My local Sportsman's Warehouse has these Smith's(tm) knife sharpeners for about $4 or $5:



I tested it on a few dull kitchen knifes (one high-carbon, one stainless). It put a workable edge on both of them in no time. I don't have the heart to draw my brand-new RSK Mk1 through it, but it's to be a field expedient sharpener, not an everyday sharpener. It weighs in at about 1.6 oz and measures 2-1/4" x 2-3/4" x 7/8".

Using a hacksaw and a file, I put it on a diet:



It seems as easy to use as before. It's less bulky and now weighs about 0.9 ounces. I drilled a new lanyard hole (if there's anything I've learned here, it's that everything must have a lanyard hole). I'm going to toss it in my backpack until I find something better. But for $5 and not much elbow grease, I'm happy with how it came out.

Disclaimer: I frequently do things that make my friends wonder if I'll live another year. For all I know, I've made this sharpener unsafe. I don't think so, but could be. Please use your good sense and don't get hurt.

I have one of those that I got a Walmart. I agree with your experiences & assessment of it. The surgical suggestion is a good one & I will probably alter mine also. (amputation of unnecessary parts)

I’ve tried about all the mini crock sticks I could buy. They can put a good edge on your knife. I have since tried all the small diamond plates I can get my hands on. I have in the past year come to agree with Ragnar of Ragweed Forge.

“Two Sided Diamond Plate
If I were starting over, and buying a single tool to sharpen my knives, this is what I would get. It has a medium surface on one side and a fine surface on the other. It's 4" long, 1 1/4" wide, and less than 1/16" thick (.055"). $14

If I were going to add anything, I'd get something for a super fine finish or strop. The Viking whetstones shown below would be excellent. The $1 ceramic sticks listed below would also be good.

The single sided plates shown below are a close second, and actually fit a wallet better. I prefer the slightly greater length of the double-sided plates however. “

The diamond plates do a better job of getting a good edge on my knifes. I sharpen them with the medium side if needed. Then I sharpen them again with the fine surface. When they are paper cutting sharp, I strop the blade on cardboard or leather. You will then have a blade that will slide through paper very smoothly. It still will not cut wood as well as a Mora but that is another story.

Ragnar’s two-sided diamond plate is sitting in my PSK right now.

Craig,

Thanks for the tip about the diamond plate. I'd likely pick it over the Smith's-on-a-diet if I were better at sharpening knives. Do you know, off hand, how much it weighs? Is it at all fragile?

Holding a consistent angle when sharpening is tough for me when I'm clean, dry, and warm. At home I've been able to make good use of Spyderco's EdgeMaker. Holding a knife straight up and down, I can do. For the backpack, unless I get better at sharpening, I feel the need to stick with something that will put a usable edge on a knife when I'm tired, wet and hungry, even if it will make the folks at Benchmade cry.

I know that my inexperience really limits what sharpeners I can make good use of. Are there any sharpeners usable by novices that are lighter or better than my hacked-down Smith's?

Wayne,

The diamond plate is about as thick as a credit card. I don't think it weighs much more than the Smith sharpener. It is very ridged. It is made of nickle like a coin. They are perfectly flat so you can get a good edge.

There are many other gentlemen here that can describe how to sharpen a knife better than me.

Here is a feeble effort:
1. Use a magic marker to mark the bevel part of the edge on your knife.
2. On one side tilt the knife until you are wiping the marker off of the edge evenly. You will then be at the correct angle.
3. Stay on one side until you grind the blade all the way to the edge.
4. Keep going until the edge starts to curl. This is the wire edge.
5. Only now flip the knife over and do the same thing on the other side.
6. Once the wire edge forms on the other side then do some light sharpening by flipping it back and forth.
7. The knife should now be paper cutting sharp.
8. Now drag the blade (non edge first) on some cardboard. If you have a stropping leather even better. Cardboard works good.
9. You could now have a knife that will slip through paper by just holding the knife and pulling the paper like me! <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Any other sources? Ragnar's site lists them as "out of stock" <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Sorry sir!

I have never seen the two-sided plate anywhere else. I am sure that Ragnar will get more in stock.