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Last Updated on November 23, 2023 by bluefuze
Learn Best Way to Sharpen a Pocket Knife (Even Without a Sharpener)!
A pocket knife is one of the most versatile tools that you can ever buy. When you’re home trying to open a package, cut an apple or remove some staples from paper, a pocket knife will come in handy. It’s also amazingly useful when you’re outside because you can use it to cut a dog’s leash or a seatbelt in case of an emergency. However, without a sharp pocket knife, none of this will be possible.
No matter how good your pocket knife is, it will get dull after regular use. A dull knife takes more force to use, and the results won’t be as satisfactory. Keep on reading to learn about the best way to sharpen a pocket knife.
We will discuss best way to sharpen a pocket knife if you don’t have a sharpener handy, but also if you do.
We’ll also talk about water-stones, oil-stones, and diamond stones. Some of the sharpeners mentioned are:
- The CWINDY whetstone is made of premium white corundum. It has excellent features of self-sharpening. To guarantee the quality, it goes through 17 processes and 3 inspections.
- Combination oilstone has 100 grit on one face for repairing steel cutting edges and 320 grit on the opposite face for sharpening and maintaining them
- Details: Full length 8-inch, width: 4.62-inch, weight: 1.07 lbs. This bench stone includes a base to ensure the stone is fixed in place while sharpening.
How to Sharpen a Knife Without a Sharpener
A sharp pocket knife is an excellent investment, but there will be a time when you need to sharpen a knife without having the necessary tools. Even if you don’t have a knife sharpener, you can still keep the blade in excellent condition. Here are a few techniques that you can use to sharpen your pocket knife.
Use an Old Coffee Mug
This method won’t work if the mug is polished. The mug should have a rough bottom that you can use to sharpen the blade.
Place the mug upside down on a table and put a piece of cloth under it to keep it stable. Place the blade at a 10-degrees angle and move the blade until it’s sharp. Turn the blade to the other side to make sure that the edge has been properly sharpened.
Use a Nail File
Compared to a sharpening stone, a nail file is lightweight, portable, and easy to use. Hold the nail file and place the blade at a 10-degrees angle and move it towards the blade. Once one side has been sharpened, sharpen the other side.
Use Another Knife
You might not have a tool that can be used to sharpen your pocket knife when you’re on a survival adventure away from home, but some of your friends might have appropriate knives that you can use to sharpen your blade.
The key isn’t to use the blade of the knife to sharpen yours, as this will damage both blades. Instead, use the back of the blade to sharpen your knife. Place the blade of the knife at a 10-degrees angle to the back of the blade of the other knife and start moving it. Flip it over to sharpen it from the other side.
Use a Flat Rock
If you’re on a backpacking or hiking trip, this might be the most practical option. It’s easy to find a suitable flat rock that you can use to sharpen your pocket knife.
Pick up a suitable flat rock and wash it with water to clean and moisten it. Place the blade of the knife at a 10-degrees angle, facing away from you. Stroke the blade until it’s sharp, and flip it to the other side to make sure that the blade has been sharpened on both sides.
Use a Car Window
If you have been enjoying a tailgate party, the car window might be the only tool available to sharpen your knife’s blade. This is a successful method because the edge of the window isn’t polished like the rest of it. This means you can use it to keep your blade sharp.
Keep the blade at a 10-degrees angle and stroke the blade into the window, away from you. Flip the knife and sharpen the other side of the blade.
Use a Broken Glass Bottle
This will also work if you’re away from home. The broken bottle’s edge is unpolished, just like the edge of the window and it can sharpen your pocket knife.
Place the edge of the pocket knife at a 10-degrees angle and stroke the edge in a smooth movement. Once the blade has been sharpened, flip it to the other side to make sure that both sides are sharp.
Sharpening Stone Oil VS Water
A sharpening stone is the most potent way to sharpen a pocket knife. You can use the knife wet or dry, but using it wet will deliver a better result.
Both oil and water can be used to lubricate your sharpening stone. Water is more accessible and works best when you’re using a diamond sharpening stone.
It’s recommended to use water as a lubricant when you’re using synthetic or man-made whetstones and ceramic sharpening stones. If you’re a camper or hiker, water will be more practical to use because you won’t have to carry oil while you’re spending time away from home.
For better results, you can use oil to lubricate your sharpening stone. Oil helps the stones hold their flatness better, but it’s more expensive than water.
Once you start using oil to lubricate your sharpening stone, you won’t be able to use water. Moreover, you need to make sure that the stone has been frequently and adequately cleaned.
| Prime | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Top | Water-stone: CWINDY 1000/6000 Grit Sharpening Stone Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stones Waterstones Wetstones Wet Stones Knife Sharpener Stones Angle Guide, Bamboo Base and Fix Stone Included | PrimeEligible | Check Price Now |
Top | Oil-stone: Norton 614636855653 IB8 1-by-2-by-8-Inch Fine/Coarse India Combination Oilstone, Red | PrimeEligible | Check Price Now |
Are Diamond Sharpening Stones Good?
Diamond stones are made of small diamonds that have been attached to a metal surface. Some diamond stones feature holes to catch the filings and chips, and they’re very fast and easy to use.
The other type of diamond stones features a continuous diamond surface to make sure that your tool won’t get caught while you’re sharpening it. Here are some of the advantages of diamond sharpening stones.
- They provide fast sharpening.
- Compared to other sharpening stones, diamond stones last for long.
- It can be used to sharpen the most challenging types of steel and other metals.
- Diamond sharpening stones can be used to flatten oil and water stones.
However, these stones come with a few limitations that you need to consider.
- They’re more expensive than other sharpening stones.
- You can’t have a mirror finish with a diamond sharpening stone.
- Details: Full length 8-inch, width: 4.62-inch, weight: 1.07 lbs. This bench stone includes a base to ensure the stone is fixed in place while sharpening.
- Coarse Style: Fine (25 micron/600 mesh) restores to a fine edge any knife or tool that is slightly dull. Coarse (45 microns/ 325 mesh) quickly restores a dull edge to cutting condition.
- DMT micronized monocrystalline diamond surface is super abrasive and reliable to provide long lasting performance. The monocrystalline structure offers greater sharpening speed and our diamond uniformity prevents the surface from breaking apart.
- This ultra-hard diamond surface sharpener comes highly recommended and produces a sharp edge with few a easy strokes. One advantage of this sharpener is that there is no need to add oil or water to the surface, making it easy to operate in all conditions.
- DMT a U.S manufactured brand, is committed to fit your specific needs and ensure great initial results. Our brand is focused on providing ongoing education, tutorials, video demonstrations and much more for success with all our products.
- Excellent counter or bench use for sharpening a variety of knives and edges plus a continuous diamond zone for small and pointed tools
- Two sided sharpening with coarse diamond to transform a dull edge and fine diamond for a razor sharp edge
- Sharpens knives faster than conventional stones with DMTs monocrystalline diamond surface
- No oil is needed-sharpen dry or with water
- Durable construction will provide years of consistent performance and reliable service
Wrap Up
You need to regularly sharpen your pocket knife to make sure that it’s sharp and ready to use. Even if you don’t have a sharpening stone, there are lots of tools that you can use inside and outside the house to keep the edge sharp.
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