When a buddy of mine got married, I gave him one of those "chef's choice" kitchen knife sharpeners. He said he didn't need it, because their relatives gave them about 5 knife sets. "Honey, this knife is dull." "Ok, get another out of the closet."

I carry a sharpening kit it has: 3" Coarse, Fine , & Extra Fine DMT Diamond stones, a 5" ceramic rod and a tungstun carbid "v" sharpener for when the blade is really dull. I never usually have to hit about 3 strokes on the ceramic for my knives.

goat

I have switched to convex edge blades. I use a leather strop, and occasionally fine (800-1500) sandpaper. I've seen some altoids cans made into portable sharpners and I just scored me a new altoids can so I am going to make one and try it out. I'm concerned it might be too short.

But no matter, a piece of cardboard loaded with stropping compound, a leather belt, fine sandpaper, your pantlet, all can be used to strop the convex edge.

Does a firesteel rod have any abrasive qualities? Wondering if it could be used as a sharpener.

I'm in the camp that says if you have a decent knife, it is kept reasonably sharp, and you watch what you use your knife on, then you shouldn't really need to EDC a sharpener. Still, it would seem that carrying some fine sandpaper would be about as compact and useful as anyting I can think of - for the short term.

Then again, I'm finding myself to be a relative minimalist when when it comes to EDC and even when it comes to a survival kit ... more in line with Peter Kummerfeldt's philosophy. Here is Peter's site http://www.outdoorsafe.com/index.htm

I’d just end up cutting myself and setting myself on fire trying that out.