Smith's Pocket Pal

I was traipsing through the interwebs with no intention of finding any leads, advice, or recommendations for anything. Nope. I was goofing off. I came across this Best Knife Sharpeners article and decided to read it. This article is the recommendation for the "best pocket knife sharpener", so I read it through. Smith's product was highlighted so I tapped the link which brought me to Amazon. There I read over the various consumer reviews which corroborated the initial "best of" recommendation. The Amazon price point was very generous. Also, my previous luck with other Smiths products was favorable so I bought it. The first item I decided to sharpen was a pair of serrated garden shears. Using the diamond-dusted abrasive pole I got busy sharpening the blades. The result exceeded my expectations. The garden shear blades had been restored to near perfect. I was blown away by the outcome. I ran my pocket knife through the ceramic sharpener and returned the blade to out of the box sharp! Wow. This tool is impressive. For those of you that regularly use pocket knives, serrated shears, et al this handy pocket tool will no doubt astound you as it did me. It's lightweight. Easily put to use out in the field, And, puts an edge on your blade in no time and little effort. Frankly, bruvs... What a great discovery and welcome surprise. Smith's Abrasives PP1 sharpener performs very well and has built my trust of Smith's products to a much higher level. Essentially, this sharpener gave me one of those rare "ah-ha" moments. Highly recommended. - @daFigz™

This simple tool is perfect for sharpening serrated knives. The fold-out round file fits into the serrations, and a few strokes bring each serration to sharpness. Once all the serrations are sharp, a few draws through the slot sharpener remove any burrs on the back side. The result is like-new slicing!

Excellent companion for all of your field expedient sharpening tasks. The compact size and light weight easily allows you to carry it on you, in your pack, tool or tackle box, glove compartment or just about anywhere. I placed one in each of my knife sheath pouches so regardless of the knife I choose to go with me, it's always there. I find it easy and quick to use. For edges that have really worked hard on a task, you can get a good working edge back on the blade quickly to continue your task. The diamond rod works well in a wide variety of sharpening or light reshaping tasks. I recommend a good, safe and stable work surface for the larger, thicker cutting tools. A very hard steel with an edge that has been long worn and hard used may not come back well enough for push our slice cutting but will likely allow a good enough edge to do impact cutting as in a machete. It's best to maintain edges often as the tool is not geared towards maintaining bevels that really need to be completely reworked. Also, I don't recommend it for expensive chef grade kitchen knifes. It will work but may roll the micro edge if done incorrectly. Finally, the inserts can be replaced. A well thought out handy little tool for your field work. I didn't give it 5 stars because I personally don't believe in a five star rating unless it performs every task its designed to do perfectly. In this case the compact size is a definite plus but also requires a bit of compromise in handling stability. This is overcome by following instructions and being mindful of your blade and fingers. If you are as anal about your cutting tools as I, then don't throw away all your stones, files, ceramic rods, and sharpening devices. Just augment your regimen with this very handy tool.

This Smith's PP1 Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener is probably not the absolute best or most precision method to sharpen a high quality knife blade, but it is certainly among the handiest, especially when one has a specialized task to perform. Knife purists will tell you that you need an "oil stone" or a "water stone" to put the best edge on high-quality kitchen knives, and I can personally agree with my J.A. Henckels or Victorinox kitchen knives. For those I use a Woodstock SteeleX D1130 1000 Grit and 6000 Grit Japanese Waterstone that I luckily found brand new at a garage sale. But we're talking about speed and convenience here, and that's where the Smith's PP1 sharpener works well. Likes: * Very small footprint; easy to carry in a pocket, briefcase or camera bag * Carbide blades and ceramic finishing stones are reversible and replaceable * Tapered diamond rod; very convenient for sharpening serrated blade edges * Package has easy to follow sharpening directions on the back * Nicely constructed; ergonomic, lightweight and durable Dislikes: - Preset sharpening angles on V-shaped sharpening slots may or may not be good for certain blades. Quick Note on Sharpening Angles: There are plenty of discussions on the `Net regarding which sharpening angle is best for a given knife. Some say that you should choose an angle of 10° to 30° on each side. Shallower angles make a sharper edge that doesn't last as long, while steeper angles are more durable; I compromise between 17° and 22.5° with my better knives, but the choice is yours. Don't know what angle the Smith's PP1 Pocket Pal Sharpener uses, as I haven't see it posted in their description. In any case, if you have an exceptionally good knife, check with the manufacturer's suggestions and specs. In Use: In my particular case, I needed to sharpen the serrated blade of my Victorinox Swiss Army One Hand Trekker , an excellent knife that I purchased here in 2008 and finally reviewed in early 2010. This particular knife made me put my other Swiss Army knives away as far as day-to-day functionality goes, yet the serrated blade was losing its effectiveness, probably from too much use over time. It was also gummed up a bit from cutting through packaging tape (and Amazon boxes, etc.) over time. First cleaned the serrated blade with WD-40, wiped it with a paper towel, then washed, rinsed and dried it. Following the directions on the package, I extended the tapered diamond rod and drew it through each serration, rotating it as the instructions noted. Within minutes the serrated blade was restored. Did the same with the serrated blade on my Gerber Suspension Butterfly Opening Multi-Plier , and the sharpness on that blade was easily refurbished as well. As noted earlier, it's always better to use a water stone on high-quality kitchen knives, but when you need speed and expedience, and the Smith's PP1 sharpener does its job. For a quick touch up with good cutlery, just remember to use the V-shaped slot with the ceramic finishing stones, and do it gently. I have also used the Smith's Edgeware V-Slot 10-Second Knife and Scissors Sharpener for years as a household handy item for sharpening scissors. Have also used it reshaping a few worn out kitchen knives, and it did the job quite well. Summary: For quick and dirty sharpening, the Smith's PP1 Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener does the job and does it well. For this user, it has worked very well, especially when sharpening a serrated blade by hand, and with that it's a 5-star product. For sharpening straight blades, you may wish learn to use a stone, but as admitted above, I do use this PP1 Pocket Pal when taking the time to use a wet stone is not convenient. If your need is for convenience and speed, then this one is highly recommended. 9/22/2012

Arrived on time as described, very portability to carry in the hunting bag for on the go sharpening. Good device for sharpening the gut hook part of a knife.

The rod used for serrated edges is what should make this a winner of a product, however it actually becomes the weak link. You will note the pictures of the product, and how it comes in packaging shows the rod extended out and not in the stored position - for a good reason - it is a tight fit to place it either in the fully extended or fully closed position. I understand you do not want this flopping around when in use or folded away for storage but first and foremost you are in constant danger of snapping the rod in two trying to extend and lock into position, or fold and lock into stored position, and once in the stored position extreme care is needed to keep from breaking the rod trying to get it open again. The rod is either glued or screwed on the plastic hinge, if it comes off, good luck reattaching. The overall size is nice, great for keeping with you out in the field. The ability to attach to a lanyard is a plus as are the flat sides on which to rest it when using the blade sharpening slots. The carbide sharpening blades can be rotated when one side becomes worn, the ceramic ones however can not be. Luck of the draw on if the sharpening blades (stone) is set correctly to provide the correct angle for the knife blade edge, seems a few out there are useless and dull rather than sharpen, the majority however work as advertised. Price and functionality, size, and multi-use make this a nice choice for putting a good edge back on a knife, not a keen edge but a nice and workable one...better than nothing. The round rod for serrated edges...hmmmm...not so good, if used with caution it "works". A solid three star product.

I have a number of knives for various purposes that get used a lot, from work around the yard, in my engineering work, and as pocket knives. While I take care of them often, they do get less sharp than I'd like on occasion. In the past, I've used various sharpening stones (including diamond) to bring the edges back to razor sharpness, a sometimes tedious (but relaxing) process. This sharpener, for all of $8, seemed like something I could check out. The PP1 has three sharpening tools: a carbide sharpener, a ceramic sharpener, and a conical rod (for serrated blades). The carbide portion is designed for blade edges that are truly dull or have nicks in them; I used this on an old hunting knife (1930's design) I have been trying to rehabilitate. With only a half-dozen strokes, it let me remove all but the most minor imperfections on the edge, including some rust pits. A final touch-up with the ceramic sharpener provided a nice clean and sharp edge. The ceramic sharpener is really designed for final touch-ups and re-sharpening. Because anything other than a really sharp knife is anathema to me, I was really curious as to how well the PP1 would work. Well, it works pretty darned well. My main pocket carry is an original Kershaw Chive that gets daily use. Using the ceramic sharpener brought the edge back from pretty sharp to razor sharp with only 5 strokes. I had similar results with my Benchmade Griptillian, an old Swiss Army knife (1970's style), and a much cheaper plastic-handle Kershaw. The conical sharpener, which folds into the sharpener body, is designed for serrated blade segments and also seems to work well, but takes a little more care in use. The several knives I have with serrated blades seem to have slightly different angles and depths to the serrations, meaning you need to pay attention when sharpening. The sharpener also is relatively thin, and is thinner than the serration openings on my knives. Again, it means paying some attention when using it. It does work well, however, especially for small touch-ups. It also does a good job at removing any small burrs created during conventional sharpening. The sharpener body itself is fairly small, made mostly of plastic, and could easily be a daily pocket carry. It has a lanyard hole at one end and a thumb depression on each side to make it easy to hold right or left handed. The two sharpeners can be replaced (I haven't tried that yet) by removing two screws. The knife blade can be stroked from either side of the two main sharpeners with the same results, and each sharpener is clearly labeled on both sides. The sharpeners work especially well on knives with curved blades such as my Chive, which has a back-curve portion of the blade near the handle; it's a tough area to sharpen with a whetstone, but easy with the PP1. While inexpensive, the PP1 is a good alternative to using a whetstone, and has several advantages over that method, especially for smaller knives. Glad I bought it.

So, I got this based on other reviews and upon receiving it, gave it a second thought about actually opening it. It wasn't that it didn't look impressive or that it was too expensive but in the past I would just get out a few stones and oil to spend some time sharpening knives while camping. After a minute, I decided that this Pocket Pal would still be worth it so I ripped it open, read the brief instructions, and grabbed a relatively dull pocket knife of mine. This knife was struggling to open anything lately and definitely wouldn't have been cutting through cables ties and the like. Instructions suggest 8-10 times or until your blade is sharp. I didn't need a blade edge repair so I used the "Fine" side and after the 1st pull through, it was noticeably more sharp. I stopped after the 4th pull as it is ready to go. This all took less than a minute, didn't include any messy oils, and anyone could use it to sharpen a knife without having to worry about their skill level. Also, I barley appied any pressure to sharpen the knife. The Pocket Pal has a molded in finger / thumb grip and was comfortable to use both with my left and right hand. While the peice is light. It doesn't feel cheap and doesn't seem like it will randomly fall apart (I'm big into high quality / durability products and expect any item I purchase to be such no matter the price point) yet it is very light weight. I'm glad that I purchased it and actually used it. It is going into my hiking / camping pack and I'm taking out those heavy stones and the heavy oil. My only question now is what will I do with my spare time now that I don't have to spend it sharpening knives? I'm now going through my house, bug out bag(s), and vehicles searching for more knives to sharpen! Highly recommend. I paid full cost for this item and it was not discounted or provided free for review unlike so many other reviews we read today on Amazon.

Sharpens well

Il prodotto è ben fatto, ho affilato alcuni coltelli di cui uno aveva la lama "mozzicata" in alcuni punti, adesso sono quasi nuovi e tagliano molto bene. ho provato ad affilare una lama in ceramica.... non credo sia idoneo a questo scopo anche se in una resensione veniva consigliato anche per questo. E' molto piccolo, idoneo per tenerlo in tasca, un po scomodo quando si utilizza con oggetti grandi.... Comunque funziona bene!

Very nice pocket knife sharpener! The instructions are very clear and helpful, and I was able to sharpen my very dull pocket knife. I'm pleasantly surprised how small and portable it is, and it can easily put it in my pocket with my knife together. I definitely recommend this for on the go!

Affûtage impeccable. Se glisse dans une poche, idéal pour les sorties en randonnée.

This is my second Smithy sharpener. I keep one in my backpack, this one i keep in my pocket when working in the garden. It's a good tool to do a quick sharpening of small pocket knives. ps : the keychain is not included.