Thread: Best knife sharpening system?

Originally Posted by Cordite

Best knife sharpening system: as rarely as possible. Achieve by using a steel which straightens + work hardens the edge.

Once you use a stone etc. you sacrifice steel. Use such only if/when your steel does not do the trick.

Feel free to disagree.

(The 1200 grit wet and dry is by the way great to get your carbon blade to a mirror shine, not just for the edge - something to do at the camp fire).

A steel works awesome on softer edges that have a tendency to roll. Typically doesn't do shit on harder modern steels as they don't tend to roll anywhere near as much. A strop and compound is a much more effective way of maintaining a hard steel edge.