All About Pocket Knives

I use this pocket sharpener to touch up my blades if I’m out and about and have used my knife. Not ideal but works well in a pinch.

I'd much rather use the bottom rim of my ceramic coffee mug or the top edge of my driver's side window to touch up a blade than to use that pocket sharpener. I've found they tend to cause the blade to skip as you pull it through producing dips in the edge. Personally, I think they do more harm than good.

I agree with philco I have tried this type of sharpener and screwed up my blade , took me 15 minutes to get it back to a useable edge again.

Nice review.

Bob

The carbide pull through sharpeners never worked for me. But the pull through ceramic ones are handy on the boat or lakeside for fillet knives.
Froe

If I’m honest I touch up my blades using the diamond rod as a steel. Like I said it’s not meant to get your blade to a razor sharpness, but after an hour breaking down boxes or feathering wood for a fire, this sharpener has done the job of restoring a decent edge until I get home.

I have a pocket diamond sharpener, and have used it a couple of times, but it is by no means my favorite.
I did use it to sharpen a co-worker's knife that had a blade steel that was so hard I couldn't get an edge on it with my stone!

Froe wrote: ↑Sat Jul 30, 2022 9:45 pm The carbide pull through sharpeners never worked for me.

Same for me. I managed to ruin a Swiss Army knife blade with such a sharpener. Fortunately I'll be able to send it back for a new blade, and it looked awful when I got it.

I would suggest, in the situation you're describing, that is, in the field and needing a pocket sharpener, that this pocket sharpener which is 5"x 2"x 3/8" would be your best choice in your kit.
Some folks may not be skilled at sharpening a knife on a stone but if you found yourself with a dull knife and this somewhat coarse sharpening stone was the answer to getting you back to work you're skills would improve dramatically.
I say "loose the gadgets".