
They are really two different things. Sharpening actually removes metal from the blade to create an edge while honing refines that edge and makes it sharper. Depending on how much you use your knife, sharpening a couple of times a year should be good. Honing in between sharpening will cut down on how many times you have to sharpen and keep your blade like a razor every day.
Are electric sharpeners safe for pocket knives?
Your mother's sharpener on the back of the electric can opener is a hard NO! Most electric sharpeners remove way too much metal from your blade so they are not recommended. The exception to the rule is if you absolutely feel you need an electric knife sharpener look at the Work Sharp Knife & Tool Mk2 or their Ken Onion Edition. They are powerful and are used by professionals worldwide. After the learning curve, you can fix any blade with the two-stage power these belt sharpeners provide.
