3 Easy Ways to Sharpen a Pocket Knife at Home

How to choose and use the best whetstone or guided system for your favorite blade

What good is a knife that’s so dull it won’t cut anything? Pocket knives are handy and can be used for all types of things—carving wood, cutting up boxes, opening food packages, and more. With such frequent use, it’s no wonder that folding knives need extra sharpening. Thankfully, it’s easy to do at home. Just wet a sharpening stone and sweep your blade across the surface away from you, matching the angle or bevel of the blade. About 5–10 swipes per side usually does the trick! Read on to learn more about this and other methods to sharpen your pocket knife.

Sharpening Folding Knives with Stone

  1. Place the knife on a sharpening stone with the blade facing away from you.
  2. Sweep the knife down and off the end of the stone.
  3. Repeat this movement about 12 times, or until there’s a sharp edge.
  4. Sharpen the other side of the blade with about 6-8 sweeping motions.
  5. Repeat the entire process on a finer-grit stone to refine and polish the blade.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

How to Sharpen a Pocket Knife with a Stone

PDF download Download Article
  1. Select a stone that has dimensions of at least 2 by 6 inches (5.1 cm × 15.2 cm) to make your sharpening job easier. Some of the most common commercial options for sharpening stones include diamond stones, ceramic stones, and whetstones. [1]
    • Diamond stones : These stones are the hardest, longest-lasting, and will sharpen your blade the quickest, but they’re the most expensive.
    • Ceramic stones : These stones last longer and will sharpen your blade faster than a whetstone, but they’re more challenging to use. They must be soaked in water for 3-5 minutes before use.
    • Whetstone : These stones are generally considered the easiest to use and are made from fine to coarse grit stone. You must soak your whetstone in cold, clean water for ten minutes before you sharpen your blade on it.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Sharpen a Pocket Knife
    Some stones require lots of water while others only need a trickle and many require no lubrication at all. [2] Follow the package instructions for whatever specific sharpening stone you purchased.
    • Some knife sharpening experts also recommend using a lubricant such as mineral oil , which can be found at most hardware stores. [3]
    Advertisement
  3. Use soap and water to wipe the blade clean and remove any residual dirt or grease. Dry it completely with a clean cloth. [4] While cleaning the knife, check for any nicks in the blade that might require more gently handling when being sharpened.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Sharpen a Pocket Knife
    The blade of every knife is honed at a particular angle to suit the purpose of the knife—when sharpening, you want to match that angle. [5] Contact your pocket knife’s manufacturer or look for the information in your owner’s manual.
    • Alternatively, you can go into your local knife shop for help or search online for the bevel angle of your specific knife.
    • Victorinox, one of the most popular pocket knife manufacturers, recommends sharpening their Swiss Army knife blades at a 15-20 degree angle on both sides. [6]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Sharpen a Pocket Knife
    With the blade facing away from you, place the knife at the proper edge angle against the stone. Sweep the knife down and off the end of the stone. Repeat as many times as necessary to produce a sharp edge, usually about 5-10 times. [7]
    • Blades that are curved or longer than your whetstone will need to be swept down and across the stone to evenly sharpen the entire blade.
    • Keep your hand steady and maintain the angle throughout the entire sharpening stroke. If not, you may end up putting a rounded edge on the blade instead of a sharp edge.
    • Use the same angle each time you sharpen the knife. Keeping the angle consistent is more important than the actual angle itself.
    • Some pocket knife users recommend tracing the entire edge of the blade with a Sharpie. When sharpening, you’ll be able to see if your angle is correct and know to stop when the ink has all been removed. [8]
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Sharpen a Pocket Knife
    Flip the knife over and draw the blade across and off the stone. Repeat this step 6-8 times or until a sharp edge is achieved.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Sharpen a Pocket Knife
    Flip the stone over so that the finer side is facing up. Run your blade, at its proper bevel angle, along the finer side of the stone. Doing this will remove any bumps or 'burrs' that may have formed along the edge of the blade during the sharpening process. [9]
    • Instead of using the finer side of the stone, you can also run each side of the blade down a honing rod at an angle more open than the one you held the blade at to sharpen it.
    • The honing rod removes the burrs and fine tunes the blade's sharpness. Honing is also a quick way to refresh an edge in between sharpenings.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Sharpen a Pocket Knife
    Hold up a piece of paper and try to slice down through the paper with your knife. A sharp blade will easily slide through the paper. [10]
    • You can also test for any rounded part of the blade or imperfections by holding your knife up to a light and looking for a bright reflection of light.
    • Reflections exist only when there is a rounded edge somewhere along your knife, or a section of a knife that is no longer sharp.
  9. Follow the manufacturer instructions to wipe down and dry your sharpening stone. Steel particles left on your sharpening stone will eventually rust and make it impossible to effectively use the stone.
    10. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

How to Sharpen a Pocket Knife with a Guided System

PDF download Download Article
  1. Set your guided sharpening system to sharpen at the same angle as your knife’s bevel edge. If you’re not sure what your knife’s bevel angle is, check the owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer.
    • For a professionally-sharp blade, try an angle between 15-17 degrees. For a tougher edge, set the system to a more obtuse angle like 22-25 degrees. [11]
    • Make sure your guided system will hold the knife in a fixed position where the angle won’t change during the sharpening process.
  2. Trace your knife’s blade with a permanent marker and clamp it into the system. Select the lowest-grit stone to sharpen the blade against. Use a back-and-forth motion to slide your blade from heel-to-tip along the stone. [12]
    • Repeat this process on both sides of the blade. Make sure there’s no trace of the marker left before deciding your blade is sufficiently sharpened.
  3. Change the stone to the next-highest grit and re-sharpen the stone until the scratch patterns have disappeared. Repeat this step on both sides and on each level of stone until your blade has a smooth, mirror-like finish.
    • Unclamp the knife from the guided system—it’s ready for immediate use.
    4. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

How to Sharpen a Pocket Knife with a Honing Rod

PDF download Download Article
  1. For safety, place the tip on an old tea towel on top of your chopping block or cutting board. [13] The rod should be held straight up and down so that it is perfectly vertical.
    • The most common type of rod is a steel honing rod , which is also known as sharpening steel. It is a very effective and reliable way to sharpen your knife.
    • Rods can also be made out of ceramic and diamond. Both of these materials are reliable because they are two of the hardest materials in existence.
    • Diamond rods are known to create smoother blades than ceramic ones , but both will sharpen knives very quickly.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Sharpen a Pocket Knife
    Go to your local knife shop or hardware store and ask them to determine the angle of your knife if you don't feel confident that you have the right angle. Pocket knives should generally be held at a 15 to 20 degree angle. [14]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Sharpen a Pocket Knife
    Swipe slowly and use a light touch—avoid using a lot of pressure to press the knife against the rod. Move the knife from heel to tip as you swipe it down along the rod, maintaining the same angle throughout the stroke. [15]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Sharpen a Pocket Knife
    If your knife is relatively sharp, you should only have to swipe the knife along the rod a couple of times on each side. If your knife is very dull, you will have to swipe the knife several more times. [16]
    • Keep in mind that honing rods are not really meant for sharpening a blade—their main purpose is to hone the blade, which can have a similar effect that suits most people’s purposes. [17]
    5. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Do I need to strop the knife after honing?
    Community Answer
    It's not required, but it will clean up any burs and make your knife sharper.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 19
  • Question
    How do I know when to sharpen my knife?
    Community Answer
    When you look at the edge against the light and the sharp edge looks round and shiny.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 13
  • Question
    How do I sharpen the top of the knife?
    Community Answer
    Use a rock that isn't mostly chalk. Slate rock are usually the most effective. Put the knife at an angle pointing away from you body and push down until you get to the point of the knife. Make sure to do this one both sides to ensure a good sharp edge.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 19 Helpful 13
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • You should sharpen your pocket knife approximately every 2-3 months depending on how much you use it. Sharpening your folding knife regularly helps to avoid any cuts or other accidents caused by dull knives.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
      • As an extra step, you can use a leather strop to make your pocket knife even sharper. Place your knife on the strop at the desired angle and slowly draw your knife in a backward motion from heel to tip. Repeat this step seven times on each side of the blade.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • The maximum suggested angle for sharpening a pocket knife is 30-45º. If you go beyond this range, you may never get your knife sharpened the way you want it.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Show More Tips

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • While you're still a beginner, practice your sharpening techniques with your least favorite knife. If you mess it up, you won't be too sad!
      • You can also strop the knife with a piece of cardboard. Just glue a piece of cardboard and glue it to a wooden block and there you have it!
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • As you may have guessed, sharpening a knife can be dangerous. Use utmost caution when sharpening your knife, regardless of the method you use.
        Thanks
        Helpful 45 Not Helpful 18
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Wrap a Knife Handle with Paracord
      How to
      Close a Pocket Knife
      How to
      Use a Cutting Torch
      How to
      Measure Chainsaw Chain
      How to
      Replace an Axe Handle
      How to
      Sharpen a Hand Saw
      How to
      Sharpen Pinking Shears
      How to
      Use a Punch Down Tool
      How to
      Use a Reciprocating Saw
      How to
      Sharpen an Axe
      How to
      Use an Angle Grinder
      An Ultimate Guide on How to Use a Laser Cutter
      How to
      Loosen up a Stiff Knife
      How to
      Cut a Straight Line
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.woodmagazine.com/tool-reviews/chisels/shop-tested-sharpening-stones
      2. ↑ https://www.woodmagazine.com/tool-reviews/chisels/shop-tested-sharpening-stones
      3. ↑ http://www.artofmanliness.com/2009/03/05/how-to-sharpen-a-pocket-knife/
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/AnPlBdoHyJs?t=25
      5. ↑ https://knifeaid.com/blogs/knife-mastery/correct-angle-knife-blade
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/ObesRW7kThE?t=43
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/IwbRp9F57SQ?t=404
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/7Q_b8n2MW0g?t=138
      9. ↑ http://www.lovetheoutdoors.com/how-to-sharpen-a-knife-with-a-whetstone/
      1. ↑ https://knifeaid.com/blogs/knife-mastery/how-to-test-the-sharpness-of-a-knife
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/iniN9_ETDNw?t=163
      3. ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/knife-skills-how-to-sharpen-a-knife
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/ObesRW7kThE?t=39
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/ObesRW7kThE?t=46
      6. ↑ http://www.steamykitchen.com/1709-how-to-sharpen-your-knives.html
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/ObesRW7kThE?t=51
      8. ↑ http://www.steamykitchen.com/1709-how-to-sharpen-your-knives.html
      9. Videos provided by The Weavers of Eternity Paracord Tutorials

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      All you need to sharpen a pocket knife is a sharpening stone and some lubricant. Apply a lubricant such as mineral oil to the stone to prevent the stone’s pores from clogging up with grit. Glide the knife down and off the stone at the bevel angle approximately 12 times to sharpen it. Repeat the process on the other side of the blade. You can also use a honing rod to sharpen a knife. Hold the honing rod by the handle and position the tip on a countertop or table. Swipe the edge of the knife down the honing rod at the bevel angle until it is sharp. For more information about sharpening a pocket knife, like how to test if the knife is sharp using paper, read on.

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 389,085 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Anonymous

        May 29, 2017

        "The clear vocabulary combined with visual references allowed me to recognize that, as usual, my weakness in ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story
      If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission .

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement