Top 5 Best Knife Sharpener for Pocket Knives Reviews in 2022

A pocket knife is a perfect product for hassle-free gardening, camping, fishing, sculpting, woodworking, and various indoor and outdoor pursuits alike. It’s also a valuable tool you can use for creating DIY projects.

However, the more you use your pocket knife, the more you are going to need a pocket knife sharpener.

The difference sharpening your knife can make can only be realized once you have the best knife sharpener for pocket knives. So, if you happen to look for one, you’re at the right place.

Today we’ll be reviewing five outstanding pocket knife sharpeners so that you can have your pick!

Quick Comparison Table

In a hurry? Don’t have time for the detailed reviews? Okay, quickly check out the key perks of the five options we reviewed!

Name & Image	Key Features	Actions
Smith's Abrasives PP1 Hunting Knife Sharpener	A coarse 600 grit carbide stone and a fine 800 grit ceramic stone. Pre-set knife sharpening angles. Only 3.5 inches long and includes a handy lanyard hole. A tapered diamond-coated rod.	Check Price on Amazon
Sharpal 101N 6-In-1 Pocket Knife Sharpener	Fine ceramic, coarse carbide, and a V-slot for different stages of sharpening. Includes an emergency whistle, a fire starter, and a lanyard hole. A grooved diamond rod for hooks. High-quality carbide and ceramic abrasives.	Check Price on Amazon
Lansky PS MED01 BladeMedic	Heavy-duty carbide, tungsten, and ceramic construction with a lanyard hole. A pointy diamond-tapered rod for sharpening thoroughly serrated, pocket-sized products. A 1000-grit ceramic rod and a 600 grit diamond rod. Ceramic rods polish it for extra cutting power.	Check Price on Amazon
Victorinox VN43323 Fixed Blade	Weighs only 1.5 ounces The fixed blade offers scalpel-sharp pocket knives after use A pen-style German-made sharpening device Most suitable for SAK grade steel	Check Price on Amazon
Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker	The included DVD offers step by step sharpening procedure for knives, awls, scissors, and other pointy tools Comes with two medium-grit and fine ceramic rods, and two brass rods for safety Preset 30 to 40-degree sharpening angles A heavy-duty ABS plastic storage box	Check Price on Amazon

Top 5 Best Knife Sharpener for Pocket Knives Reviews

Below, we are going to discuss a few variations of sharpening tools and our top-favorite pocket knife sharpeners that worked for us.

While all of them will vary in shape, material, and technique, we can assure you that the finished results will be just as you thought them to be. And with the proper style, even better!

1. Smith’s Abrasives PP1 Hunting Knife Sharpener Review

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Pros

A fine ceramic stone for refining serrated or plain edge knife blades
The carbide stone slot sharpens dull knives

The tapered, 400 grit diamond-coated rod can be used for plain edge knives or serrated ones
A lanyard hole, pre-set angles, and easy configuration
Ideal for plain or serrated pocket knives, and Swiss Army knives

Cons

The coarse carbide stone might be a bit harsh to moderately new knives

This hunting knife sharpener by Smith’s is a diamond coated, tapered, and ground rod. It’s most suitable for sharpening both standard and serrated edges. It has two easy sharpening slots that allow you to turn a dull knife edge razor-sharp once again!

The Smith’s Pocket Pal features ceramic rods and carbide blades as well as the main sharpening rod, which is made of heavy-duty tapered materials.

Now, if you’re fascinated by electric knife sharpeners, let us tell you- this Pocket Pal can give you the same astonishing results! In fact, professional sharpening tools are not as effective on tactical, Swiss Army knives, whereas this tiny hand tool takes care of all the little details!

For example, its 600 grit carbide blades help you set the edge of an already dull knife with an angle guide. You can reverse or replace these blades.

However, you should only use them for sharpening straight-edge knives, and not the serrated ones. For sharpening a serrated knife, move the tapered rod to and fro in between each serration for a sharp finish.

Smith’s PP1 Pocket Pal is only 3.5 inches long- helping you carry this lightweight product in your backpack without an issue. As for the abrasiveness of each element, the rod is a medium, 400 grit sharpener.

The carbide, coarse pull-through slot is for aggressive sharpening, whereas the other pull-through slot is made of ceramic. It has 800 grit, fine sharpening edges for the last few strokes.

2. Sharpal 101N 6-In-1 Pocket Knife Sharpener Review

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Pros

Ideal for camping, survival, and scouting
The medium 400-grit, diamond-coated sharpening rod is perfect for serrated knives and gut hooks

Emergency whistle loud enough to produce up to 110 dB of noise
Its tungsten carbide and ceramic blade slots are extremely durable

Cons

The product might be a bit small for some users

Only when you’re out in the wild, do you realize what a revolutionary little thing your pocket knife is. To keep it sharp and usable through your pursuit in the wilderness, you need Sharpal, the best pocket knife sharpener with cool, unbeatable specs!

To begin with, this 6-in-1 knife sharpener has been tested ten thousand times, and its cutting-edge quality did not wear off one bit. All pocket blades, dull or damaged, can be brought back to action with the Sharpal. It not only covers all the bases but also keeps you protected in times of danger.

For example, it features a high-pitched whistle and a much-needed fire starter. While most pocket sharpeners frequently struggle with the sharpening part itself, Sharpal pushed the boundaries of what an adventure-ready product can be! Besides, its rubber-soft handle offers you a steady grip so that you don’t end up in an accident.

Its ceramic and carbide abrasives do not wear out easily. We also liked that it has a grooved diamond rod for sharpening fish hooks. Additionally, the medium 400 grit, tapered diamond sharpener rod works for both serrated and plain edge ones.

Other than honing your pocket knife steel, you can use a Sharpal for removing burrs, sharpening fish hooks, lighting a fire, and what not!

So, the next time you’re out camping, don’t forget to keep a Sharpal in your pocket.

3. Lansky PS MED01 BladeMedic Review

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Pros

Carbide blades give your dull pocket knife an edge

Perfect for pocket, steak, and chef knives
Thousand grit ceramic sharpening rods are ideal for serrated, plain edge, and fillet knives
A tapered, 600 grit diamond rod works on serrations

Reconditions gut hooks, fish hooks, and delicate serrations for a brand-new edge
Requires only three to four strokes inside the tungsten carbide slot

Cons

The diamond coating wears off quickly

The Lansky BladeMedic, with its easy to use sharpening system, high-quality ceramic finishing, and two tungsten-carbide blades, is a must-have for all campers and tourists.

A sharp guided field sharpener by Lansky is an ideal choice for both pocket and kitchen knives alike. Its top-notch sharpening stones render beautiful results-producing clean cuts for sculpting wood or butchering.

This Med01 serrated knife sharpener may not have a soft rubbery grip, but it sure sharpens your versatile blade with utmost care and precision!

The twin slots on this sharpener allow you to sharpen plain edge blades as well as serrated ones. This way, you can do two things on a single product. What’s more- it takes only a couple of strokes before your pocket knife reports for duty!

Since these knives are naturally short in length, making them sharp again requires less pressure and more precision. And speaking of precision, this knife blade sharpening tool features fine ceramic rods that polish the cutting edge of your knife.

These rods roll in a fixed area- adding an abrasion effect for removing burrs and sharpening your pocket knife.

Taking care of the ceramic rods is pretty easy as well. All you have to do is to disassemble the sharpening tool with an Allen key and clean out the grinding.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Pocket Knife Sharpener

You can go through a hundred pocket knife sharpener reviews and still be confused if you do not know what exactly makes a knife sharpener better than another. We are here to fill you in on all the bits and pieces of information you need to know for buying the best pocket knife sharpener that suits you the most!

Material Quality

A well-made knife sharpener can make your exquisite blade last for years and years- keeping the edge sharp for comfortable use. You must check the steel grades of knife sharpeners and compare them.

Inexpensive diamond-coated knife sharpeners can show scratches from the first use. These scratches mean that the diamond dust is wearing off. That is why it’s important that you buy this type of sharpener from a good brand.

Ever since 1886, Smith’s has been a trusted American brand for quality knife sharpeners. They have a broad range of abrasive materials that they use in different types of knife sharpeners.

For example, they offer ceramic, heavy-gauge steel, origin Arkansas stone, and a diamond-coated finish in their premium selection of pocket knife sharpeners.

Style and Durability

No matter what you say, you can’t deny the fact that diamond-coated steel sounds better than our good old ceramic.

For those of us who have not yet seen one, no, the sharpening blade is not coated with a super-sized, scintillating diamond. They are simply covered with diamond dust because they reinforce strength and render a powerful sharpening performance.

So far, it might sound like a dream. But as we mentioned before, this dusted finish subsides, and the inner steel construction comes in contact with air. It’s only a matter of time before they corrode. This is one of the reasons why we prefer ceramic rods for sharpening moderately new swiss army knives.

And since we are on the style topic, have a look at Spyderco Sharpmaker, a high-quality sharpening tool with cutting edge features. Its three rods create a triangular shape for sharpening the knife blade with safety, precision, and comfort.

Abrasiveness and Usage

A knife sharpener features abrasive ingredients. When you rub the dull edge of your pocket knife against the sharpener’s abrasive surface, the edge retrieves its cutting power and ultra-thin kerf.

However, a dull, old knife and a moderately new knife do not require the same level of abrasiveness as a pocket knife sharpener.

Only use an 800 grit or finer grit ceramic stone for sharpening and polishing pocket knives you use on a regular basis. The old ones benefit more from a coarse 400 grit or a medium 600 grit steel or carbide sharpening blade.

Types of Pocket Knife Sharpeners

Just like any other tool in your workshop, your pocket knives also require some sort of service after they’ve been used for a while. It’s so easy for knives to lose their edge and become as dead as a doorknob when you work them every day.

If you don’t want that to happen, getting the best pocket knife sharpeners is your way to go. But here’s where it gets a little complicated.

There’s not a single type of pocket knife sharpener. In fact, there are quite a few, some of which even we didn’t try out until we decided to share our thoughts with you guys.

Sharpening Steel Rods

Upkeeping a pocket knife is not a hectic process when you have the right sharpening steel in your arsenal. When you use sharpening rods, you naturally run down the contact point between the sharpener and the blade. That is why many people use sharpening rods to realign damaged blades.

Arkansas and Ceramic Stones

Some prefer to use sharpening stones such as natural Arkansas, diamond-dusted steel, and ceramic stones. Arkansas works well with extremely dull knives. Once you implement the proper way of sharpening a pocket knife, you can remove material from the edges and reveal a razor-sharp edge within minutes!

Whetstones

You can use whetstones for sharpening kitchen knives. And the same goes for pocket knives. You have to be careful with the back-and-forth movement because the pocket blade length is way shorter than a regular kitchen knife.

Whetstones are available everywhere, and you might just find one sitting in your workshop or even the kitchen cabinet.

You should wet the whetstone surface with water before use, and not any other lubricant as it affects the sharpening process. Leave the coarse side up and implement an angular motion as you sharpen the knife on both sides!

Electric Knife Sharpeners

An electric knife sharpener is basically a rectangular product with multiple V-shape slots. You have to insert the knife blade into a slot which activates its motorized wheels.

The wheels roll and sharpen your pocket knife in the process. Many do love an electric knife sharpener for its speed. On the contrary, many avoid it for how bulky it is compared to the hand tools that weigh a couple of ounces barely.

Final Words

The best knife sharpener for pocket knives can offer unbeatable durability for your simple pocket knives and help them last for ages!

And for us, Smith’s PP1 Pocket Pal tops all other pocket knife sharpeners with its phenomenal features.

We found this knife sharpener to be noteworthy because it has coarse, medium, and fine grit stones etched securely in a lightweight, compact product. The diamond-coated steel blade was able to sharpen even the dullest, serrated knife we had in store.

Additional Resource: Everything About Knife Sharpening