The Best Knife Sharpeners To Sharpen Your Survival Knife
There’s an old saying that states “A dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp one.”
Let’s think about that for a moment:
- A sharp knife is easier to control than a dull knife.
- Meaning that more force is needed to cut with a dull knife, leading to accidental slips and cuts.
- utting yourself with a dull knife means the wound takes longer to heal.
- And a dull knife is not a very effective weapon in a survival situation.
Knives are one of the most important survival tools, so make sure you are carrying one that will give you the most advantage.
For thousands of years, humans have used knives both practically and ceremoniously and in all walks of life. But no matter their use, a knife should always be kept sharp.
Never let your knife slip into dullness and ruin.
Because in a survival situation, your gear needs to be in top condition to help you survive and thrive.
Knife sharpeners are affordable and come in all manner of styles, shapes and sizes, so you have no excuse for not keeping your blade sharp and ready for use.
In the past, the only way someone could keep a knife sharp was with a whetstone.
Whetstones are constructed from a fine-grained stone known as Hornfels and while they are still an effective way to sharpen knives today, they aren’t practical in a survival situation.
You want something designed specifically for survival. And luckily there are plenty of manufacturers out there making them for just that purpose.
So let’s take a look at which sharpeners are the best on the market.
Before we begin, take a look at the comparison guide below. Then check out the detailed analysis that follows to help you choose the best survival knife sharpener.
What Makes A Good Survival Knife Sharpener
Despite there being many different styles and makes available on the market, a good knife sharpener needs certain key qualities.
First off, they need to last.
So how do you know if a sharpener is built to last? I’d suggest reading through a heap of reviews from different websites. This should give you a fairly good idea about the quality of the sharpener you want to purchase.
Next, try it out. If it feels weak, it probably is. A good sharpener should feel sturdy when being used.
Another key quality is being lightweight.
You’re going to be carrying this in a pack, on your back, hence why you don’t want a big, heavy whetstone weighing you down.
You want to choose a sharpener that is lightweight and fits easily into your bug out bag, get home bag or survival pack.
And some extras are always good too.
While your knife sharpener should be predominantly just that – a knife sharpener, many sharpeners these days come with some handy added features. So check out different manufacturers and find out what they have to offer.
Best Knife Sharpener Reviews
Now it’s time to take a look at which knife sharpeners I rate as being the best in the business.
Take a look at the short description for each knife sharpener and use that information to think about which would be the right one for you.
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Smith’s Pocket Pal Multifunction Knife Tool
By far one of the best sharpeners available, Smith began its life as a stone company and has gone on to become one of the top knife sharpener manufacturers on the globe.
Made to the highest standard, right here in the USA, this slim and lightweight sharpener was designed with survivalists in mind.
Sharpen both straight-edged and serrated blades with this foldable, diamond coated sharpening rod.
This sharpener also comes with one set of carbide blades that allow you to restore edges on dull or damaged knives and shaped ceramic stones to give a polished finish to any blade.
Both of which are fully reversible and replaceable, meaning that with proper maintenance, this sharpener will last a lifetime.
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Sharpal 6 in 1 Sharpening Tool
As well as being a top quality knife sharpener, this multi-tool has several other useful purposes.
Featuring tungsten carbide blades for quick edge setting, ceramic blades for a perfect finish and a diamond coated rod.
This tool is also a fire striker, fishhook holder and high pitch survival whistle.
Click here for today’s price.
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Alpha Tek Tungsten Hunting Knife Sharpener
While this knife sharpener might not look as fancy as some of its competitors, its simplicity is its strength.
First off, you won’t miss its bright orange color when searching for it in your bag or if you drop it on your travels.
Its simple design fits easily in your pocket or can be hung from your pack, making it very easy to carry with you.
And its non-slip rubber grips make it stick directly to whatever surface you place it on to sharpen your blade through its carbide sharpener.
Restore your blade with just a few simple strokes.
Click here for today’s price.
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Rada Cutlery Quick Edge Knife Sharpener
Made in the USA from durable black nylon plastic and two steel wheels.
This sleek little knife sharpener comes in a plastic carry case that makes carrying it a breeze.
And with top customer care and a lifetime guarantee for every knife sharpener sold, you can be sure it will be replaced quickly in the unlikely event that it ever breaks or malfunctions.
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Loffersuper 3 in 1 Diamond Portable Pocket Sharpening Pen
This super lightweight knife sharpener is constructed with a two-sided diamond knife sharpening rod that can be attached to the handle for safe and effortless knife sharpening.
It’s the size of a pen, so it’s really easy to carry with you anywhere or stash in your bug out bag.
And if needed, it can be used as a makeshift survival pen to defend yourself.
Click here for today’s price.
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Gerber Bear Grylls Field Sharpener
The Field Sharpener’s design uses two differently shaped diamond coated rods to give any blade an even sharpen.
Its rubber handle is designed to give maximum grip and comfort. And its hard plastic case is there to protect it when stored away.
This 4.5 inch long sharpener fits easily in your pocket or backpack and is tough enough to withstand the knocks and forces that come with survival living.
Click here for today’s price.
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Three Way Cut Premium Knife Sharpening Stone
I had to include at least one whetstone sharpener on this list. After all, this is the original sharpener and some people will always swear by them, no matter what.
And although it’s quite heavy compared to the others on this list, it is an extremely durable and useful sharpening tool.
A bamboo base is used to set this two-sided whetstone in place during use, with a rubber base underneath to stop it from slipping.
Use the more coarse side of the stone to shave away any dullness or damage on the blade. Then, use the fine-grained side to polish and complete the job.
And although this model comes with a host of extras, you don’t really need to use them. The stone alone is all you need to get your blade extremely sharp, and by itself, the stone is relatively easy to carry.
That being said, it’s still very heavy compared to the purpose-built survival sharpeners on this list.
So think of it more as a tool to keep in your survival vehicle or at a bug out location.
You don’t want to have to carry this too far!
Click here for today’s price.
How To Sharpen A Knife
Now that you’ve got yourself a nice, new survival knife sharpener, you better start using it.
So, how do you get all those crappy looking blades lying around your house looking like you just bought them at the store?
Luckily, that’s pretty easy with a modern knife sharpener.
So, here are the basics.
Using A Modern Knife Sharpener:
Use the diamond coated rod.
At an even 15-20 degree angle, run your blade along the diamond coated rod.
Keep the blade at a constant angle while running it over the rod so it sharpens the entire blade evenly.
Run the blade through the tungsten blades affixed to the sharpener.
You couldn’t really get this part wrong, even if you tried.
Simply set the blade in the tungsten slot and pull the knife back through the metal pieces.
You should feel the tungsten squeeze the edges of the blade as you pull it through. It should only take a few passes through the tungsten before it is very sharp.
Now do the exact same thing you did in step 2, but use the ceramic sharpener.
The ceramic is finer than tungsten and this will give your blade a nice polish and fine edge.
Using A Whetstone:
Get it wet.
Drop it in a bucket of water and make sure you get it nice and wet. Next, set the blade up on a flat surface on top of a non-slip base.
You will need to continually re-apply water as you sharpen the blade.
Use the coarse side of the stone.
Run the knife blade along the stone, keeping it at a 15-20 degree angle at all times.
Begin at the tip of the blade and pull the knife back towards you while moving along the length of the blade, all the way to the base. You want to apply a firm but light pressure as you do this.
Unless your blade is extremely dull, a few runs over the whetstone is probably ample.
- Turn the knife over and do the same thing to the other side.
- Turn your whetstone over so the fine side is facing up.
Repeat the same process with both sides of the blade on the fine side of the stone.
Rinse off your whetstone and remove grind residue.
Wash the blades in warm water.
Last Resort Sharpening Techniques
So, what’s the best solution if you get stuck without anything to sharpen your knife. Is it even possible to do properly without a sharpener or whetstone?
Of course it is. It just takes a little more time and patience. And a little thought as well.
But here are a few options using common items you could find around home.
Ceramic Mug
To start with, you’re going to turn the mug upside down.
Make sure you can see a coarse ceramic ring around the bottom of the mug. This is going to act as your sharpener.
Wet the ceramic and then draw your blade along the ring – the same as you would if you were using a whetstone.
It won’t be perfect but it should sharpen your blade up reasonably well.
An upside down ceramic plate will also do the trick.
River stone
You’re looking for a stone that is quite flat and fits comfortably in your hand.
Because you want to find a stone that is as fine as possible, a river stone is usually your best bet.
Wet the stone and hold it in one hand. Next, draw the blade back along the stone at that same 15-20 degree angle we use for all other techniques.
It’s going to take longer than it would with a whetstone but you’ll get there in the end.
You may have to try a few different stones before you find the right one for the job.
And be careful you don’t cut your hand. That’s going to make things even slower.
Leather Belt
While this might not sharpen the blade, it will help to straighten out the edge and make the knife more effective.
Using the inside of the belt, run the knife along the belt, away from the cutting edge. Just like a barber sharpening a razor.
Of course, try to find an old belt that you aren’t using anymore.
Sandpaper
Super cheap stuff to buy and chances are, you’ve probably got some lying about in your garage.
Choose a coarser paper to start with and gradually move to a finer grit for polishing.
Try wrapping the paper around a wooden or concrete block to create a cheap, imitation whetstone.
Vehicle Window
The rough and rounded edges of a car window actually make for a great sharpening tool.
Obviously, choose a car that looks abandoned (or be ready to face the consequences!)
Roll the window down to about half way and then draw your blade back along the edge of the window.
This is a surprisingly effective trick and will get your blade very sharp in no time.
Another Knife
If you’re stuck in a pickle and can’t find anything else, remember that you can sharpen steel with steel.
Draw the blade that you want to sharpen along the spine of another knife just as you would when sharpening a blade on a whetstone.
Last Thoughts On Knife Sharpeners
Keeping your blade sharp and ready for use is almost as crucial as having the knife to begin with. Don’t fall into the trap of laziness or the thinking of “Near enough is good enough.” It’s not. Your knife should be as sharp as possible at all times.
Remember that old saying “A dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp one.”
If your knife is blunt, it is dangerous