I have yet to find an entirely satisfactory solution for sharpening knives in the outdoors.

When sharpening knives at home, I use my (now very old) Spyderco Sharpmaker, and I’ve been pleased with it. But it’s too big and bulky to bring on a hike or a camping trip, or to put in a kit for an emergency. The “v” shaped sharpeners I’ve seen (such as https://www.amazon.com/Smiths-CCKS-2-Step-Knife-Sharpener/dp/B00032S02K/) have bad reputations and I’d be pretty desperate to try one.

The Fallkniven DC4 is not crazy expensive for a pocket sharpening stone, and I’ve put mine to good use. Something smaller and lighter would be better for what I envision — I think the last time I used mine was for a neighbor’s axe, and it was but a minute to walk home, get it, and bring it back.

My use case is that I’m carrying everything I’ve got, and I’ve done Something Regrettable to my knife that I feel compelled to fix, with what I have with me.

I’m eyeballing a Victornox pen-shaped sharpener (https://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-4-3323-X1-Sharpener-Portable-Sharpening/dp/B000AR7AKG/) and it looks like it wouldn’t be had. I’d love something better at around this approximate size, if such a thing exists.

Any ideas?

I suppose this isn't helpful but I don't think the outdoors is the place to sharpen. If you simply have to have something along for the task you could get a small DMT diamond plate but like replacing a head gasket on a vehicle or performing surgery, the field is not an ideal location for sharpening. The best equipment for the task is not all that portable or convenient, IMOHO.

In an emergency, it's entirely likely that a blade will be grossly abused and need first aid on the spot. It's best to have a plan for that.

I have been using industrial diamond paddles/plates for the last decade or more, and for practically all repair work. They are lightweight and they cut fast. My old style stones, while awesome, gather dust.

EZLap and DMT are the best in terms of longevity. I have been also using PRC diamond paddles/plates which work very well but wear out quickly. In an emergency kit, any of these would be highly useful. This is what I carry when I travel; you just have to assure airport security that "it's an abrasive, like sandpaper."

One other tool that makes it into my travel/car kits is a specialty submicron 100 carbide scraper. Sounds barbaric, and it is, but a tiny slab shapes a lot of steel. It has proven its worth though the ultimate edge is crude. There are brands like Speedy Sharp, also Corona sells them for sharpening pruners/loppers, and I have seen generic versions also.

I suppose lots of things are possible. IMO any sharpening rig robust enough to carry with you in a PSK or as EDC will probably be heavier than simply carrying a second blade. Anyone that carries both a knife and a multitool probably need not worry about maintaining their blades. And in a pinch many of them have a file that will work for rough sharpening.

That said, DMT makes some little diamond cards the size of a credit card. That might be worth the weight and expense if it fits in your wallet.

Generally just have a Fallkniven DC3, also like doug carry a carbide scraper, though because they make a great ferro rod striker and easy to hold and brightly coloured.


Ezlap make pen diamond rods.

Sharpal another company that makes something similar.

https://sharpal.com/product/transforman-diamond-round-tapered-rod-sharpener/

Thanks! I found a pair of reversible (cylindrical on one side, tapered on the other) diamond coated steel rods the size of a pen, for about $11 on Amazon. I'll try them out (on a knife I don't care about!) and see if they can make the kit list.

I have this one
https://www.buckknives.com/product/diamond-pocket-sharpener/?sku=97070-B

Use the stone on the blade instead of the blade on the stone
Like sharpening a axe

100%.

I did buy the gizmo I was looking for but to be honest I haven’t had a chance to dig up a knife I don’t care so much about and trying one. Life has been intervening :-).

I've leaned toward the small molded ceramic stick sharpeners like the GATCO Super Micro-X Sharpener. Lansky makes one too.

https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/GATCO-Super-Micro-X-Sharpener-P486.aspx

I've always thought that the carbide sharpeners would remove too much steel, although I've never used one.

The problem with these is that they have a fixed angle. Actually, I've spent some time online trying to determine what that angle is, and I've not been able to find it. I'll guess 20°.

Many of Doug's knives came with a 15° angle. I've been able to keep that using my Spyderco Sharpmaker. It would be almost painful to take those blades to a 20° angle sharpener. If I was in a real bind I guess I'd have no other choice. So far I've never had the need to field sharpen.

Form touch ups, a ceramic stick about 6" long. Better than a diamond one that takes too much off.

If you have more room you could make a mini version of this with two sticks. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQMN8HLH/ref...ZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw

I find it great for skinning.

for down&dirty super-quick sharpening in the field, i use marble's redi-edge that i carry on my keychain

https://www.knifecountryusa.com/store/pr...minum-body.html

I still have some pull-through sharpeners kicking around. I hate how they force me to choose an edge angle and chew off a bunch of steel unnecessarily -- it's a lot of work to fix it later on the grinding belt. I guess it's still better than grinding on a concrete sidewalk.

That is why a "Carbide 100" type tool is in every vehicle and emergency kit, along with industrial diamond. It lets me choose the angle and the force I apply to the cutting tool. It's still a ragged edge, but there are times when that is enough to pull you through, or bring a beater back into service. And not destroy the bevel on a better knife.

Like I said earlier, these little tools can repair all sorts of other tools. Hatchets, loppers, paramedic shears, saw blades, you name it. I personally don't assume I will have a carefully curated selection of magnificent tools when the spam hits the fan. I think this sort of "moon landing" mentality is not resilient or adaptive enough. There is steel everywhere, dull as hell but serviceable, and I want the option of making it cut.

There are many versions that are the same tech; they all look pretty much the same as this:


[Argh, multiple edits but now it works. Cheers all. :-)]

Yeah, have a couple of those.



Kept on a keychain as primarily a scraper with a ferrorod, and some tinder (two fire plugs in heatshrink tubing).

well said doug.

i too carry Speedy Sharp in every pack, for use on assorted edged tools.

carbide sharpeners don't product finely polished edges but they do make 'em sharp in no time at all.

wileycoyote, diamond stones and even a speedy sharp need a little bit of skill and experience to use effectively.

I keep pull-through sharpeners around because absolutely anybody can use them. The results are crude (barbarous!), but "cut" is better than "no cut." Some day that may be important.

well said! and i concur 100%.