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![using the Ken Onion by Work Sharp to sharpen a pocket knife](https://knifeinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/west.bound_.edc_usingtheKenOnionbyWorkSharptosharpenapocketknife-1024x597.jpg)
No matter how sharp a knife is from the factory, it will eventually dull, especially pocketknives used in many everyday activities. Knife maintenance is not just a chore; it’s a wise investment. It can save you money in the long run by extending the life of your blades and ensuring they perform at their best.
However, knife sharpening can be a bit intimidating when first starting. That is where we’re here to help. We’ve spent years sharpening knives using dozens of different sharpening systems. Today, we’ll share what we consider to be the best pocket knife sharpeners available.
Key Considerations
While we’re focusing on the best knife sharpener for pocket knives, many of these can sharpen any knife. We looked for a few key things in each offering.
- Portability—Although we like sharpening our knives at home, sometimes we need to touch up an edge in the field. Therefore, we didn’t look at only one type of sharpener. We did give extra points to sharpeners that offered versatility and portability.
- Stone Type—No single stone is perfect for sharpening every steel type and knife variant. There are also stones for putting a burr on a knife, and others for removing said burr. Knowing we needed a variety of stones to get the job done, we looked to cover as many angles as possible.
- Electric vs. Traditional—Electric knife sharpeners make things much easier for a novice and are also an excellent way to maintain many knives quickly. However, we also know that knife owners like old-fashioned methods. Thus, we tried to find options for every style.
Top Picks
- Best Overall: Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker
- Best Budget: Smith’s 8” Dual Grit Combination
- Best Portable: Work Sharp Pocket Knife Sharpener
- Best Electric Knife Sharpener For Pocket Knives: Work Sharp Ken Onion Elite Mk. 2
- Best Pocket Knife Sharpener For Beginners: DMT Dia-Sharp 8” Sharpening Stone
![four men sharpening their own pocket knives](https://knifeinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/raven_the_pirate_fourmensharpeningtheirownpocketknives.jpg)
Best Overall: Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker
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Quality designs stand the test of time, and that’s the case with Spyderco’s Tri-Angle sharpener. Introduced in 1976, this sharpener is still among the company’s top sellers. I’ve used mine for more than five years to keep my blades sharp. The beauty of this system is in its simplicity. It contains four stones that slot into holes at 15- and 20-degree angles, perfect for pocket knives. Line up the knife vertically and draw it along the stones to sharpen. This sharpener is a little more time-consuming. It can take more than 20 strokes on each stone to get an edge. This is best for patient knife owners who own a ton of blades in a variety of styles.
The unique shape of the stones means that users are forced to buy Spyderco replacements since others won’t fit. An upgrade to a diamond stone is available, but it is expensive. However, given the system’s portability, I think it’s a worthy tradeoff. It all packs neatly into its case, easily slipping into a backpack.
Best Budget: Smith’s 8” Dual Grit Combination
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At $7 to $9, it doesn’t get much more affordable than Smith’s Dual-Grit stones. I think mine was an impulse buy at a big box store to see how it worked. The answer is that it’s not bad for the price point. Smith’s has combined a coarse grit and a medium grit on this one stone. The result is a combination and size that’s perfect for pocket knives. Using this stone, I had no issues putting a decent working edge back on a few of my duller knives. It’s not something that will hone a blade to hair-popping precision, but it also never claims to do that. This stone will be best for anyone who needs something simple for quick touch-ups. The smaller size makes it an ideal addition to any toolbox or glove compartment.
My only complaint is that this stone does require water or oil lubricant. That means it can be a bit messy. That isn’t always ideal when not near a proper workbench. However, for the price point, it’s a perfectly capable stone for blue-collar workers who just need a working edge.
Best Portable: Work Sharp Pocket Knife Sharpener
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There are many portable field sharpeners out there, but Work Sharp’s is one of the better ones. I like to use mine for quick touch-ups while in the field. I usually throw this one in my hunting pack since it’s only 2.4 ounces. This sharpener goes almost unnoticed in the pack until needed. It’s great if I feel a knife going dull while field-dressing a deer. During my testing, I found the diamond abrasive does an excellent job on premium steels like S30V. The ceramic hone on the other side takes off any burr quickly.
Although the size of this sharpener is perfect for pocket knives, this isn’t a precision sharpener. It’s meant for quick in-the-field touchups, and that’s about it. I keep my more expensive sharpeners at home when I have more time. This sharpener also doesn’t have a strop for honing work like Work Sharp’s Guided field sharpener. However, I still like this sharpener as a portable option for beginners. It also costs only about $15. This is an excellent option to throw in the truck or boat glove box for emergencies.
Best Electric Knife Sharpener For Pocket Knives: Work Sharp Ken Onion Elite Mk. 2
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When it comes to electric sharpeners, Work Sharp’s Ken Onion editions are the standard-setter for quality. This sharpener has everything any knife owner could need, plus a few extras. This is essentially two sharpening tools in one package. I found the standard cassette sharpener incredibly easy to use. All I had to do was set the angle, and the guides kept the blade in perfect position. In mere minutes, I had edges on knives that had been dull for years. Work Sharp includes multiple belts with different coarseness ratings to hone the burr off. I appreciate the labels inside that help me remember which is which. New belts are incredibly cheap, only about $15.
The only real downside to this tool is that it costs $300. Even then, I’d argue that there’s tremendous value because this version includes the blade-grinding attachment. This system does require a little more practice than the cassette. Fortunately, Work Sharp has great instruction manuals and video tutorials online for newbies. In short, this is a total tool sharpening system. This sharpener will hone pocket knives and every scissor, kitchen knife, axe, and hatchet one owns. For the average working knife owner who needs to put edges back on blades quickly, it’s a solid investment.
Best Pocket Knife Sharpener For Beginners: DMT Dia-Sharp 8” Sharpening Stone
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Diamond stones are easily the best way to sharpen just about any knife. These stones require no lubrication and are coarse enough to finish the job quickly. The Dia-Sharp is a simple stone in coarse, extra fine, and fine grits for various sharpening jobs. I recommend the coarse as a good starting point for beginners. Even newbies can put an edge back on a dull blade with a little practice in only a few minutes – with a little practice, of course. This is ideal for anyone looking to start with a more traditional stone because it will take less time.
At $55, it isn’t cheap for a single stone. However, this is a case where the final product is worth the cost of admission. Cheaper stones can put an edge on a knife, but this one will cause significantly less frustration to anyone still learning. Skills learned on this stone can then be used on a variety of other stones in the future.
![man using a portable sharpener by work sharp](https://knifeinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/worksharptools_manusingaportablesharpenerbyworksharp.jpg)
How To Choose The Best Pocket Knife Sharpener
The best pocket knife sharpeners work for each person’s individual needs. Some people want an edge that’s precision-machined to the finest point possible. Others only want their knife sharp enough to get through another long workday. Ultimately, it’s about finding the best system that works best for each person’s individual needs. That’s why we decided to break down the different types and the pros and cons of each.
Angle Sharpeners
An angle sharpener is ideal for those who want to put a scientifically precise edge on their blades. These systems are designed to eliminate guesswork by holding the knife itself static. This removes the variable of human error in holding the knife at the correct angle. However, these sharpeners can be expensive and bulky, so they are not the best option for touch-ups in the field.
Field Sharpeners
The most significant advantage of field sharpeners is their affordability. Decent ones are available for only $20–$50. These portable sharpeners make it easy to carry one in a hunting pack for a backcountry hunt. The size is perfect for stashing an extra in a vehicle glove box for emergencies. For most people, a sharpener like this will get the job done. The main downside is that they usually aren’t capable of super-precise sharpening and honing.
Traditional Stones
The classic solution for keeping knives honed also has the biggest learning curve. Most stones require water as a lubricant, making the job messier. Some people use honing solutions, but these aren’t always food-safe, so keep that in mind. This sharpener style can put an incredible edge on knives in skilled hands. It just takes much more practice to get proficient at holding knives at the correct angle.
Electric Sharpeners
The biggest advantages of an electric sharpener are speed and simplicity. Nothing puts an edge back on a dull knife faster and more efficiently. Thus, electric sharpeners are an excellent option for anyone with many knives. The downside is that these sharpeners aren’t portable unless you have an external power source. Additionally, they also take some practice. This style can quickly damage a knife if the user isn’t careful.
Pull-Through Sharpeners
This style of sharpener is usually the smallest and simplest to use. I’m not a fan of pull-through sharpeners. Most will return an edge on a dull blade, but it’s usually a temporary fix. Many of these sharpeners, especially the cheap ones on Amazon, can severely damage blades over time.
Why Trust Us
As a hunting, fishing, and camping enthusiast, I’ve used and sharpened knives my whole life. I’ve been fortunate enough to test every type of sharpener available today. This has helped me learn which sharpeners work and which ones do not. Additionally, I’ve covered knives professionally for the past ten years for several major publications. This has only helped me learn more about knife steel and sharpening techniques.
![the TriAngle Sharpmaker sharpener by spyderco](https://knifeinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/spyderco_inc_theTriAngleSharpmakersharpenerbyspyderco.jpg)
Final Thoughts
The Spyderco angle sharpener continues to be a favorite simply because it’s a proven design. Its appeal is in the beauty and the simplicity. The Work Sharp Ken Onion Mk.2 is my second favorite for its speed and ease of use. It is easily my choice when I need to do a quick touch-up on one of my pocket knives.
FAQs
Q: What is the best knife sharpener for pocket knives?
A: The Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker is a timeless design that continues to be ideal for pocket knives because of its size and portability. It is one of the best values out there right now for anyone who needs a simple pocket knife sharpening solution.
Q: Do pocket knives sharpeners actually work?
A: When used correctly, all the sharpeners above will put a workable edge back on a pocket knife. Knife sharpening has a slight learning curve regardless of the sharpener type. Be prepared for some trial and error using any of these options.
Q: What should I use to sharpen my pocket knife?
A: The best pocket knife sharpener is the one that puts a usable edge on a knife for the user. Most people don’t need an edge that can be measured with scientific precision. They need something that cuts well with minimal pressure. In most cases, a simple field sharpener can do that with some practice.
Q: What sharpening angle should I use for pocket knives?
A: Most pocket knives in the USA use a 20-degree angle. However, there are some variations. Sometimes, the manufacturer’s website lists the angle for each knife. When that isn’t an option, the marker method is an easy way to check the angle. Use a sharpie or other marker to cover the edge and run it over a sharpener at various angles. If the mark disappears completely, that’s the angle of the blade and the angle you should be using.