Pocket knives are a handy tool to have around, but they can get dull quickly. A knife sharpener is a perfect way to keep them in good condition and ready for use when you need them.
There are many different types of sharpeners for packet knives on the market, so it can be hard to decide which one is right for you.
Some knife sharpeners only work with specific types of knives. Additionally, the final result depends on not only the effort and time used in the sharpening process but also the quality of the sharpener.
Let’s look at some of the best knife sharpeners for pocket knives and decide which will suit your needs.
| Knife Sharpener | Brand | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Smith’s Abrasives PP1 | Smith’s | View |
| Sharp Pebble Premium | Sharp Pebble | View |
| Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener | Work Sharp | View |
| Chef’sChoice Trizor XV Electric Knife Sharpening System | Chef’sChoice | View |
| Smith’s – TRI6 TRI-6 Arkansas Sharpening Stones System | Smith’s | View |
Best Knife Sharpener for Pocket Knives Reviews
Before you buy a knife sharpener, consider this: it should sharpen your pocket knife extremely well.
You can only sharpen your knife well when you have the right sharpener.
So, to help you in this area, I’ve come up with a list of the best knife sharpeners for pocket knives that can actually sharpen your pocket knife in an efficient manner.
Smith’s Abrasives PP1 hunting-knife-sharpeners
If you’re looking for an affordable, compact, yet multifunctional pocket knife sharpener, think of the Smith’s Abrasives PP1 hunting-knife-sharpeners. This sharpener is small enough to fit into your pocket and comes with a diamond-coated rod that fits smartly into the shell.
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This pocket sharpener has two slots for quick sharpening. It comes with a coarse carbide slot for restoring dull edges and a fine ceramic slot for a smooth hone. With its three sharpening options, the Smith’s Abrasives PP1 can work with any pocket blade type.
Features
- Diamond-coated rod
- Carbide and ceramic slots
- Lanyard hole
Pros
- Slim, lightweight, and easy to pocket
- Easy to maintain
- High-quality sharpening surface
- Has preset sharpening angles
Cons
- Might leave scuffs on the knife
- May not give an extremely sharp edge to your knife
Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone
If you love knives being sharp before you head out, the Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone is a good bet. This sharpener has everything you need in a sharpener: an angle guide, a beautiful base, and a double stone. It is designed with two grits, 600 and 1000, placed on the stone’s opposite sides.
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The Sharp Pebble has a solid and durable base made of a slip-resistant bamboo layer. It has an upper silicone component that offers extra stability. The bamboo and silicone are both easy to clean.
Features
- 2 side grit
- Non-slip bamboo base
- Angle guide
- Aluminum oxide material
Pros
- Good customer service
- Balance dual grit
- EBook guide included
- Easy to use
Cons
- It may leave marks and scratches on your knife
Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener Ken Onion Edition
The Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener Ken Onion Edition is a great option if you need a tool to upgrade your sharpening game. Most power sharpeners use grinding wheels, but this one uses a flexible belt to give your knife a durable and sharp edge. It comes with blade guides and variable speeds of 15 to 30 degrees.
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This top-notch tool can also handle mower blades, shovels, and handle axes. Although this tool creates a sharp edge, it doesn’t follow conventional sharpening rules.
Features
- Adjustable sharpening guide
- Variable speed control
- Flexible abrasive belts
Pros
- Fast and precise
- High-quality tool
- Delivers a strong and long-lasting convex edge
- Flexible belts
Cons
- Does not follow conventional sharpening rules
- Belt only spins in one direction
Smith’s CCKS 2-Step Knife Sharpener
The Smith’s CCKS 2-Step Knife Sharpener is a multipurpose pocket sharpener that gives your pocket knife a quick edge. It comes with a set of carbide blades for a smooth blade, and ceramic rods hone for a fine wire-edge. This sharpener is ideal for hikers and hunters since it’s bright yellow making it easy to find if it drops in the forest.
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Features
- 2 carbide blades and
- 2 ceramic rods
- Preset sharpening edges
- Non-slip rubber feet
- Lanyard hole
Pros
- Slip-resistant
- Easy to use
- Perfect for all types of standard edge knives
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- Good for some but not all knives
- May not give an extremely sharp edge to your knife
Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener
If you’re a sportsman looking for a knife sharpener designed to give you a sharpening solution for your field activities, this is a good deal. The Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener comes with a robust design made up of ceramic and diamond.
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It has components like a fine diamond, a leather strop, ceramic hone, and coarse diamond. Additionally, this tool comes with a lifetime warranty, so you don’t have to worry about constant wear and tear.
Features
- Diamond plates
- Ceramic rods
- Leather strop
- Sharpening guides
Pros
- It comes with sharpening guides
- It offers fives sharpening stages and honing
- Versatile
Cons
- Prone to scratches
- Can wear blade down quickly
Types of Pocket Knife Sharpeners
Sharpening Stone
Sharpening stones have been in existence since ancient times and are among the most efficient ways to sharpen your pocket knife. They are made from natural materials like rock, ceramic, concrete, diamond dust, etc.
However, most sharpening stones today aren’t naturally occurring. Manufacturers create stones with varying grits. A higher number means that the pieces of grit are close to each other, and creates a fine edge on your blade.
Sharpening Steel
This is a rod with sharpening bits like diamond fixed on its surface. When you pass your pocket knife across the sharpening steel, it removes metal and helps you fix the damaged knife edges. Sharpening steel is good for restoring antique knives.
Knife Hones
Knife hones come in various shapes, sizes, and styles, and use steel or stone to sharpen your knife. However, they are not the best for sharpening a dull knife but are good pocket knife sharpeners since they give a quick touch-up to your blade.
Electric Sharpener
If you’re looking for a high-convenient and high-tech method to sharpen your pocket knife, an electric sharpener is a good choice. These sharpeners use grinding belts or wheels to eliminate metal easily, helping you to sharpen your knife in a short time. However, be cautious since they work quickly and could damage your knife.
Also, see the post on the best sharpener for a pocket knife…
FAQs
Should I Sharpen a New Knife?
New knives are usually sharp, but not as sharp as you would want them. Most of them come with a bent wire edge on the grind. You can use a honing rod to sharpen the edges without grinding the metal away.
What Angle Do You Use to Sharpen a Knife?
The best angle to sharpen your pocket knife is about 17 degrees. This angle brings a durable and sharp edge.
How Long Does It Take to Sharpen a Pocket Knife?
This depends on the dullness of your knife blade. A blade that’s in decent shape can be ready in 30 seconds. Other knives may take 10-15 minutes to sharpen.
Can You Damage a Knife by Sharpening It?
Yes! If you remove too much material from the knife, you can reshape the blade, making it not function well. Be careful when sharpening classic or vintage knives.
Pocket Knife Sharpener Buying Guide
Before choosing the best knife sharpener for your needs, there are some factors you need to consider. The section below outlines some crucial details you should keep in mind when shopping for a new knife sharpener.
Size and Weight
Selecting the best knife sharpener that will suit your needs depends on the size and weight. After all, this is a tool, and if it’s too heavy, your sharpening could become risky. The aim is to choose one that’s portable enough so that it’s easy to take with you anywhere you go. Your knife sharpener should be compact and lightweight without compromising performance and quality.
Adjustable Angle
You should always look for a knife sharpener that’s designed with an adjustable angle. This means you can customize the sharpening surface angle depending on the type of blade or knife you’re using.
Versatility
Go for a knife sharpener that can offer several functions in a single product. This is ideal if you’re looking for the best bang for the buck. This sharpener must be compatible with all types of knife blades. It will be great if it can serve as a survival tool.
Sharpening Stages
Mostly, pocket knife sharpeners come with at least two stages. A knife sharpener with multiple sharpening stages will relieve you of the stress of carrying two or more sharpeners. Stage 1, the sharpener gives the necessary angle to a dull knife. The second stage will polish your knife and give touch-ups.
Abrasive Surface
When looking for a knife sharpener, always consider the types of sharpening abrasives available. This part touches the knife and is the one that sharpens it. An abrasive surface with a high number of grit means that the sharpener has a fine surface.
Safety
It is crucial to check the knife sharpener’s safety features because you can injure yourself if you aren’t keen. Some sharpeners come with cut-resistant gloves to reduce the risk of injury, while others have built-in finger guards to keep you away from the blade.
However, regardless of the type of built-in features or sharpener, you must be careful when dealing with sharp blades of any kind.
Lightweight
The weight of a sharpener is crucial since it determines if it will be easy to carry around. Besides, a light sharpener will allow you to hold it for long when sharpening knives.
Quality
Ultimately, you need to buy a high-quality sharpener that’s durable and well-built. An all-metal sharpener is the best. Actually, the sharpener’s true quality is determined by the carbide blades, ceramic blades, and diamond rods.
Conclusion
Choosing the best pocket knife sharpener for pocket knives for your daily activities needs a lot of care and thought.
We hope our picks and reviews will help you make an informed decision and choose one that suits your budget and needs.
Good luck!
