One of my biggest pet peeves is a dull knife blade. On the other hand, few things make me happier than a surgically sharp blade that glides through anything in its path. But it’s not easy to keep that razor’s edge on all the blades I carry around.
Part of the problem is that I cut things I probably shouldn’t with my knives. I cut hay bale strings just about every morning, and I saw the tops off of boxes several times a week, and cardboard and twine are some of the worst materials for knife blades.
I used to use a Spyderco Sharpmaker ceramic sharpener, and I still do use it for my serrated blades. A few years ago, I switched to a Lansky sharpening system, and that’s a great sharpener, too. The problem with both is that they’re not very portable.
Last Christmas, my dad gave me a WorkSharp Guided Field Sharpener. If you’re careful with it, you can use the built-in ramp to start your knife at an exact 20-degree angle and put a perfect edge on the blade, without having to lock it into a guide like you would with the Lansky.
In one, compact package, the WorkSharp has a coarse diamond stone, a fine diamond stone, a ceramic rod with coarse and fine surfaces, as well as a fish hook sharpener. The handle also has several broadhead wrenches, too. And on the side opposite the ceramic stone, there’s a strop to put the finishing touches on your blade.
I’m absolutely sold on the WorkSharp Guided Field Sharpener. And at only about 35 bucks, it’s a heck of a bargain. You might keep it in mind if you have hunting buddies to buy for this Christmas.
