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Best Hunting Knife Sharpener
A well-known person in history once said, “If anyone gives me six hours to chop a tree down, I’ll utilize my first four hours to make his ax sharper.”
Though these words are older than a decade, it still bears a great significance of a sharp weapon. So, when you’re out there for hunting, a sharp knife is the first and foremost thing that you need to have.
But owing to the lack of proper care, the knives certainly lose their sharpness, and we usually forget to make them sharp before any hunting session. On the other hand, some knives tend to lose their sharpness on the field, at the time of skinning, and that’s literally the most annoying thing, isn’t it? So, it’s crucial to take a hunting knife sharpening kit, in case if your knife has lost its sharpness.
Knives in every shape and size are usable, but practically they’re worthless if they are not sharp enough. This is why maintaining the sharpness of a knife is an essential thing. Besides, it’s irritating to use a dull knife, which ends up making the hunt more difficult. These are also less secure and more difficult to control, which can lead you to some accidental wounds may. In fact, skinning an animal has never been perfect with a dull blade; nobody ever effectively did that.
Sharpening the knives is not as hard as you’re thinking right now, especially if you’ve got the best hunting knife sharpener. So, let’s take you to a review of them and make things more clear for you.
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Reviews of the Best Hunting Knife Sharpener
Smith’s sharpeners are usually a renowned one for their versatility and, of course, the usability. So, if you can bring the Smith’s CCKS sharpener for hunting, you never have to worry about a dull knife again. Well, most of the knife owners prefer a suitable angle for holding their knives precisely at the time of sharpening. The Smith has mainly targeted this point and engineered their sharpener in an innovative way to make the task easier and enable you with a trouble-free process. Actually, this is the secret behind Smith’s this much popularity which tend us to put it at the top of our review list. Let’s discuss it more.
The compact design of this sharpener has made it utterly light-weight that weighs only 1.5 ounces. The sharpener is relatively easy to control because of this and does not cover much storage along with your hunting equipment.
Besides, the handles of this sharpener are made of durable plastic material that comes in an ergonomic design. This is why the sharpener is capable of withstanding all the harsh situations while hunting. And the innovative design (as stated above), won’t let your hand catch any sort of blisters or hand fatigue. So, you can make your blades sharp whenever you need and enjoy the sharped edges of your blade. Honestly, if you’re looking for the best outdoor knife sharpener, you can consider Smith’s CCKS as one of them.
Pros
- Innovative design
- Easy to use
- 100% slip resistance
- Durable construction
- Versatile
- Relatively safe
- Ergonomically designed handle
Cons
- Can catch rust in time
Whenever you look for something enhanced for field sharpening solution, the first thing that any expert will suggest is the Work Sharp knife sharpener. It’s because this sharpener has a compact design for a complete sharpening solution. The size of this sharpener will easily fit inside your pocket and offers its usability wherever you go.
This sharpener is featured with three unique stages of sharpening system, namely diamond plates, ceramic rods, and a leather strop. This means you will get a complete and premium quality sharpening solution from every angle. Let’s see what else it can provide.
The sharpener provides a fast, simple, and consistent sharpening system for your knives and all sorts of hunting equipment. Its diamond plate is quick enough, but if you want to accomplish the task quicker, you can easily remove it and expose a broadhead wrench. Thus you’ll be able to increase the speed of sharpening even if you’re in the middle of your hunting.
Moreover, its diamond plate has a 20-degree and 25-degree angle guide for horning. So, you won’t have to struggle to get a perfect angle while sharpening. Apart from that, it has a durable construction to maintain the sharpest edge in every situation, and that won’t require you any additional tools for that.
Pros
- Pocket design
- Light-weight
- Three specific plates for sharpening
- Consistent blade angles
- Maintains sharp edges while hunting
- Durable
Cons
- The strop has zero compounds on it
We have got another sharpener from Smiths. This one offers a two-stage sharpening system; you can either pull your knives through the coarse or the smooth surface and get a perfect finish whenever needed. In fact, if you’ve got a hunting knife of straight edge, nothing will be as ideal as the Smith’s 50185.
Its compact size and usability have made it suitable for taking into any field operation. That’s why Smith’s 50185 has also acquired a good position among the best field knife sharpeners.
The sharpener comes with a unique design that might look a bit strange to you. But do you know this type of design has made it more efficient and extremely comfortable to hold? With the help of its design, you’ll be able to acquire maximum grip while sharpening your knives or any other hunting tools.
Another usability of its design is that you can easily hang it with your backpack whenever you wish to take it to your thrilling adventurous trip. Besides, the sharpener comes with durable construction of the highest quality material. So, it’ll be sturdy enough to withstand all the extreme situations.
Pros
- Constructed with high-quality material
- Versatile
- Unique and comfortable design
- Two-stage of sharpening
- Offers a perfect finish
- Can be easily hung with the backpack
Cons
- A little unstable
- They aren’t suitable for sharpening the scissors
Right after that, we’ve got the Lansky QuadSharp QSHARP. With the help of this all-in-one sharpener, you can easily sharpen all sorts of knives. Yes, you heard that right; it can perform the sharpening process over a bunch of knives because the sharpener is built on a ceramic polishing bench stone. This stone is genuinely one of the best sharpening stone for hunting knives with outstanding capabilities. Besides, it has a multi-angle feature that accommodates every angle precisely. Thus, you’ll get the maximum amount of versatility and make your knives sharper from every angle.
This sharpener supports multiple pulls through the system with both of its multiple diamonds and traditional stone. You just have to pull your knives through the slots up to 3-4 times, and with that, your knife will be shiny as new with a razor-sharp bevel. In addition, you can also reshape your damaged blades with the help of its polishing bench stone. Isn’t that great?
Its versatility has made it a perfect accessory available in the market. In fact, the best part of this sharpener is that it can be easily fitted inside of your pocket because of its smaller size. So, if you’re looking for the best pocket knife sharpener, you can try this one out.
Pros
- Comes at an affordable price
- Compact design
- Light-weight
- Robust
- Versatile
- Multi-angle knife sharpening system
Cons
- There’s no base
- Not suitable for sharpening ceramic knives
Maybe you’re looking for something quick and innovative that can make the knives sharpen automatically. Then you won’t be satisfied with the above products due to its manual functionality. It’s true that if you’ve to sharpen your knife manually, it’ll require some time. And maybe you wouldn’t like to wait until that time.
Well, then we’ve chosen the Work Sharp Combo Knife Sharpener only for you. The tool is entirely designed and engineered by the hard-working Americans, and that’s why it has the maximum amount of speed of sharpening that can easily beat others.
Hunters usually face a significant problem while sharpening the jagged edges of the knives. It’s because most of the sharpeners fail to provide them with such support. But if you bring this one for sharpening the knives of yours, you’ll get the versatility to sharpen all sorts of edges, including the jagged one, and give your knife a perfect finish for a long time.
The sharpener is featured with abrasive belts and ceramic hone, and with the combination of these two features, you’ll get long-lasting cutting edges. In case if you require changing the belt, this machine will allow you to do that easily. You can do that only with your bare hands. If you’re looking for the best electric knife sharpener for hunting knives, you can include this one in your checklist.
Pros
- Quicker than others in this list
- Fixed sharpening guide with flexible abrasive belt
- Versatile
- Provides fine and long-lasting sharpness
- Engineered by the Americans
- Extremely versatile
Cons
- The belt is small and moves slowly sometimes
It looks like Smith’s products are taking over the knife sharpening market. The sharpeners of Smith have undoubtedly obtained a significant amount of popularity; this is why we couldn’t ignore this product from including in our list. It is the handiest sharpeners available in the present market. And the versatility of this particular sharpener will sharpen not only your knives but also the scissors and other accessories whenever you need it.
The sharpener is specially designed in a V shape, and the benefits of this type of design have enabled the sharpener with more excellent usability. You’ll get the perfect sharpness of your knife from all angles. So, take your knife and just use 3 to 4 strokes, your hunting knife will become as sharpen as you’ve always desired to have. It’s that simple.
Besides, the integrated carbide blades are way more accurate for précised usage. Only with minimal effort it can provide you with sharper edges that others will fail to deliver. And the good thing about this sharpener is that these blades are reversible and can be easily replaceable, which makes the product safer to use. For an extra-fine finish, there will be ceramic coating too. So, use it on whatever you prefer, whenever you like.
Pros
- Handiest knife sharpener
- Performs quick operations
- Safe and easy to use
- Versatile
- Replaceable carbide blades
- Provides guaranteed results
Cons
- Not durable enough
- Poor construction
Next, we’ve got the ALPHA TEK Pocket Hunting Knife Sharpener. This one comes with a good combination of quality, convenience, and size to provide the required amount of support for the hunters. Besides, the ergonomic design of the tool is also suitable for novice persons. Let’s see what else it can provide.
The sharpener is integrated with a crossed carbide blades that deliver a quick edge setting whenever you’re going to sharpen your knives. Moreover, it has crossed ceramic rods which will allow you to ensure a razor-sharp edge of your knives.
As you can see, the product is particularly named by pocket knife sharpener, but its usability has crossed that limit. This sharpener is suitable for almost every knife blades out there. The device is extremely easy to operate and lets you re-sharpen your knives quicker than ever. Particularly, if you’re looking for the best pocket knife sharpening system, you can try this one out.
Another useful thing about this sharpener is its non-skid base. Because of that, the sharpener remains stable during every sharpening operation. This means there remains no chance of getting injured through this sharpener.
Pros
- Easy to operate
- Quickly re-sharpens the blades
- Non-skid base
- Provides stable sharpening
- Can be hung on a backpack
- Perfect for almost all sorts of blades
Cons
- The guideposts are not wide enough to accommodate all sorts of knives
- Some of the customers complained about its packaging system
The quality and consistency of KME sharpener have earned vast popularity from several customers. And after reading this review, you’ll definitely become a part of them. The product comes with four different surfaces for horning. With the help of that, you’ll be able to tailor your blade until revealing the sharpest point of your knives.
Besides, you’ll be able to sharpen all kinds of stuff to a new standard of perfection with its four-diamond hones in the 4 Gold sequence KME. These are available in 300 coarse, 140 extra coarse, 600 fine, and 1500 special fine grades. You’ll get all of them with a single purchase of this particular sharpener.
The sharpener comes with a mounting base which will offer you the maximum amount of safety during every operation. So, you won’t have to worry about anything that is related to injuries. In addition, you’ll get a compact carrying case with the device, and that’s why carrying the whole thing will be relatively easier than others.
In case if you prefer manual adjustment of the mounting system, the device will also allow you to do that easily. For being loaded with all the required features, the KME precision has stood out among this list of the best hunting knife sharpener.
Pros
- Four different horning surfaces
- KME system
- Efficient knife sharpener
- Includes a compact carrying case
- High quality made
- Adjustable mounting system
Cons
- Sometimes it puts scratches on the blades
- Relatively slow
Remember the Alpha Tek knife sharpener that we’ve discussed before. We’ve got another one similar to that one. It’s the Hoffman Richter HR-1 pocket knife sharpener, and it has got all those specific features to compete with others out there. The product is specifically designed to hone your knife perfectly and provide you with a razor-sharp edge every time. Now, your old knife can be transformed into a fully working machete within a couple of minutes by using this sharpener.
The light-weight and compact design of this sharpener will allow you to take wherever you want. You won’t have to sacrifice a bunch of space for that. You can even hang it outside of your backpack. But don’t think that a light-weight product wouldn’t be tough enough for sharpening.
This product is featured with tungsten carbide rods and ceramic finishing rods. The first one is useful for re-sharpening the blades, and the second one will enable the blades with a perfect finish. You just have to add a few strokes to accomplish the whole process.
Above all, the manufacturer of this device will offer all these features with a lifetime warranty so that you’ll be able to obtain a secure investment.
Pros
- Specifically designed to hone the knives
- Tungsten carbide rods
- Ceramic finishing rods
- Ultra-light design
- Lifetime guarantee
Cons
- Some of the customers complained that it came without instructions
Well, we’re about to end our review list. But as always, last but not the least. We’re ending our list with the Boker 09DX003. Its features and capabilities are has made it the best electric hunting knife sharpener out there. This particular product can easily re-sharpen all types of hunting blades. Unlike others in this list, the sharpness from this product in your knife will remain a long time. It creates a razor-sharp edge with a long lifespan so that you won’t require sharpening your knife regularly.
The sharpener may seem to have a complex structure, right? Well, there’s nothing to be worried about that, you’ll have no complication while using this machine. It is extremely easy to use, and for making it easier, the manufacturer will provide you with manuals and guides.
The sharpener is equipped with flexible belts for sharpening the edges of your knives accurately. Moreover, you will also get a carrying bag with the product for ensuring easy transportation of it. This means you can take it to your preferred place and use it as your favorite camping knife sharpener.
Pros
- Sharpens all types of knife blades
- Equipped with an abrasive belt kit
- Includes a carrying bag and precision guide manuals
- Keeps the blades of your knife in a razor-sharp condition for a long time
Cons
- The product is relatively loud
- Users have to be a bit careful as the fastness of the machine can damage the blades
The Best Hunting Knife Sharpener-Buying Guide
Now that you’ve come this far, let’s discuss some key features based on which we have picked the above products. Let’s dive in!!
Types
There are several categories of hunting knife sharpeners on the market, but usually, the stone and portable types are preferable by most of the users. If you want to use a sharpener in your house, it is best to choose the form of stone because it is sensible. Nonetheless, a convenient and helpful form is recommended when you think about buying a sharpener that you are going to take it with you.
Size
This sharpener’s size must be taken into account when you’re a regular user of this device. If you want to purchase a sharpener for your outdoor adventures, our list includes the best hunting knife sharpener. So, it’ll be better if you make your choice from there.
Efficiency
There are different types of sharpeners out there, which yield decent performance and require further time to sharpen the knife. In contrast to that, some of the sharpeners are available, which only requires four to five strokes to accomplish the whole sharpening process. You should think about how often you need to sharpen the knife. It will definitely be a good decision to use it regularly while choosing a resource with minimal efforts. So, make sure to use an effective sharpener when you’re looking for the best hunting knife sharpener.
Angle
It is worth noting that various kinds of knives must be sharpened at various angles. Sharpening the traditional US and European knives at a 17 ° angle will be perfect. And if you’ve got a Japanese knife, it needs to be sharpened at a 20-degree angle. It is, therefore, essential to ensure that you have a suitable slurry angle on your knife sharpener. Particularly, useful models with an adjustable grinding angle. However, if you want to avoid mistakes, you need to buy the best hunting knife sharpener.
FAQ
What is the best knife sharpener for hunting?
Honestly, it’s literally hard to tell a particular sharpener best. But the Smith’s CCKS 2-Step Knife Sharpener is the best overall because of its outstanding and capabilities features. However, the other items on our list are also the best in one way or another.
Can you ruin a knife by sharpening it?
A knife can hardly be ruined while sharpening because of its metal construction. Sharpening a knife neither makes the metal fragile, nor it’ll wear the blades even if you put the maximum amount of your strength.
How many times should you run a knife through a sharpener?
It generally depends on the type of sharpener you’re using. If you’ve got a high-quality knife sharpener, you can make your knife sharpen with 3-4 strokes only.
Do you push or pull when sharpening a knife?
Never pull or drag your edge backward; it can cause significant damage to the knife. Every stroke should be done by facing the same direction.
Conclusion
Forget the annoying situations of skinning with a dull knife. Just bring the best hunting knife sharpener and bring your dull knife back to life again so, if you’ve already purchased one, from now on and make sure to pack the best knife sharpening system with all other equipment before sorting out for hunting. Stay safe, and enjoy the hunt.