Finally got around to buying a sharpening kit (kit made by Smith's, found at walmart for about $20).  5 minutes after walking in the door, my pocket knife now has an edge again!  I'll admit I'm not very good at free-handing it on an arkansas stone, which is why I hated sharpening my knives -- it took forever and I just never seemed to get the edge I wanted.

ETA:  I know there are better kits out there, but hey, this one works!

Ah, the look of pleasant surprise on your friend's faces when you're at a fancy steakhouse and you pull out the old axis locked 154cm...

I have a regular spear point on a 3" CRKT folding knife.  Is there an automatic or very easy sharpener for a blade like this?

The steel is AU8 I think

I have about 4 different Smith's kits. My favorite for finishing is the one with the ceramic rods that make an "X" or "V" when in the base. Those things get my knives razor sharp. But I usually start with the medium/fine grit diamond file first. It usually takes lots of practice and trying different systems before one finds what works best for them. And that's different for everyone it seems...


P.S. After reading many FAQ's and texts on the subject of sharpening, it seems that the SIMPLE fact is that no matter what you use, you MUST keep the angle the same to get that factory edge.

Quoted: I have about 4 different Smith's kits. My favorite for finishing is the one with the ceramic rods that make an "X" or "V" when in the base. Those things get my knives razor sharp. But I usually start with the medium/fine grit diamond file first. It usually takes lots of practice and trying different systems before one finds what works best for them. And that's different for everyone it seems... P.S. After reading many FAQ's and texts on the subject of sharpening, it seems that the SIMPLE fact is that no matter what you use, you MUST keep the angle the same to get that factory edge.

i have a "V" ceramic set that is about 15 years old that work great.
it will give you a razor edge  

It's all in the angle or angles, the stroke, and the leather strop.

I'd rather have my Grand-daddy's Arkansas Stone.  From Schrades to Gerbers to Smith & Wessons it has never failed me, and I always wind up taking knives home from all the guys to sharpen when they know I'm going to break out the stone.

My favorite is a two-sided folding diamond sharpener called an EZE-FOLD.  EZE-LAP makes it.  The handle folds around the stone when not in use.  The fine side is all you need to keep an ecellent edge on even the toughest steel.  The course side can take down a lot of metal fast.  Just work on keeping a consistent angle as you stroke, always forward.

CLICK HERE FOR EZE-LAP



{ETA} I also have a fancy clamp-and-stand guide-rod sharpener with four stones.  I generally don't take it out unless someone hands me a neglected knife.