All About Pocket Knives

I need some advice on sharpenening my edc pocket knives.
Can you recommend a small pocket sharpener that sharpens dry for touch up on the go?
Is steel too rough on the blade? Dad left some very smooth stones that take ages to sharpen.
Do sharpening stones need water or oil or do they sharpen dry? I remember him putting oil on a rather large coarse dark grey stone.
Maybe there's a forum link to what I need?
Thanks!

I like small pocket stones that are about 4x1". You can get them in diamond, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, arkansas and maybe even a few more options. I use water on all my stones, it works fine and is more practical than oil. I wouldn't sharpen dry unless there was literally no source of water or other lubricant at my location.

Take a gander at these: https://www.dmtsharp.com/sharpeners/fol ... d-diafold/

I've used DMT sharpeners for many years with superb results, you won't be disappointed.

This is a handy little item from Lansky I picked up at a gun shop. ftd

fergusontd wrote: This is a handy little item from Lansky I picked up at a gun shop. ftdPicsArt_02-07-09.15.20.jpg

I just purchased one of those.....haven't used it yet.

I have used one of these EZE-LAP pocket sharpeners for years. It reverses into the cap to carry in your pocket. There are probably other brands of similar diamond file type sharpeners like this available and for touch ups are used dry.

OLDE CUTLER wrote:I have used one of these EZE-LAP pocket sharpeners for years. It reverses into the cap to carry in your pocket. There are probably other brands of similar diamond file type sharpeners like this available and for touch ups are used dry.
IMG_1985.JPG

One of these is pretty handy for your pocket use. Getting back to using oil or water, I always use oil or water on water stones or oil stones, if you don't, they will get filled up with metal filings and be worthless after a few uses. I use oil in the shop and wash the stones after use with hot soapy water, then apply oil before using and wipe them off before washing. Keep them clean by all means. Terry

fergusontd wrote: This is a handy little item from Lansky I picked up at a gun shop. ftdPicsArt_02-07-09.15.20.jpg

I had the impression that those V sharpeners are quick but they peel off too much metal.
Good suggestions! Thanks.

I like a 3" x1" stone for my pocket. This is one of the best I have used. This one is almost new, I dropped my old one on a concrete floor and it broke into five pieces. You cannot complain about the price. I think it works okay without water or oil. Here is a link to the seller.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/332536974364?V ... 2536974364

Edgewise wrote:

fergusontd wrote: This is a handy little item from Lansky I picked up at a gun shop. ftdPicsArt_02-07-09.15.20.jpg

I had the impression that those V sharpeners are quick but they peel off too much metal.
Good suggestions! Thanks.

I just use it for touch up, usually 4-5 swipes works great in a pinch. I keep it on my keys for my new Ram. ftd

Saliva (spit) works just fine in needed

Edgewise wrote:I need some advice on sharpenening my edc pocket knives.
Can you recommend a small pocket sharpener that sharpens dry for touch up on the go?
Do sharpening stones need water or oil or do they sharpen dry?
Thanks!

My advice is to scour the earth and flea markets and like venues for small stones.
There are many out there as well as larger stone that you should not ignore.
Here are some of my smaller stones. Not all of them are for touch up, as you desire.
The carborundum stones are better for that. The others are too hard but will refine a edge. Probably similar to your Dads stones.
I, personally, don't use oil. Water works quite well as would coffee or tea. Or oil.
Left to right ...........

1. This is perhaps a Lilly White Arkansas stone. 1 5/8" X 4 3/4"
2. White hard Arkansas. 2 X 3 7/8"
3. Ouachita stone. (Washita) 1 5/8" X 3 3/8"
4. Carborundum, coarse/fine. 1 1/2" X 4"
5. Carborundum razor hone. 2" X 4"
6. Hard Arkansas slip stone. 2" X 3"
7. Carborundum stone. 1 3/4" X 4"

Number 7 is a stone I keep in a bag that I carry from time to time.

Joe, like you I enjoy using old stones. They are not too hard to find at reasonable prices.

Don't dismiss all v sharpeners, some are ceramic rods and don't remove a lot of metal.

I can get Chinese ceramic V sharpeners for three or four dollars, free international shipping. Are they good enough?
Meanwhile I shall do like FRJ suggests and dig up a small old carborundum stone. Dad's large one looks like the grey half of #7 and a smaller one looks like #6 but still too large for pocket carry.

Edgewise wrote:I can get Chinese ceramic V sharpeners for three or four dollars, free international shipping. Are they good enough?
Meanwhile I shall do like FRJ suggests and dig up a small old carborundum stone. Dad's large one looks like the grey half of #7 and a smaller one looks like #6 but still too large for pocket carry.

For me, pull through sharpeners do not produce satisfactory results (I'm very picky). At 3-4 dollars though it wouldn't hurt to try one and see if they work out for you.

KnifeSlinger#81 wrote:Joe, like you I enjoy using old stones. They are not too hard to find at reasonable prices.

Thank you, Paul. They are very affordable. I would be surprised if I have 18 or 20 dollars in those 7 stones.
Lots of grits - lots of sizes = lots of options.

Honestly, I've had a knife with me pretty much 100% of the time since I was 6 yo. I've never felt a need to have a sharpener in my pocket, a Smith's DCS-4 is the only sharpener you will ever need. Course on one side smooth on the other 4inches long stores inside it's own handle. Fits in a pocket if you had to. Works dry if you have to. Pretty much perfect. It's a diamond sharpener so it stays perfectly flat for it's whole life. I've bought them as cheap as $14.

KnifeSlinger#81 wrote:
For me, pull through sharpeners do not produce satisfactory results (I'm very picky). At 3-4 dollars though it wouldn't hurt to try one and see if they work out for you.

Thanks for the tip. I realized that you can't choose your edge angle with a pull through.

I just read this post about knife sharpeners. Forgive me if I have posted this Info. before. I put the correct edge angle on a knife that I want to sharpen with a Lanskey knife sharpening system. When I have the basic edge that I want, I finish the edge with, first a ceramic Rod, and then, for the razor edge that I want, i use a home fashioned quartz rod. The quartz rods are better than any of the several diamond sharpeners that I own, to get that razor edge I want. I found out about the quartz rods, while working in the electric trade, many years ago. The quartz rods are found in mercury vapor bulbs, and also in high pressure sodium bulbs. They are 1/4" in diameter, and range in length, from 4" to 12" in. depending on the size of the bulb. They have the bonus, of being obtainable free. You only have to find a electrician changing burned out bulbs in parking lot lights, and beg a few. Carefully break the outer glass of the bulb, and fashion a handle, to use them. They will touch up the edge on a razor knife, or a carpet knife, or filet knife, sharper than factory new with a few strokes.

Sut Tatersaul

I've had good success with this and now use it for everything.

http://www.worksharptools.com/guided-fi ... pener.html

Although a tiny bit bigger, still reasonably small.

I bought one identical to the worksharp (is blue and has Benchmade on it, otherwise identical to the yellow worksharp), like Fisher posted, awhile ago. It works very well, but is a little large for pocket carry.
Dan

Sut Tatersaul wrote:I just read this post about knife sharpeners. Forgive me if I have posted this Info. before. I put the correct edge angle on a knife that I want to sharpen with a Lanskey knife sharpening system. When I have the basic edge that I want, I finish the edge with, first a ceramic Rod, and then, for the razor edge that I want, i use a home fashioned quartz rod. The quartz rods are better than any of the several diamond sharpeners that I own, to get that razor edge I want. I found out about the quartz rods, while working in the electric trade, many years ago. The quartz rods are found in mercury vapor bulbs, and also in high pressure sodium bulbs. They are 1/4" in diameter, and range in length, from 4" to 12" in. depending on the size of the bulb. They have the bonus, of being obtainable free. You only have to find a electrician changing burned out bulbs in parking lot lights, and beg a few. Carefully break the outer glass of the bulb, and fashion a handle, to use them. They will touch up the edge on a razor knife, or a carpet knife, or filet knife, sharper than factory new with a few strokes.

Sut Tatersaul

Sut, back in my street light changing day those quartz rods were a popular item. Wish I had saved a couple. LED's kinda ruined that.

Here is a quartz rod that I put a piece of antler on for a handle, too big for a pocket user (rod is 9" long) Works really good in the shop. I have several 3" stones that I carry for field use, the white one is a Arkansas stone and the dark brown one is a ceramic stone (hard). I'm still a believer in some type of lub, spit, water, oil, or even Coleman fuel to keep the metal particles out of the stone pores. Be careful with the quartz rod , they break if dropped! I used to have a 6 incher which is now about 2 inches! see last photo
Terry

For touch up ya can't beat the bottom of a ceramic coffee cup