The 10 Best Hunting Knife Sharpeners – Check Our Top Picks!

Sharp knives are safer than dull ones. A study conducted by the University of Rochester Medical Center shows that dull blades slip with great force behind them because they require more pressure to cut. Therefore, it’s always essential to ensure that the knife you’re using is sharp and efficient.

Luckily, there are many different types of knife sharpeners specifically designed for different kinds of knives and blade styles. Here are the 10 best hunting knife sharpeners.

Top 10 Best Hunting Knife Sharpeners

1. AccuSharp 001C Knife Sharpener

AccuSharp knife sharpener is one of the most reliable, versatile, and affordable knife sharpeners available in the market. It is designed for safe and daily use and made of durable materials to ensure efficient use.

AccuSharp knife sharpener comes with replacement blades and is suitable for a wide variety of cutting tools from garden tools to kitchen knives. It is relatively small and you can easily take it with you while camping or traveling.

Crafted from diamond-honed tungsten carbide, AccuSharp 001C knife sharpener is durable, reliable and highly efficient. The sharpeners are also resistant to rust and corrosion, which means that they can be cleaned effortlessly in the dishwasher or with soap and water. When properly used and maintained, the blades will last between 5 and 10 years.

AccuSharp 001C knife sharpener features a full-length finger guard and a large, ergonomic handle for safe use.

The sharpener comes with two blades that can be interchanged or reversed to enhance its lifespan.

Pros:

• The sharpening process is mess-free because it does not require oil lubricant, and is reasonably priced
• Easy-to-use ergonomic design
• Ideal for serrated knives

Cons

• The single-stage sharpener does not work on chisel-style blades

Ideal for both left and right-handed users, this knife sharpener offers excellent versatility due to its design. It also fits nicely in hand to ensure swift, effortless, and sharpening for any double-edge blade.

2. Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone

Made from aluminum oxide, this whetstone knife sharpening stone is ideal for sharpening all kinds of blades, knives, woodworking tools, scissors, and cutlery. In addition to the sharpening stone, this superior bundle also includes an eBook, a non-slip bamboo base, and a sharpening angle guide. Non-slip bamboo base hand-made base keeps the stone in check.

The kit includes a sharpening angle and safety guide that allows you to maintain the correct angle while sharpening different kinds of blades. It also comes with an eBook that contains techniques and style, tips and tricks, and an easy-to-understand instruction manual.

This water-based sharpener is made from premium aluminum oxide, which is extremely durable. This knife sharpening stone has two sides of 1000 and 6000 grit.

Pros:

• Oil-free sharpening process
• Easy to use, clean, and store
• Ideal even for beginners

Cons:

• Requires regular resurfacing and flattening

The sharp pebble knife sharpening bundle is safe to use because the non-slip base holds the stone firmly in position while you’re using it. It is also easy to use as you simply have to soak the stone in water for a few minutes before sharpening your blades.

3. Spyderco Tri-Angle Premium Sharpmaker Set

This manual V-type knife sharpening system is designed to accommodate a wide range of objects (both serrated and plain). The system comes with two sets of ceramic stones, which include two stones with a fine-grit for polishing or finishing and two stones with a medium grit designed for sharpening dull objects.

Spyderco Tri-Angle sharpener is extremely versatile and ideal for sharpening a wide variety of sporting and personal knives, scissors, serrated knives, and pointed objects (such as darts and fish hooks). This system has everything needed to sharpen any kind of pointed tool or edge in just a few minutes.

Two preset ceramic sharpening angles make the sharpening process easy and quick. The system includes a DVD that teaches users how to sharpen virtually any type of tool.

Pros:

• Safe and easy to use
• Exceptionally versatile
• Good for both right and left-handed users
• Water or lubricant required.
• Compact storage system
• Moderately priced

Cons:

• Ceramic stones break easily if dropped.

Although mastering the technique for sharpening every type of tool and blade takes effort and time, SpyDecro Tri-Angle Sharpmaker Sharpener Set has proven to be quite versatile as it will sharpen just about anything once you figure out how it works.

4. KME Precision Knife Sharpener

The kit features a typical stone kit with a spring knob, bearing rod guide, angle adjustment scale and knob, stainless steel guide knob, stone retainer, blade reference lines, and cherry wood grip.

The four sharpening stones are each for extra coarse, coarse, medium, and fine grit for different sharpening needs. The hardwood pistol grip is crafted with finger grooves for control, safety, and comfort.

The cleaning cloth and 1 oz. water bottle enhances convenience, especially for outdoor enthusiasts. The case ensures easy and convenient storage of all items.

Blade measurement reference lines and angle adjustment knob. These reference lines ensure accuracy and efficiency while sharpening different types of knives and blades.

Pros:

• Ideal for knives that have serrations and gut hook
• Easy to use
• Efficient

Cons:

• Needs the practice to sharpen knives and other tools at a constant angle

This knife sharpener is ideal for hard-to-sharpen blades such as serrated knives.

5. Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener

Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener is ideal for both field and home applications. You can easily keep it in your go-bag, toolbox, quad, or boat. It is designed for outdoor enthusiasts and sportsmen who want a complete, versatile, and compact sharpening tool while on the go.

The package includes 1 fine (600 grit) plate for sharpening and one coarse (220 grit) plate for repairing and shaping. Each plate measures 4″ x 1″.

Ceramic rods it features an excellent grit serration sharpener and a 3-position ceramic rod that incorporates fine grit, coarse grit, and fish hook honing sides. The leather strop kit guarantees a razor-sharp edge.

Pros:

• All-in-one unit
• Includes foolproof guides
• Reasonably priced
• Light and small enough to fit in a hunting bag
• Easy to use

Cons:

• Awkward for longer knives

The Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener is exceptionally versatile since you can use the removable plate holder to sharpen tools like axes.

6. SunrisePro Supreme Knife Sharpener

SunrisePro Supreme Knife Sharpener is ideal for sharpening blades to your desired extent and precision. It mounts securely on a countertop or a table, hence eliminating slip accidents.

It turns dull knives and blades sharp in just 3 swipes. The SunrisePro Supreme Knife sharpener turns dull blades sharp in a matter of seconds. It is ideal for butcher knives, chef knives, pocket knives, hunting knives, and more.

This knife sharpener is easy to use as it simply requires you to calibrate the point and ass a precision edge to the knife. The ergonomic safety handle, top side suction pad, and non-slip rubber base provide stability without risk of jabbing, slipping or sliding. Its compact size makes it easy to store even in a small kitchen drawer.

Pros:

• Affordable and easy to use
• Sharpens blades in just a few strokes
• The suction pad removes the risk of injury.
• The compact shape makes it easy to store
• Works great for a wide variety of knives including steak knives and Asian knives

Cons:

• Except for fine-toothed serrated knives

Besides being easy to use, SunshinePro Supreme Sharpener features a suction seal that eliminates the risk of injury. It is also easy to remove from your counter or table when not in use.

7. Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener

The Ken Onion Knife and Tool Sharpener is a high-quality sharpening system that can sharpen various types of blades from straight to curved ones, serrated knives, tanto blades, gut hooks, fillet knives, garden shears, scissors, and shovels.

This hand-held sharpener is equipped with five abrasive belts that are useful for different purposes. The X65 Coarse and P120 Extra Coarse belts are used to repair very dull or damaged blades and tools.

The sharpener comes with angle adjustment (15 to 30 degrees) to handle different types of tools and blades. This allows you to sharpen each blade according to its bevel. The user’s guide makes this knife and the sharpener easy to use even for beginners. The Ken Onion Knife Sharpener comes with variable speed control which allows you to vary the motor speed by simply adjusting the speed control knob.

The lock switch feature allows you to run the motor hands-free (without holding on to the trigger switch). The 6000 extra fine belt is ideal for polishing the blade for a razor-sharp edge.

The sharpening cassette can be easily adjusted to sharpen different styles of blades, other than regular kitchen knives. The sharpening cassette can also be removed to swap attachments and to ease cleaning.

Pros:

• Simple, compact, and portable design
• Sturdy and durable (made from cast steel)
• Extremely versatile
• Adjustable speed (from 1200 to 2800 SMF)
• Axes nicks and dings in the edge very quickly

Cons:

• Light hand biased
• Quite expensive

The Ken Onion knife is not only a great knife and tool sharpener, but its durability, quality, and features are second to none.

8. Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone

This whetstone knife sharpener is ideal for honing and sharpening things like scissors, dental tools, ice skates, nail clippers, and drill bits. And all types of knives including butcher knives, fillet knives, pocket or folding knives, buck or hunting knives, and survival or tactical knives.

The non-slip base is designed for extra comfort and height while using the sharpener. The angle guide helps users get used to the correct blade sharpening angle.

To help remove the mystery of using this sharpener, the package includes easy-to-follow PDF guides and instructional videos for easy and fast learning.

Pros:

• Sharpens and fine-tunes different types of blades, including large knives
• Perfect gift for professional chefs and home cooks
• Oil-free sharpening process
• Premium quality (Made from high-quality Aluminum Oxide)
• Easy clean-up process

Cons:

• Bamboo can develop cracks or mildew if wet

This two-sided knife sharpener set is designed to keep all your knives sharp so that no one gets frustrated or hurt.

9. Chef’s Choice 15 Trizor Professional Electric Knife Sharpener

This professional electric knife sharpener prolongs the life of knives with a 15-degree arch-shaped edge. The triple-bevel arch-shaped edge also resists dulling longer than v-shaped edges. The flexible stropping disks and 3-stage sharpening process further help to extend the life of quality knives by sharpening edges with minimum metal removal.

Chef’s Choice 15 Trizor XV EdgeSelect Professional Knife Sharpener is ideal for converting conventional 20-degree edges into high-performance 15-degree edges.

The 3-stage sharpening system guarantees optimum versatility by providing the ultimate sharpness for different cutting tasks: features 100% diamond abrasives and an advanced stropping stage for sharpening both serrated and straight blades. This is the best electric knife sharpener that is easy to use and it ensures the perfect edge for effortless cutting.

Pros:

• Extremely versatile as it sharpens both specialized (serrated) and utility (fine-edged) knives.
• Easy to use and operate
• The advanced stropping stage that realigns, straightens, and polishes the cutting edge
• Ideal for converting 20-degree edge angles into 15-degree edge angles
• Sharpens both double and single bevel edge knives
• Features three different sharpening guide slots

Cons:

• Best for small knives
• They are producing 20-degree edges.

Chef’s Choice Trizor XV knife sharpener is versatile and well-designed to enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of your kitchen while keeping your knives sharp.

10. Smith’s 50185 Jiffy-Pro Handheld Sharpener

Smith’s Jiffy-Pro is simple, safe, dependable, and easy to use in your home, in the field, or even while camping.

The soft grip rubber handle ensures a firm and comfortable grip while using the sharpener. Its sharpening slots are equipped with crossed carbide blades designed to set the edge on the blades.

Equipped with crossed ceramic rods ensures the blade is honed to razor sharpness. High-quality abrasives provide a sharp cutting edge with 3 – 4 pulls. The preset sharpening angles provide guaranteed results whenever you use the sharpener.

Pros:

• Designed for home and field use
• Safe, quick, and easy to use
• The large slot in the handle accommodates game shears and scissors.
• Easily attaches to belt or backpack
• Lightweight
• Compact and ergonomic

Cons:

• Somewhat flimsy construction

Although this sharpener is not designed for use with serrated edges, it can be used for the vast majority of knives and scissors that are commonly used at home.

Best Hunting Knife Sharpener: Complete Guide

The wide range of knife sharpeners can make it difficult to find the right sharpener for your specific need and experience level. This knife sharpener buying guide will help you choose the best hunting knife sharpener for your situation, so you can keep your tools sharp and your activities running safely and efficiently.

Types of knife sharpeners

There are many various types of knife sharpeners for creating and maintaining a sharp edge on knife blades and other tools. These include electric sharpeners, sharpening steels, sharpening stones, and handheld sharpeners.

Electric knife sharpeners

Most electric knife sharpeners use a 2 or 3 step blade sharpening process for sharpening and honing edges. They also come with guides that allow users to get the correct sharpening angle. This has made electric sharpeners very popular because they help simplify the precise process of sharpening tools.

Handheld knife sharpeners

Although handheld sharpeners tend to be limited by having fewer sharpening slots, they also help simplify the knife sharpening task. One of the main advantages of handheld sharpeners is their portability. Moreover, their manual operating method and small size make them perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and cooking professionals who travel regularly.

Sharpening stones

Knife sharpening stones are usually made of silicon carbide (crystolon stone), Novaculite (Arkansas stone), or aluminum oxide (India stone).

Aluminum oxide is better suited for fine sharpening and silicon carbide is ideal for initial coarse sharpening.

Honing/Sharpening steels

Although sharpening steels are primarily designed for honing knife blades, certain styles or cuts can also do minor sharpening. The most common cuts are diamond, regular, ceramic, and combination.

Serrated knife sharpeners

The shape of coarse blades makes them difficult to sharpen with stones, and most regular sharpeners (both electric and manual) can easily damage serrated knives if used with them. However, some knife sharpeners can accommodate serrated edges, so it’s always important to check the product description before buying.

Factors to Consider When Buying a Knife Sharpener

Performance

The sharpener should produce a consistently smooth, keen edge without any scratches or nicks in it.

Grit

Grit depends on how abrasive the surface is. A coarse grit (less than 1000 grit for Japanese water stones) is ideal for damaged blades that have chips or nicks. Medium grit (1000 – 3000 grit) should be used on dull blades that are not damaged. Lastly, fine grit (labeled as 4000 to 8000 grit) is very similar to honing steel and is perfect for refining the knife’s edge.

An accurate angle guide

Some knife sharpeners require a bit of practice to hold the blade at the perfect angle, while others make it easy even for experienced users.

The best adjustable angle guides accommodate several blade angles, especially the most common angles for regular kitchen cutlery (15 and 20 degrees).

Number of sharpening stages

Coarse abrasives are ideal for reshaping edges on damaged or truly dull knives, while a finer abrasive serves for polishing and touch-ups.

Having both stages is important because using coarse material for touch-ups removes too much steel from the knife.

Size

Although size doesn’t affect the sharpener’s ability to sharpen, it affects how you store it. It’s always important to look at the size and weight of the sharpener and consider your storage options before making a purchase.

Price

Consider your budget and choose the best-rated knife sharpener in your target price range.

Bottom Line

It is particularly important to choose a knife sharpener with adequate safety features. The sharpener should be easy to use without injuring yourself in the process. Electric knife sharpeners accomplish this by using rails or slots to guide the blade into the sharpening disks. Manual sharpeners use a physical barrier between the knife blade and your fingers.