Knife Sharpener

[Darrell]

While at the gun show today, I ran across a dapper looking gent selling the Warthog V-Sharp knife sharpener. He offered to sharpen my knife (a Benchmade folder), and had a good enough spiel that I let him demonstrate for me. It's a bizarre looking contraption, almost 19th century in appearance:

http://www.warthogsharp.com/

It has a guide you hold one side of the blade against, then slide the blade down/through a spring loaded Vee to sharpen against diamond coated rods. It did okay, I guess, though the grit rod he used was a 325, I think, I'd have preferred something a bit finer. He certainly had the act down, after he sharpened and honed my knife he used it to shave the print off the surface of a piece of paper, and then held the blade edge up as he pushed a small piece of paper against the edge, splitting it. The demos reminded me of various sales gimmicks, like the oil additive ones showing oil "webbing" between gears, etc. Sure it's sharp, though it was sharp before I gave it to him. It doesn't feel scary sharp against my thumb or thumbnail, though.

I usually use a DMT Duosharp we have at work to sharpen my knife, or a smaller Smith diamond "stone" I have at home. I'm not a fan of most of the Vee type sharpeners, though this one was an interesting little gizmo. What's everybody like in a sharpener?

[drice]

I use a Lansky system with very good results. It's a bit labor intensive, and 1 time I allowed myself to get distracted, and ended up slicing myself pretty good...but I deserved it.

[First Shirt]

I like the set that DMT sells, four stones in a little roll-up case, but I added a piece of 3/8 tungsten carbide drill rod for finishing up. Since I abhor, despise, and really don't like serrated edges, this little set-up works fine for me.

FWIW, JMHO, YMMV, IRRDU (other caveats as required)

[Frankingun]

For now, I just use an old two sided synthetic stone my grandfather gave me. I need something for serrations though...

[Denis]

That warthog sharpener is like a fancier (i.e. adjustable) version of the Boeker Vulcanus system. I have a big Vulcanus in the kitchen - the chef's knives get a pass through it before going back in the block, and the pocket version for travel. I really like them both.

[SeekHer]

Check out the differnet ones in Knife Sharpeners in this Forum or in the W I K I...

[Moose]

So, how much was it and does it seem worth it? I have seen them at fun shows here but never paid much attention to them.

[308Mike]

I've been using my Spyderco Tri-Angle ceramic sharpening rods (a V-type setup with brass protection rods) for decades, and have put razor sharp edges on my knives including my Cutco knives. I haven't needed to use it on my Dexter-Russell serrated knives yet (they just stay wickedly sharp), but it works GREAT on all my straight edge knives (and scissors too).

[Darrell]

So, how much was it and does it seem worth it? I have seen them at fun shows here but never paid much attention to them.

The wood base model was around $92 or so, IIRC. The stone base model was a little more. Worth it? I think it's overly complicated, and the steel honing rods are detachable, which means they're losable. It'd make a good curio for the mantel or bookshelf.

[HTRN]

For that kind of money, I'd skip it and get a Chef's Choice 130 Knife sharpener. Does a good job on most kitchen knives.


HTRN