A dull knife is a dangerous knife. Keeping your knife edge sharp decreases the chance of it slipping while cutting and accidentally cutting yourself. This is one of the reasons it is important to have the best pocket knife sharpener in any survival situation.
A good quality survival knife is a vital piece of equipment to have in your bug out bag. It is a versatile tool that every prepper or survivalist should have in their bug out kit and every day carry bag.
To save on space and weight most of us will look to a folding survival knife to do the job. Your knife is not worth it’s value if the edge is dull and can actually be more dangerous than a sharp knife when using.
These reasons and more make it imperative that you also carry the best pocket knife sharpener. It is also important to carry a great first aid kit when utilizing sharp tools such as knives.
Types of knife sharpeners
Every knife will start to become dull after use. It is just one of the costs of using them. Keeping the edge sharp is important to making sure your knife works as efficiently as you need it to when the time arises. Finding the right sharpening tool for the job starts with understanding the types of sharpeners available.
#1 sharpening stone
For as long as knives have been around humans have used stones to sharpen the edge. Though the materials used in these stone sharpening tools has evolved to diamond and ceramic materials, the concept remains the same. Run the edge along the gritty stone to remove dull metal material from the knife and renew the sharp edge.
#2 sharpening steel
Sharpening steels are actually better used for honing the blade rather than sharpening a dull edge. Use a sharpening steel for maintaining an already sharp edge before becoming too dull.
#3 Hones
Just as the name suggests, hones are best used for, well, honing rather than sharpening a dull blade. Hones are still useful as pocket knife sharpeners though as a way to maintain your blades sharp edge and keep its edge polished and straight.
#4 Electric knife sharpener
Electric knife sharpeners are not really practical to use as a pocket knife sharpener because a pocket knife is typically used in the field. They are especially not well suited for use in a bug out bag since you need a source of electricity or batteries to operate them. They are also bulky and weigh more than a stone or steel.
Best Pocket Knife Sharpener-Reviews
Smith's pp1 pocket pal
PROS: Lightweight and small in size
CONS: Feels flimsy due to light weight
The Smith’s PP1 is our favorite choice for a bug out bag or every day carry. It is extremely light weight at less than an ounce and folds up to 3.5 inches in length.
The diamond coated rod is perfect for sharpening both serrated and straight edges. The versatility of this pocket knife sharpener is impressive at the price point. It comes with two slots (carbide and ceramic) that place your blade at the right angle every time.
The biggest detractor from this model that we found is that due to its extreme light weight the whole thing feels a little flimsy in your hands. It also won’t provide you with the sharpest edge you have ever seen, but it gets the job done.
The combination of low price, light weight, and extreme portability put the Smith’s PP1 at the top of our list of the best pocket knife sharpeners.
Lansky Ps-med01 blademedic
PROS: More sturdy due to metal housing
CONS: A bit heavy and diamond rod is exposed
The Lansky BladeMedic provides a great combination of sturdiness, versatility, and affordability. This model just feels like a quality made product when you hold it.
The downside? The sturdy metal housing makes it really heavy at nearly 4 times the weight of the Smith’s model above.
The weight is a major detractor from wanting to throw this thing in my bug out bag. However, the functionality of having 2 sharpening slots (carbide and ceramic), a ceramic stone for serrated edges, and a diamond coated rod make it a bit more attractive.
sharpal 101n 6-in-1 knife sharpener
PROS: Easy to grip; comes with integrated fire starter and emergency whistle.
CONS: Fire starter and whistle are of cheaper quality than the sharpener
The 6-in-1 Sharpal pocket knife sharpener is a nice alternative to the Smith’s and Lansky models on this list. It has an attractive design and is really easy to grip while using due to the rubberized coating.
There are two preset sharpening slots (tungsten carbide and ceramic) and a diamond coated steel rod for serrated grooves.
The small size and light weight adds to the overall portability of the sharpener and makes it ideal for EDC or bug out bag.
It is a pretty cool idea to incorporate a fire starter and emergency whistle but not really necessary.
work sharp guided field sharpener
PROS: Complete and compact field sharpening system
CONS: Larger and slightly more expensive than the other models on this list
The Work Sharp field sharpener is a complete sharpening system of fantastic quality. The only reason I haven’t listed this sharpener higher in the list of best pocket knife sharpeners is that it is not quite as portable as the other options.
This sharpening system includes interchangeable diamond plates, ceramic rods, leather strop, and sharpening guides. The five step sharpening system produces a really great edge that you can’t get with most basic portable sharpeners.
This product is best suited for those that are really serious about keeping knives and tools sharp and want a sharpener that is a bit more advanced than the previous options.
dmt fwfc double sided diafold sharpener
PROS: Compact, lightweight, no oil needed
CONS: Must maintain proper sharpening angle on your own
This DMT model folds up neatly to protect the whetstone. It operates similar to a butterfly knife, which I find pretty cool. The monocrystalline sharpening surface is durable and sharpens quickly.
The coarse diamond coated side will repair a dull edge and then you flip it over to the fine diamond side to sharpen to a razor like edge.
No oil is needed when sharpening using this stone so it can be used either dry or with water.
