The most important tool in any hunter’s kit is a trusty knife, and a sharp one at that. Not only are knives used for skinning and butchering game, but if you’re an avid hunter, you’ll want a number of different knives for different tasks like field dressing, skinning, and butchering game. A dull knife can make a task like field dressing a challenge and butchering game can be near impossible.
To help you find the best knife for you, we’ve rounded up the best hunting knives on the market and the best knife sharpeners.
Read on to find the best knife for you.
Our Editor’s Best Hunting Knife Sharpeners Reviews
- 6 FUNCTION: 1. No. 1 V-Notch slot (Coarse CARBIDE)-Quickly set a new edge; 2. No. 2 (Fine CERAMIC)-Hone for a smooth finished edge; 3. Tapered diamond rod (Medium 400 Grit) for serrations & gut hooks; 4. Diamond rod with groove for fishhooks; 5. Ferro rod; 6. High-pitched emergency whistle
- A portable EDC field survival knife sharpener with built-in lanyard hole, ideal for hunting, camping, outdoor survival use. It also works well for your kitchen chef knife.
- DURABLE ABRASIVES & SUPERIOR SHARPENING PERFORMANCE: The CARBIDE and CERAMIC abrasives pass 10,000 times field use test. NEVER WEARS OUT. Preset optimal sharpening angle.
- VERSATILE & EASY USE: This pocket knife sharpener not only quickly sharpens very dull or damaged blades, but also hone for razor sharp; Not only for straight edge but also serrated knife.
- 3 YEARS of Commitment and Superior After-Sale Service: Sharpal, headquartered in CA, US with branches in Germany and Australia, ensures easy and cost-effective sharpening solutions. All products are rigorously tested to the highest standards
- COMPLETE KNIFE SHARPENER: For field, home, or shop use designed for sportsmen who need a complete, compact field sharpening solution. The diamond plates can be easily removed to expose a broad head wrench to speed sharpening in the field.
- ALL THE TOOLS & ACCESSORIES: Includes diamond plates, ceramic rods, leather strop, and sharpening guides. The ceramic honing rod rotates to expose coarse & fine honing surfaces, as well as a grooved surface for sharpening fish hooks.
- CONSISTENT, COMPACT & DURABLE: Includes a 20-25-degree angle to customize your sharpening with 5 abrasives. Maintain a sharp edge while on the go, hunting, fishing, or camping. All elements are self-contained & require no tools, assembly, or set-up
- 3-YEAR WARRANTY: All Work Sharp sharpeners come with a comprehensive 3-year warranty. Each knife & tool sharpener is meticulously designed and quality-checked at our Oregon facility. We proudly stand behind our products.
- DESIGNED, ENGINEERED, & CALIBRATED IN OREGON: We design, engineer, and calibrate our sharpening machines all under one roof in Ashland, Oregon & ensure our products are sourced from the highest caliber manufacturers, both in the USA and globally.
- PORTABLE KNIFE SHARPENING - Perfect knife sharpener for field, home or shop use.
- ANGLE GUIDES - 20° on the 320 grit diamond plate and a 25° on the fine ceramic rod.
- COMPACT AND PRECISE DESIGN - Makes it easy to carry so you can sharpen anytime, anywhere - with speed and ease.
- NO ASSEMBLY - All elements are self-contained and require no set up or assembly in the field.
- PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN COMPANY - Work Sharp is a 4th-generation family owned company in Ashland, Oregon. For over 40 years we have been engineering industry-leading sharpening tools here in the USA.
- Easy 3-stage sharpening system for professional results at home, anytime.
- Sharpens kitchen and sport knives, even Santoku knives.
- Blade thickness selector adjusts guides to optimum sharpening angle.
- Select thick for hunting knives, medium for chef's knives and standard kitchen knives, and thin for light blades like fillet and paring knives.
- Blade guides hold knife at the perfect angle for no-guess sharpening.
- GET A SHARP EDGE IN 10 SECONDS: A sharp blade makes getting work done quickly and safely much easier. The innovative AccuSharp Knife Sharpener restores and sharpens most blades to its sharpest condition in just a few strokes, ensuring peak performance with minimal effort.
- VERSATILE & EASY TO USE: This is the ideal knife sharpener for chef's knives, paring knives, serrated knives, fillet knives, cleavers – you name it. This pocketknife sharpener not only quickly sharpens very dull or damaged blades, but also hones knives for the sharpest edge, may it be straight edge or serrated. A must-have for every knife owner.
- DIAMOND-HONED TUNGSTEN CARBIDE SHARPENER: AccuSharp sharpening blades are crafted from diamond-honed tungsten carbide, one of the hardest known materials. With its unique design, the sharpening blades can be reversed doubling its life span.
- DEPENDABLE & LONG-LASTING CONSTRUCTION: Most users report an average of 5 to 10 years between blade replacements. AccuSharp Knife Sharpeners are double-beveled and can be cleaned easily with soap and water or in your dishwasher. Crafted with high-quality materials, this knife sharpener is built to last, providing you with years of reliable sharpening.
- SAFE & ERGONOMIC DESIGN FOR COMFORT: Featuring a unique, ergonomic handle, the AccuSharp fits neatly in either hand to accommodate both right-handed and left-handed users. It includes a full-length guard that protects your fingers throughout the sharpening process. The comfortable and secure grip makes the sharpening process both safe and easy for anyone to use.
- HANDHELD KNIFE SHARPENER – Smith’s “Pocket Pal” Knife Sharpener features a fold-out diamond-coated rod and preset crossed blades for easy pull-through sharpening. The preset sharpening angles provide guaranteed results on every use!
- 2 STAGE – The pull-through coarse carbide slot provides a quick edge on dull or damaged knives & should only be used on straight edges. Fine ceramic stones provide a smooth, polished edge & can be used on serrated or standard blades.
- DIAMOND ROD – This sharpener includes a fold-out, tapered round diamond-coated rod that is designed for sharpening serrations, standard edges, small gut hooks, & fish hooks. It is great for fishing, camping, hiking, & other outdoor survival needs.
- PORTABLE – Smith’s portable multi-tool knife sharpener measures 3.5” long, and 1” wide, and weighs only 1 ounce. It also features a lanyard hole so it can easily be attached to a backpack or keychain ideal for any on-the-go adventure.
- VERSATILE – The carbide and ceramic stones are reversible & replaceable for extended sharpening. Smith’s compact Pocket Pal sharpener is perfect for fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, and other outdoor survival needs.
- MINI 2-STEP SHARPENER – Smith’s 2-Step Pull-Through Sharpener has two stages of sharpening, coarse and fine. This portable, lightweight, must-have outdoor accessory will quickly sharpen fillet knives, pocket knives, and hunting knives!
- GUARANTEED RESULTS – The crossed tungsten carbide blades & crossed ceramic rods are preset sharpening angles for guaranteed results. With 3 to 4 strokes through the slot, the tungsten carbide sharpening slot will restore the edge of a very dull blade.
- VERSATILE – Smith’s 2-Stage Sharpener can be used on all types of knives and is especially handy for fillet knives. The crossed ceramic rods will provide a smooth edge on already sharp knives for razor sharpness & are perfect for keeping knives sharp.
- PORTABLE– Our compact sharpener measures 2.33” x 2.71”, weighs under 2 ounces, & will easily fit in your pocket, hunting pack, or tackle box! Smith’s outdoor sharpener features a lanyard hole that can be easily attached to a keychain or backpack.
- FLOATS – Smith’s 2-Stage Sharpener is perfect for all your hunting, fishing, and outdoor adventures and it even floats in water! The compact sharpener features non-slip rubber feet for added safety during use and can easily be cleaned with a damp cloth.
- MINI TACTICAL SHARPENER – Smith’s “Pocket Pal” Mini Tactical Knife Sharpener features a G-10 handle with a stainless-steel frame, a fold-out diamond-coated rod, and preset crossed carbides and ceramic stone for easy pull-through sharpening.
- 2 STAGE – The pull-through coarse carbide slot provides a quick edge on dull or damaged knives & should only be used on straight edges. Fine ceramic stones provide a smooth, polished edge & can be used on serrated or standard blades.
- DIAMOND ROD – This sharpener includes a fold-out, tapered round diamond-coated rod that is designed for sharpening serrations, standard edges, small gut hooks, & fish hooks. It is great for fishing, camping, hiking, & other outdoor survival needs.
- PORTABLE – Smith’s Mini Tactical Knife Sharpener measures 3.2” long x 1” wide & weighs 2 ounces! It is designed to easily take on the go and fit into your pocket. It also features a lanyard hole so it can easily be attached to a backpack or keychain.
- GUARANTEED RESULTS – The 2-Stage crossed carbide blades & ceramic stone have preset angles that provide guaranteed results with every use. Smith’s compact sharpener is perfect for fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, and other outdoor survival needs.
- 2-STAGE SHARPENER – Smith’s Adjustable Angle Pull-Through Knife Sharpener has two stages of sharpening, coarse and fine, for all types of straight-edge knives and features a fixed angle slot for sharpening serrated edge blades.
- VERSATILE – It’s a must-have outdoor accessory and will quickly sharpen fillet knives, pocket knives, hunting knives, and various-size hooks! The 2-stage adjustable sharpening slots feature a grind on both sides for quick & efficient sharpening.
- ADJUSTABLE ANGLE – This versatile sharpener features 6 angle settings (14-24 degrees). Simply turn the knob to adjust the coarse and fine abrasive components to match the grind angle of your knife & pull your knife through the slot(s).
- NON-SLIP BASE – The adjustable angle slots for straight blades and the fixed-angle slot for serrated edges, make it quick & easy to sharpen a variety of knives. The sharpener features a soft grip handle & a non-slip base for comfortable safe sharpening.
- REPLACEABLE BLADES – The carbides and ceramic rods are replaceable so no need to buy a whole new sharpener, just replace the abrasive components and keep on sharpening. This compact tool is great to have when fishing or hunting.
- 2-STAGE SHARPENER – Smith’s 4” Diamond Combination Sharpener has a two-sided sharpening stone that features coarse and fine grit surfaces for 2-stage sharpening. Each side is color coded and clearly labeled for easy grit recognition.
- MICRO-SHARPENING PAD – Each side features a micro-tool sharpening pad and sharpening groove that is perfect for fish hooks and pointed tools. This sharpener also features a lanyard loop for easy attachment to any bag or pack.
- INNOVATIVE DESIGN – Both sides of the stone sharpening surfaces contain multiple layers of micron-sized monocrystalline diamonds and a unique interrupted surface design that speeds up sharpening by collecting and holding the metal fillings.
- PORTABLE – Smith’s 4” Diamond Combination Sharpener’s handle features a rubber grip and stores and protects the sharpening stones when you are done! Simply detach the stone from the handle & insert the stone into the handle opening for compact storage.
- SAFE & EASY TO USE – The soft grip rubber handle provides extra grip for stability during sharpening and features a thumb guard for added protection. This sharpener is a must-have for the field, camping, fishing, hunting, & outdoor activities.
Best Hunting Knife Sharpeners Buying Guide
Before choosing the best hunting knife sharpener you should consider following options:
1. Angle of the sharpener: The angle of the sharpener is one of the first things to check. If you are looking for a sharpener that is portable, you want to make sure that it is designed at a sharp enough angle to do the job.
Sharpening a knife with a dull edge requires a steeper angle to get the job done, so you want to make sure that the sharpener you choose is at a high enough angle to get the job done.
2. Grit: Most sharpeners will have a series of different grits. These different grits help sharpen different parts of the knife edge.
The coarser grits will remove more steel from the edge to get the edge sharper, but it will also remove more material overall.
The finer grits will remove less steel from the edge, but it will also leave a finer edge. The finer the grit, the longer the edge will last.
3. Steel: You need to make sure that the steel that is used in the sharpener is high quality.
Cheaper sharpeners use lower quality steel that will dull quicker and leave a rougher edge. Look for sharpeners with higher quality steel so that they will sharpen your knife sharper with a finer edge, but they will also last longer.
4. Design: You also want to make sure that the sharpener is designed for long-term use. This means that the sharpener will be easy to use and that it will have an ergonomic design.
You also want to make sure that the sharpener is durable. Look for sharpeners that are made from high quality materials, such as a durable plastic, or sharpeners that have a strong aluminum casing.
What else you should know about hunting knife sharpeners
1. What is the best hunting knife sharpener?
The best hunting knife sharpener is the one that is best suited to the type of knife you are using. If you are using a carbon steel knife, then a honing rod is the best option. If you are using a stainless steel knife, then a diamond sharpener is the best option.
2. How do you sharpen a hunting knife?
There are a few ways to sharpen a hunting knife. You can use a honing rod, a sharpening stone, or a sharpening steel.
3. What are the different types of hunting knife sharpeners?
The most common types of hunting knife sharpeners are handheld sharpeners, electric sharpeners, and honing rods.
4. How do you choose a hunting knife sharpener?
There are a variety of considerations when choosing a hunting knife sharpener including the type of blade, the size of the sharpener, and the level of sharpness desired.
5. How do you use a hunting knife sharpener?
To use a hunting knife sharpener, you will need to hold the sharpener in one hand and the hunting knife in the other. Place the blade of the hunting knife against the sharpener at a 10 to 20-degree angle. Apply light pressure and move the blade back and forth across the sharpener until it is sharp.
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best hunting knife sharpeners. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best hunting knife sharpeners will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.