Thanks guys. Great ideas, keep 'em coming! You've got my wheels turning.

The biggest challenge is that most blades I deal with already have handles. So most of the clamping force has to be on the blade, without getting in the way. Not to mention that it's not only knives -- could also be pruning shears, scissors, etc.

I'm wondering about the clamp in the Lansky sharpening system. You can get them separately for about $10. Anybody know how securely they hold a blade? Would they scratch coatings?