How to Sharpen a Pocket Knife With a Pull-Through Sharpener

A pull-through sharpener can provide more control.

The most difficult part of sharpening any knife is achieving the correct angle when sharpening in order to get the blade as sharp as possible without causing any damage. Pull-through knife sharpeners address this challenge by providing preset angles so even a novice can effectively sharpen any knife. Though using pull-through sharpeners may not be the most effective method, sharpening a pocket knife with a pull-though sharpener is a perfect place to start for a beginner. Pocket knives are less expensive and do not need to have a razor-sharp cutting edge.

Instructions

1. 

   A pull-through sharpener is a good alternative to whetstones.

   Find the right pull-through sharpener. Use a sharpener with ceramic wheels or stones, as cheaper sharpeners with carbide insets are not as effective. The best sharpeners use two sets of ceramic insets. The first uses medium or coarse ceramic stones to remove major burrs and nicks in the blade, and the second uses fine ceramic stones to sharpen the blade more effectively.

2. Place the pull-through sharpener on a flat surface to make sure the blade runs through the sharpener evenly.

3. Open your pocket knife carefully to expose the blade to be sharpened.

4. Hold the knife to the sharpener with the part of the blade closest to the hilt, then slowly pull the blade toward you through the sharpener applying very light pressure. Let the blade glide across the sharpener. Do not press the blade down against the sharpener.

5. Check the sharpness of the blade after two or three passes to make sure the sharpener is working properly. Do this by attempting to cut a piece of paper with the blade. You can also use a potato to check the sharpness by running the blade across the peel. If the blade runs across smoothly, the blade is relatively sharp. If the blade feels jagged, you may need to sharpen the cutting edge a little more. You should not need more than a few repetitions to get the blade to the desired sharpness.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a sharpener with ceramic stones or wheels. Stay away form sharpeners using carbide insets or wheels to sharpen. These sharpeners leave rough edges on any knife blade.

• Do not press the blade down against the sharpener as this could damage the cutting edge of the blade. Remember to pull the blade across the sharpener slowly, as you will have less control of the blade the faster you go.

• Be aware at all times of the pressure you are applying to the knife. Pocket knives can fold and cause injury.

References

• Knife Steels: Using a Pull Through Knife Sharpener
• Sharpening Made Easy: Chapter 2 - A Primer on Knife Sharpening

Resources

• Art of Manliness: How to Sharpen a Pockt Knife