Best Pocket Knife Sharpeners For A Razors Edge On The Go

When it comes to sharpening a knife, you’ve gotta separate fact from fiction.

Or you may end up with a blade that’s duller than a butter knife.

So, let’s dive in and cut through the nonsense…

Myth #1: “Any Sharpener Will Do”

Not all sharpeners are created equal!

There’s a whole bunch of ’em out there – from whetstones to honing rods, and even those cheap gizmos you see on late-night infomercials.

The truth is, the right sharpener depends on your knife type.

You wouldn’t use a sledgehammer to hang a picture, right?

Well, the same goes for sharpeners.

So, do your homework and choose the right tool for the job.

Myth #2: “A Sharp Knife Is a Dangerous Knife”

You’ve probably heard this one before –

“A dull knife is safer because you won’t cut yourself!”

Well, let me tell you, that’s hogwash.

A dull knife requires more force to cut.

Which increases the chances of it slipping and causing an accident.

A sharp knife, on the other hand, bites into what you’re cutting.

This makes it more predictable and controlled.

So, keep that blade sharp and stay safe out there!

Myth #3: “More Pressure Equals Sharper Blade”

I’ve seen folks out there putting all their might into sharpening their knives.

They “think” more pressure means a sharper blade.

Wrong!

Excessive pressure can actually damage your blade.

Instead, focus on the right technique and maintain a consistent angle.

That’s the secret to a wickedly sharp edge.

Myth #4: “Sharpening Removes a Lot of Material”

People worry that sharpening their knives will eat away at their blade.

Well, let me set the record straight – a good sharpening session only removes a minimal amount of material.

You’re not gonna turn your trusty pocket knife into a toothpick.

So, don’t be afraid to touch up that edge when it needs it.

Myth #5: “Once Sharp, Always Sharp”

Here’s the kicker – even a perfectly sharpened knife won’t stay sharp forever.

Over time, with regular use, that edge will dull.

It’s just a fact of life.

So, don’t think you can sharpen your blade once and be good to go forever.

Make knife maintenance a regular part of your routine.

That way, you’ll always have a reliable cutting tool at your side.

In this section, we’ll look at the highest-rated compact sharpeners:

There are a few qualities that every good sharpener should have.

First and foremost, you want to make sure it lasts.

Make sure you can rely on the sharpener to do its job when the time comes.

There are a lot of options that wear out quickly or fail to put a real edge on a blade.

A useful survival sharpener needs to be lightweight.

The most prominent reason whetstones are not more popular is because they are heavy.

So you’ve bought yourself a new knife sharpener.

Cool. Now what?

You’ve got all these dull or damaged blades, and now you have the necessary tool to hone those edges.

But how in the hell do you put it all together?

Lucky for you, sharpening a blade is pretty easy, especially if you are using one of those fancy modern pocket sharpeners listed above.

So here is the rundown:

With A Sharpener

1. First, you use the diamond-coated rod.

Run your blade along the rod at an even 15-20 degree angle.

Make sure that you maintain a steady angle as you run along the blade, evenly sharpening every inch of the edge.

2. Next, run the edge through the tungsten blades affixed to the sharpener.

This is easy.

Just set the base of the blade in the tungsten niche and draw it back through the metal pieces.

The tungsten should squeeze the edges of your blade and sharpen them significantly with only a few passes.

3. Finally, do precisely the same thing as you did in step #2, but with the ceramic sharpener.

Ceramics is finer than tungsten.

This step fine-tunes the edge of the blade, polishing them to a near-perfect edge.

With A Whetstone

1. Wet your whetstone.

Dunk it, soak it, and make sure it’s sopping wet.

Then set it out on a flat surface on top of a dish rag (or your fancy bamboo non-slip base).

Continually re-apply water as you’re sharpening your blade.

2. Start with the coarse-grit side of the stone.

Run the blade along the whetstone at a consistent 15-20 degree angle.

Start at the tip of the blade and draw it back towards you, gently moving along the length of the blade to its base.

Apply light pressure as you do so.

Do not go overboard.

You probably do not need to run the blade over the whetstone more than a few times.

Unless it’s significantly dull or you’re trying to rub out some blade damage.

3. Turn the knife over and do the same thing.

4. Turn your whetstone over to its fine side.

Repeat the same process with both sides of the blade’s edge to finely hone your knife.

5. Rinse off the whetstone and clean off any grinding residue.

6. Wash the blades in hot water.

But what if you don’t have anything? No pocket sharpener, no whetstone; nothing?

How do you sharpen a knife, then?

Stay calm; you can still keep your blade razor sharp.

It just might take a little extra work and some ingenuity.

There are a few common resources that you can use to achieve the same purpose.

Ceramic Mug

Get your hands on a mug, and flip it upside down.

Make sure that you can see a ring around the base of the mug of bare ceramic; that’s your makeshift pocket knife sharpener.

Make sure it is wet, and draw the blade along that ring at a 15-20 degree angle the same way you would with a whetstone.

This technique should sharpen your knife relatively well.

It might not be perfect or the most efficient way of sharpening a blade, but it will do in a pinch.

An upside-down ceramic plate will also work.

↓ How To Sharpen A Knife With A Coffee Cup

Riverstone

Find a stone that comfortably fits your hand and has a relatively flat side.

Riverstones work best for this; the finer grain of the stone is, the better.

Make sure the stone is wet (as always).

Hold the stone in one hand and your knife in the other.

Now draw the blade back along the stone at a 15-20 degree angle.

This process may take longer than it usually would with a whetstone or a diamond-coated sharpening rod.

But it will eventually get the job done.

Different rocks will work better or worse, depending on their geologic makeup.

So, try a few different ones to get the best bang for your buck.

↓ How To Sharpen A Knife With A Rock

Leather Belt

Technically this will not sharpen the blade so much as to make it keener and straighten out its edge.

But it will generally make a knife more effective.

Run the knife away from the cutting edge, along the inside of the belt, like a barber sharpening a straight razor.

Be sure that the belt you are using does not have any stitching, or you might ruin it.

Sandpaper

This stuff is cheap to buy, and you can find it in just about any garage.

Start with a coarser grit to get the initial sharpening and a finer one for the polishing off.

You can wrap the sandpaper around a wooden block and make yourself a poor man’s whetstone.

↓ Sharpening On Sandpaper

Vehicle Window

A car window’s rough, rounded edges make for a tremendous honing tool.

And there will always be an abundance of cars lying around.

Just roll the window halfway down and draw your knife’s blade along the edge of the window.

This makeshift sharpener will allow you to hone your blade to be razor-sharp.

↓ Best Knife Sharpener In The World – Car Window

Another Knife

Remember, steel sharpens steel!

So if you’re hurting for items you can use to sharpen a knife, you can use another knife.

Use the spine of another knife just like you would a whetstone and draw your dull blade along it at an angle.

Final Thoughts