Buying guide
Carbide, honing steel or multi-stage: which sharpener sells where
The eight sharpeners here are small, light and easy to place beside a till, but they do different jobs.
- Tungsten carbide pull-through: the slot shaves a fresh edge quickly on a dull blade. Choose the 7.8 cm keyring versions in black, red or blue, like the Blue Tungsten Carbide Sharpener Keyring, for pockets, or the 14 cm wrench-shaped model with a ribbed grip for kitchen drawers and workshops.
- Multi-stage: the Blue Ergonomic Multi-Stage Knife Sharpener has a finger-loop handle and carbide slots, the easiest choice for customers who have never sharpened a knife.
- Honing steel: the Brass Handle Honing Steel Sharpener realigns an edge rather than removing metal, with a 7.5 cm steel and a hanging ring.
- Pocket sharpener: a flat 11 cm black steel tool with two notches that rides in a wallet pocket or tackle box.
Carbide slots suit plain stainless pocket and kitchen blades. They are a poor match for serrated edges, Damascus blades whose etched surface can scratch, and the tight curve of a serpette; for those, recommend the honing steel or a stone. A retailer adding a knife sharpener from Pakistan to every knife sale usually needs only two references: one keyring and one larger model.