Knife Sharpeners: Reviews

The biggest advantage of the Spyderco manual knife-sharpening system, which can sharpen both straight and serrated blades of almost any size, is its solid ability to restore dull knives without removing too much metal.… Using the Spyderco Sharpmaker system requires some patience and practice, and sharpening a blade takes a few minutes compared to a few seconds compared to an electric sharpener, but reviews say this system is flexible, stable and practically foolproof (once you learn how to use it). Testers also say the Spyderco knife sharpener can work on scissors and some pocket and hunting knives.

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Electric knife sharpeners are quick and easy to use, but don't offer the same amount of control as a manual sharpener. They also usually cost more. The Chef's Choice 120 is a heavy-duty electric sharpener that quickly and… … quietly sharpeners straight and serrated knives. Reviews say built-in guides make knife sharpening easier, but it takes vigilance; some say it's easy to over-sharpen knives. Chef's Choice 120 has two slots for sharpening (one coarse and one fine) plus a third polishing slot. You pull your knife through the slots, sharpening dull knives in about a minute. Because you need to pull your knives through the machine, the Chef's Choice 120 works best for knives 3 inches or longer.

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The Chef's Choice 110 doesn't sharpen as quickly as the more expensive Chef's Choice 120, and it lacks the final polishing stage, but it can still sharpen an entire blade from tip to bolster. However, the Chef's Choice… 110 can only sharpen straight blades (though it can touch up the tips of serrated knives). Bottom line: This dependable budget model does a nice job on straight-edged kitchen cutlery as well as some hunting and pocket knives.

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The lightweight Furi Ozitech Diamond Fingers Knife Sharpener garners praise for its compact size and easy use. The Furi Ozitech has a single row of diamond-coated steel "fingers" that bend during each pass of a knife to… better sharpen its blade. Reviewers say the Furi Ozitech sharpens quickly and produces a smooth edge. It also suits both right- and left-hand users. Some downsides: The lightweight Furi Ozitech must be held down firmly during use so the sharpener doesn't slip, and this sharpener cannot be used on serrated blades.

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