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Whether you’re a backcountry dweller, tradesman, warehouse worker, or a practical knife enthusiast, a pull through knife sharpener is one of the most practical tools to carry with you. Over the years, I’ve heard plenty of arguments for and against pull through sharpeners. In this article, we’ll break down some key features of our favorite pull through sharpeners so that you can DECIDE if CARBIDE is for you.
Key Takeaways
- The Best Overall Pull Through Knife Sharpener is the Work Sharp EDC Pivot Plus.
- The Best Everyday Carry Pull Through Knife Sharpener is the CRKT Stokes.
- The Best Build Quality Pull Through Knife Sharpener is the Lansky BladeMedic.
- The Most Versatile Pull Through Knife Sharpener is the Lansky QuadSharp Carbide.
Top Picks
- Most Versatile: Lansky QuadSharp Carbide/Ceramic Sharpener
- Best Build Quality: Lansky Blademedic Knife Sharpener (4-in-1)
- The Best Overall: Work Sharp EDC Pivot PLUS Knife Sharpener
- Best Everyday Carry: CRKT Stokes Key Chain Knife Sharpener
Most Versatile: Lansky QuadSharp Carbide/Ceramic Sharpener
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One of the most common debates between my coworkers and me, at my previous knife dealer job, was edge angles. What edge angle is the best? Although we’re not going to directly answer that loaded question in this article, I do have a pull through knife sharpener suggestion that bridges the gap between all “angle snobs.” Drum roll, please…
The Lansky QuadSharp. Most people in the knife industry are plenty familiar with the Lansky name. They’ve been in the business of making dull knives great again for more than 40 years. I remember when I first started getting into knives, the first sharpening system I bought was the Lansky Blademedic. Much like the Blademedic, the Lansky QuadSharp shares the compact form factor but comes loaded with four different carbide slot angles. For those of you who carry a wider range of knives (mainly pertaining to blade thickness), this is a solid option.
The Lansky QuadSharp does away with the diamond rod, but that’s not a huge concern for most of us who don’t carry serrated blades very often. It still comes loaded with an 800 grit ceramic benchstone for hitting small serrations. Just like the BladeMedic, the QuadSharp has a steel chassis, which gives the sharpener a substantial weight and feel.
This one comes in only classic “Ben Blue” that Knafs fans rave about.
Best Build Quality: Lansky Blademedic Knife Sharpener (4-in-1)
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Ah, yes. The Lansky Blademedic… a classic… as well as my first sharpener, which I bought in 2018. It’s a throwback to a simpler time where I knew very little about blade steels and cared a lot less about a mirror polished edge. It was an instant love affair because I could finally sharpen the knives that I had just recently acquired. I was a knife noob, yes, but I was dabbling in Benchmade Griptilians and Spyderco Para 3s. I just couldn’t swallow the price tag of the fancier sharpening systems on the market, at least not yet, so I figured that something was better than nothing. I was right.
The Lansky Blademedic is a no-BS tool. It gives you everything you need and nothing you don’t. It comes loaded with the four main food groups, I mean tool groups: Tungsten Carbide, Ceramic Hone (1,000 Grit), Serrated Knife Sharpener (800 Grit), and a Diamond Tapered Rod (600 Grit).
Pro Tip: The Diamond Rod works great for sharpening gut hooks and serrations. The benchstone is ideal for small serrations.
The first thing that stood out to me on the Lansky Blademedic was its build quality. If not by accident, the steel chassis gives the sharpener a premium feel and slightly more substantial weight (which I prefer). If you’re looking for ultralight, then this may not be the best option. The overall size makes it slightly easier to grip, compared to a few of the other sharpeners.
Fun Fact: This tool still lives in the center console of my vehicle, after six years.
The Best Overall: Work Sharp EDC Pivot PLUS Knife Sharpener
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The Work Sharp EDC Pivot PLUS Knife Sharpener is the most intentionally designed and consistent pull through sharpener that we were able to test. It comes loaded with Work Sharp’s trademarked Convex-Carbide (25 degree), built-in Pivot Response technology, a ceramic honing slot, and a diamond rod. The EDC Pivot Plus also comes with a three-year manufacturer’s warranty, although I don’t think I’ll be needing to use it. For around $10 and weighing in at just 1.2 oz, this pull through sharpener is a no-brainer tool to throw in a backpack, tool box, or pocket.
While out on a 3 day camping trip, I was able to breathe life back into my Benchmade Griptilian. It had been more than a year since I had last sharpened the knife, and man… I found myself struggling to cut paracord guylines for my tarp shelter. Before I go on, I want to clarify that I carry only half-serrated blades when I know I’m going to be cutting a lot of paracord… and maybe for the added nostalgia bonus that it offers. Rest assured, the Work Sharp EDC Pivot Plus got my edge back to paracord-cutting glory. While sitting around the fire, I decided to resharpen the serrations using the diamond rod. It didn’t take too many passes for the 154CM steel to feel noticeably sharper.
The feature that really makes this sharpener stand out from the crowd is Work Sharp’s proprietary Pivot Response system. It’s relatively simple technology, but it truly does make a world of difference when you’re needing to take off material quickly and consistently. The Pivot Response allows the convex carbide to flex and match the curvature of the blade, thereby increasing the material removal for those heavy resharpening sessions. With the flip of a switch, you can deactivate the Pivot Response and lock the convex carbide in place for lighter sharpening sessions.
For the majority of your resharpening tasks, the ceramic honing slot should do the trick. The coarse tapered diamond rod is perfect for touching up serrations and edge tools.
Pro Tip: You can also touch up serrations using the ceramic hone. Start with 3–4 passes and apply light pressure to deburr serrations.
Best Everyday Carry: CRKT Stokes Key Chain Knife Sharpener
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When I first saw this sharpener, I wasn’t convinced. It looked a bit gimmicky with the seat belt cutter, bottle opener and keychain ring. I’ve always been against the people who have a million different keychain gadgets on their car keys… I call it “rats nest car key” syndrome. You know ‘em when you hear ‘em. But, the more I used and carried this CRKT Stokes, the more I began to question where this thing has been my whole life. It’s not often that my opinion will do a complete 360-degree turn. But, hats off to Tom Stokes for designing a pull through sharpener multitool that you can effortlessly carry on a daily basis.
Starting out with its size, the Stokes has an overall length of only 3.38 inches. Even if you decide not to clip this sharpener on your key ring, this thing will ride unnoticed in a backpack or EDC pouch.
Pro Tip: Carry the Stokes in the coin pocket of your jeans or work pants. You won’t know it’s there, so remember to take it out when you do a load of laundry.
After handling all of the other pull through sharpeners on this list, I thought that the Stokes would be the most awkward to use. But, the glass-reinforced nylon scales do a decent job of adding girth to the system. With medium-sized hands, I had no real issue maintaining a steady grip while sharpening. It just requires a bit more conscious effort to not slip up.
If you’re looking for a true EDC knife sharpener that can offer more than just a touch-up, this is the one. You may find yourself using the bottle opener and flathead more than the sharpener itself. The carbide plates do appear to be replaceable, using a torx, but I’m not sure if CRKT would offer a replacement set.
How To Choose A Pull Through Knife Sharpener
To choose the best pull through knife sharpener, you must first come to terms with the fact that there is no such thing as THE perfect tool for every job (although the search never stops). That’s why tool boxes exist. With that out of the way, I’d ask yourself: Can this sharpener solve at least 80% of my on-the-go sharpening needs?
Then, ask yourself how you plan to carry the sharpener. In your pocket… in a backpack… in the car… or on a keychain?
The last questions you should ask yourself are: Do I carry serrated blades? Do I care about multiple edge angles? This will help you narrow it down. After that, the rest lies with your budget and personal preferences.
Consider these questions and give one of the pull through sharpeners on this list a shot!
Why Trust Us
I have tested dozens of different knife sharpening systems, both high-end and budget, over the course of 5+ years. Coming from an online knife dealer job, it was a “necessary evil” to learn the dark arts of resharpening all sorts of blade shapes and steel hardnesses. In addition, I currently own several of the sharpeners on this list. Everything mentioned on this pull through sharpener guide is something that I’d consider using myself.
Final Thoughts
With all of the top-of-the-line sharpening systems on the market, I strongly believe that pull through knife sharpeners will always have their place. Will they give you the most consistent edge angle every time? No. Will my knife’s edge be mirror polished? No. Do I care? No.
The speed at which I can take a knife from dull to hair-cutting sharp is enough for me to carry a pull through sharpener in the center console of my car. What else are you going to do while you wait for your fast food to be delivered to your car window?
Resharpening blades, for most people, is slightly intimidating. Most knife users don’t have the care, time, or money to invest in a solid sharpening system. Funny enough, the guys I know who use their knives the most use pull through sharpeners… just food for thought!
Make dull knives great again. Stop overlooking your favorite knife in the drawer because you’re too lazy to sharpen it. A dull knife is a dangerous knife, so get yourself a pull through sharpener and stop letting Reddit forums decide what an acceptable edge looks like. If you use your knives as tools, like they’re meant to be used, a pull through sharpener will be your best friend.
FAQ’s
Question: How to use a pull through knife sharpener?
Answer: Get a solid grip on the body of the sharpener with your support hand. Start with 3–4 passes on the carbide slot, and then move to the ceramic (if applicable). If the pull through sharpener has a diamond rod, then use the same 3–4 passes approach for each serration. You can also deburr serrations using the ceramic slot and light pressure.
Question: Are pull through knife sharpeners any good?
Answer: Yes. Although they won’t give your knife a mirror-polished edge, pull through knife sharpeners can save the day when you need a working edge in a pinch.
Question: Do pull through knife sharpeners wear out?
Answer: Like any material, carbide and ceramic do wear but at extremely slow rates when compared to the steel on your knife. Most pull-through sharpeners will outlive their owners.
