Pocket knives are one of the most useful types of tools you can carry around with you. High quality pocket knives are small, portable, and incredibly versatile, which make them useful in many different scenarios. Unfortunately, as time passes, pocket knife blades often become dull and inefficient. But it can be saved! To bring your knife back to life, the only thing you need is a good pocket pocket knife sharpener.
Let’s take a look at the five best pocket knife sharpeners and what we love about each one.
The 5 Best Pocket Knife Sharpeners
1. Sleek & Slim Knife Sharpener by Taganov
The Taganov Sleek & Slim Knife Sharpener is a great, affordable knife sharpening solution. It’s easy to use, small, and portable. This sharpener able to give your dulled pocket knife a super-sharp edge in a jiffy.
It has a sharpening stone that’s made from a material that non-toxic and good for the environment. It’s very durable and is built to keep sharpening your knives for years, even with frequent use. Best of all, the sharpening process is super easy. Simply insert the blade of your pocket knife into one of the V-shaped slots and then pull the knife slowly back towards you, repeating this motion several times.
Why We Love It
It is easy to use, eco-friendly, and super-portable. The Sleek & Slim Knife Sharpener has everything you need to keep your blades sharp and ready for use, at a price that’s affordable on just about any budget. Seriously — we’re talking less than $5 USD.
Pros
- It’s very small and easy to carry.
- Very easy to use with no technique needed. Simply insert and pull.
- The handle is molded for convenience and safety.
- At less than $5 USD, it’s one of the most inexpensive pocket knife sharpeners available.
Cons
- It does not sharpen like a normal stone, which some users may find confusing. However, it is very easy to figure out and quickly start using.
2. 400/600 Grit Pocket Knife Sharpener by BonyTek
With a unique honeycomb sharpening surface, the BonyTek 400/600 Grit Pocket Knife Sharpener can sharpen your pocket knife’s blade both faster and more efficiently than many other sharpeners. Plus, since it’s double-sided, it’s great for both right and left-handed users. With 2 different grits, 400 and 600, you can use this sharpener to either coarsely sharpen your pocket knife or hone it to a fine edge.
Another unique feature of this sharpener is that it is fan-shaped and folds into itself. This folding design creates a convenient handle when its unfolded, and provides protection for the sharpening stone when it’s folded shut. Additionally, the handles are non-slip for safety and control. Most importantly, the stone itself is a titanium-plated diamond whetstone which should last a lifetime under even heavy use.
Why We Love It
The double-sided feature is great — if you are left-handed, this is one of the best options available for you. Also we are big fans of the folding ability, as well as the very high-quality sharpening stone.
Pros
- It’s small and easy to carry.
- You can unfold it to create a handle for easy gripping.
- It folds into a compact size, great for carrying it in your pocket or storing it somewhere safe.
- The sharpener comes with 2 sides and 2 grits.
Cons
- To use it effectively, you must know the technique for sharpening a blade.
3. Deluxe 5-Stone Sharpening System by Lansky
If you’ve got a wide assortment of pocket knives (or, for that matter, any knives) that need to be sharpened regularly, the Lanksy Deluxe 5-Stone Sharpening System is a great option. With five color-coded sharpening stones, a convenient carrying case, a controlled-angle sharpening system, and honing oil, this kit that has all your bases covered.
The color-coded stones also have convenient finger-grooves, which provide precise control as well as safety. The included stones come in extra-course, coarse, medium, fine, and extra-fine grit, so you can sharpen any of your knives to your specific preference.
Why We Love It
With the controlled-angle sharpening system, you can sharpen each blade to the angle that is best suited for that knife’s use. For instance, a 25º blade angle is ideal for an outdoor hunting knife, while a 20º angle is ideal for kitchen cutlery. This kit includes options for 17, 20, 25, and 30 degree angle sharpening.
If you own different knives that are intended for different uses, this kit is a great investment.
Pros
- Comes with 5 different sharpening stones.
- Can sharpen just about any knife.
- Color-coded for convenience.
- Comes with a handy carrying case.
Cons
- Not made for putting in your pocket, so not a pocket knife sharpener that you can easily take with you.
4. Mini Double Sided Pocket Knife Sharpener by DMD
The DMD Mini Double Sided Pocket Knife Sharpener is the kind of pocket knife sharpener you can take with you just about anywhere. Measuring 1 x 3 inches and weighing only 54g, it will easily fit in your pocket, backpack, purse, and most other storage places. While the sharpener may be small, it’s definitely effective. Using a combination of ceramic and diamond plates, and featuring two usable sides, this mini pocket knife sharpener is very fast and very effective.
For easy sharpening on-the-go, you can’t do much better, using the ceramic side to get a razor-edge finish and the diamond plate side to clean and polish. Yes, it’s basic but this is still an excellent pocket knife sharpener that deserves a place in your bug-out bag.
Why We Love It
This pocket knife sharpener is portable, small, and lightweight. It’s a great option to take with you while camping, hiking, or backpacking.
Pros
- It’s very small and lightweight for carrying convenience, which is perfect for backpacking or camping.
- Double-sided for sharpening and polishing.
- Relatively inexpensive.
Cons
- There is no handle, so it may be more difficult to use for some people.
5. Work Sharp Pocket Knife Sharpener
The Work Sharp Pocket Knife Sharpener is our favorite knife sharpener. It is durable, effective, and portable — the perfect combination. This pocket-sized sharpener is super compact and lightweight, making it the perfect choice for backpacking or camping. Unlike most knife sharpeners, the Work Sharp has all of its elements self-contained, which means there is no setup or assembly required before using it. You can sharpen on the go!
In addition, the Work Sharp Knife Sharpener has two usable sides, each with a different grit and a different angle. On one side, there is a 20º angle with a 320 grip diamond plate. On the other side, there is a 25º angle on a fine ceramic rod.
It’s sold at an incredible price point and also includes a lifetime legacy warranty. For the unfamiliar, a legacy warranty transfers to anyone in your family with the ownership of the knife.
Why We Love It
Our favorite feature is that the sharpener is completely self-contained. This is very convenient, especially when camping or backpacking with a lot of loose gear. Additionally, its size and portability are ideal, while it still maintains its ability to sharpen effectively.
Pros
- Small and light for carrying convenience.
- Double-sided for sharpening and polishing.
- Angle guides for different types of blades.
- Handle grip for safety.
Cons
- At first, it takes a bit of skill to get the job done efficiently.
Pocket Knife Sharpener FAQs
If you are using a pocket knife regularly, there are a few things you must know before making your purchase, to get the best results and most convenience out of your sharpener.
How often do I need to sharpen my pocket knife?
How often you need to sharpen your pocket knife depends on how often you use it, as well as the materials that you are cutting. If you use it once a month or less and you’re cutting paper, lightweight plastic or other types of softer materials, you will likely only need to sharpen it 2 or 3 times a year. On the other hand, if you use it very often and you’re cutting a wide variety of materials or harder materials, your pocket knife should be sharpened approximately once a week for the best cutting results.
Backpackers and campers should sharpen their camping knives before each trip. It’s important to have a sharp, efficient blade when it counts.
Does the angle on the pocket knife blade make a difference?
Yes, it does. If you sharpen it at an angle that’s more narrow (approximately 12 degrees) it will be better for jobs like slicing and filleting. With an angle of 20-degrees or more you’ll have a blade on your pocket knife that’s best for rough chopping. Note that some sharpeners come with an angle guide if this is important to you.
How many times should I pull the pocket knife through a sharpener to get the best results?
Surprisingly, all it takes is about 5 to 10 strokes to make even the dullest of pocket knife blades sharp and ready to go once again. More than that and you’ll possibly get a slightly better edge but not one that will be noticeable.
What is the difference between honing and polishing a pocket knife blade?
Honing is what you want to do if you want to return your pocket knife’s blade to its optimal ‘V’ shape. One caveat is that, if your blade’s bevel and edge are very badly worn, coarse sharpening needs to be performed first. Polishing creates an extremely sharp and very small micro-bevel (razor-sharp in fact) so that’s what you should do if you need a very sharp edge fast.
Final Thoughts
A sharp knife is an effective one! Whether you are using your knife on camping trips, in your garden, or just throughout the day, a pocket knife sharpener can make a world of difference. And it fits right inside your pocket!
Additionally, many of these sharpeners can be used on all types of blades. You can use them to sharpen backpacking hatchets, backpacking saws, and even large kitchen cutlery knives. They’re a great tool at an affordable price point. Stay sharp!
Happy Camping!
Is there a great pocket knife sharpener that you think we should have included? Let us know in the comments below.
