Knife sharpener

At Sturgis this year, there was a guy set up in a vendor booth at Mr.Al's selling knife sharpeners. I'm kind of a sucker for knife sharpeners, so I watched his show. These things usually have a carnival aspect to them, but I had him dull a knife first then sharpen it. So I bought a couple from him. I got the Sharp-n-Spark and the little rectangular one. I've been going around the house sharpening things. These things really work. I'm impressed.

Here's the yootoobes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_oQ5rYyuh8

And the web site: http://www.handysharp.com/

I'm also a sucker for sharpeners. I shall check this out.

I like to keep mine dull. It hurts more when I stab someone that way

Back around 1980 a local inventor patented a knife sharpener. It allowed you to move the stone away from the blade, presumably making it safer. My dad, being the town artist, was hired to design the packaging. We also ended up with one of the sharpeners that I used many times over the years.

A couple years back a local guy who had worked as a salesman for the inventor gave me one of the original prototypes, that included the box with dad's artwork.

It seemed to do a good job, but I don't think I've seen any other designs like this. I suppose it was probably to cumbersome & complex for most people?

I've seen a sharpener attachment like that, Pete. Can't recall where, but I've seen one. Maybe a gun show. Might have been one of the professional sharpener guys using it.

I brought the little rectangular sharpener into work today. I sharpened up my serrated bread knives.

Overuse of a sharpener can ruin a good knife. I have one the wife ruined.

Knives seldom need sharpening, depending one their use.

A stone and hand sharpening is the best way.

In reply to petegossett:

Seems to me I've seen one of those at Smokey Mountain Knife Works...

In reply to petegossett:

Looks like a lansky system.

I have a buffer based knife sharpener setup. I had a Kershaw Vapor that was "Just Right." It was so sharp that it was dangerous to use. As in anything it touched parted instantly, including your skin. I lost it. It fell out of my pocket at a "team event," either in the parking lot of the pizza place or the laser tag building. I have not been able to get the Vapor replacement at sharp as the one I lost. Oh, it's sharp, just not "dangerous" sharp. Probably just as well. After a week on the road, I touched it up with the Handy Sharp and got it back to shaving sharp again.

The knife sharpener guy at Sturgis admitted that my Vapor was "pretty sharp." He was the same guy in the YoooToobes demo vid with a few more years added.

In reply to petegossett:

Something similar is still produced, Lansky system. They work great if you're willing to take your time with it and stick to the angle if you're touching one up free handed.

In reply to BrokenYugo:

That's been my goto sharpener since I was a kid. My dad had that set forever, I still have it sitting around. I send out my kitchen knives yearly, but I keep the Lansky for my hunting, fishing, and carry knives. Ever shaved with a pocket knife? This kit makes it happen.

Always been my favorite

I used to use the Lansky. It's easy and fairly idiotproof. I've since moved on to Japanese water stones, which are more challenging to use and more fun.

After toying w/ other sharpeners, settled on the Lansky system and still sticking w/ it. Like Keith said idiotproof. Sit down every winter to touch up every knife in the house, the angle jig makes it all repeatable... again, idiotproof. The white handled stone in the kit shown works on serrated edges, another win.

I saw one of those Chef Choice sharpners are the local Goodwill for like...$3. I should'a bought it.

RevRico wrote: In reply to BrokenYugo: That's been my goto sharpener since I was a kid. My dad had that set forever, I still have it sitting around. I send out my kitchen knives yearly, but I keep the Lansky for my hunting, fishing, and carry knives. Ever shaved with a pocket knife? This kit makes it happen.

If you want to go all out you get out the strop and rouge after the white stone, mirror edge. I think Lansky might make a little strop as an option but it's easy enough to free hand at that stage. I've been meaning to get one but my big 1095 butcher knife injures enough of my friends already when I can be bothered to keep it tuned up.

fasted58 wrote: After toying w/ other sharpeners, settled on the Lansky system and still sticking w/ it. Like Keith said idiotproof. Sit down every winter to touch up every knife in the house, the angle jig makes it all repeatable... again, idiotproof.

Been using the Lansky system for years. Very easy to use and does a great job. Like it so much that I got the series of diamond hones for it. Even faster to get a good edge on a knife.

In reply to BrokenYugo:

Very cool! Now I'm curious to know their history & whether there is any connection between them and my old E-Z Sharp.

petegossett wrote: In reply to BrokenYugo: Very cool! Now I'm curious to know their history & whether there is any connection between them and my old E-Z Sharp.

Yours is still around.

Eze-Lap

In reply to foxtrapper:

Wow, very cool!

I've always been a fan of a simple sharpening steel to keep the edge on a blade before and during uses and a nice stone and oil to bring back an edge on an old or overused or nicked blade.

I've got a 3-position Chef's Choice power sharpener the I use on all the kitchen knives and mine and the wife's carry knives. I could , with much time and practice, produce a better edge with a series of stones by hand, but I'd rather spend time doing other things. In 30 seconds per knife I have shave-sharp knives. Not dangerous, scalpel sharp but sharp enough for the use I give them, even my chef's knives. Sharp enough, quick enough, done.

petegossett wrote:

HA! I actually have this exact one. My grandfather left it to me along with his sword collection. I never saw him use it and couldn't figure out how it worked. It was in pieces and I always thought there were parts missing. I have just used the stones free hand. Now I'm going to have to dig and see if I still have all the parts.

EDIT: just noticed the link to where they still make them. It's probably a newer one but I swear it says E-Z SHARP on it.

In reply to ThingWithWheels:

Very cool! I'd like to see a pic of it if you get the chance.

This is one of the best synopses of sharpening theory and practice I've ever come across. And I'm a woodworker.

I'll add something that I do - it's a quick [paddle over to my favorite spam cabinet.  Oh, berkeley is that good!]