Recent Comments

Sharpening a pocketknife

Q. When and how should I sharpen my pocketknives?

— Dull Dale, Colts Neck, N.J.

A. How often you sharpen your pocketknife depends mostly on how often you use it. Basically when the blade feels dull to the touch or if it starts to feel awkward cutting with your knife, it’s time to do a little sharpening.

Click here to check out our online video tutorial on how to sharpen a knife.


Ask the Gear Guy

Not sure which gear to buy? Need tips for maintaining your equipment? Click here to send in your questions for the Gear Guy. Selected questions will be answered here and in the printed magazine.

44 Comments on Sharpening a pocketknife

  1. Nice sharpening skills. like it.

  2. how much does whet stone usually cost?

  3. I just use a kitchen knife sharpener

  4. How do I sharpen my ridged knife

  5. Anonymous // May 8, 2013 at 8:20 pm // Reply

    Were would you buy a wetstone

  6. I’m broke, and I use my Swiss for whittling, can I use any natural resources to sharpen my blade?

  7. RedneckGirl97 // January 31, 2012 at 6:48 pm // Reply

    what if i don’t have a sharpening stone or lubricant?!

    • your screwed! just kidding. If you dont have one go buy one or buy the one that knife xpert suggested for only $15 what could go worng?

  8. i have a few new knifes, i have just one issue. it takes a lot of work to get the blade out, especially with multi tools, they have have notches for help but usually they are too far down to help.

  9. can you use a plain old stone if it has a certen texture

  10. Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // October 16, 2011 at 10:36 am // Reply

    I can’t sharpen a knife worth beans with a stone. so I use smiths Edge Pro Pull-Thru sharpener(average price is $15) GREAT sharpener! first for a dull or really dull blade pull you knife thru the course side about 35 times (or when the knife feels sharp) then switch to the fine stones to put a razor edge on it.(pull it thru the fine about 55 or more times)

  11. thanks will try that now

  12. Unspeakable // April 14, 2011 at 6:59 pm // Reply

    Time to sharpen my swiss

  13. i dont know how to sharpen my knife with out a stone

  14. nacholibre // July 15, 2010 at 2:05 pm // Reply

    how do i sharpen my pocket knife?

  15. bowieknife // June 13, 2010 at 5:38 pm // Reply

    My granpa gave me a knife that sez “old timer” on it. where do they sell these knives?

  16. bowieknife // June 13, 2010 at 5:36 pm // Reply

    i just got a new swiss army knife. it’s really dull. how can i get a nice, sharp edge? i don’t know if my sharpening stone is coarse or fine- my granpa gave it 2 me

  17. How do i sharpen a pocket knife if i dont want to buy a whetstone or any sharpening tool? I might buy a sharpener but right not i cant.

  18. tootalltoreply // January 25, 2010 at 1:14 pm // Reply

    were can i get a whetstone or any stone that can sharpen a knife

  19. Bleeding Fingers // December 7, 2009 at 5:26 pm // Reply

    Most knives come with “factory” edge. In other words, they are unsharpened. If you want a really sharp edge on your knife, try keeping the back of the blade about the width of a dime above the sharpening stone. It’ll take longer, but in the long run, you will have a razor sharp edge if you do it right.

  20. well ill try this on my 30 knifes and re post on how good it works, if i have time to repost. on the farm knifes can get really dull so i might carry a sharpening stone with me……. that would be a good idea if you have to sharpen a knife on the farm or any were else.

  21. connor the man // December 22, 2008 at 1:06 pm // Reply

    i have millions of knives and sharpening stones.the rogher the blade the rougher the sharpening stone (A.K.A a whetstone)

  22. thanks

  23. I will try that THANKS!

  24. you will not need to sharpen a more expensive knife as much Swiss army is a good brand they sell good ones as cheap as ten dollars

    • Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) // November 21, 2011 at 10:14 pm // Reply

      actually swiss army knifes are most often made of 440 steel. which will dull just as fast as a regular knife. Swiss Army is a OK brand, but their steel is just regular 440, nothing special.

  25. I will try it!

  26. That is a good way to sharpen a knife, what if Ido not have a sharpener?

  27. I usually use a kitchen sharpener

  28. Missingfingers // October 5, 2008 at 7:04 pm // Reply

    After you finish sharpening a knife place it blade down on your fingernail and gently try to move it back and forth, if it doesn’t move close it up and stow it.

  29. Cut Fingers in Round Valley // October 5, 2008 at 6:58 pm // Reply

    Porcelain can give you a fine edge.

  30. NOW I can sharpen my knife

  31. buckknives11 // September 8, 2008 at 4:44 pm // Reply

    good tip i will try it on all 3 of my knives

  32. i was wondering this myself. thanks

  33. Mother Nature in Las Vegas // August 31, 2008 at 8:39 am // Reply

    Nice video on knife and axe sharpening. I’ve recommended it to all of my new Scouts.

Leave a Reply to knifeista Cancel reply

Please don't use your real name.