By Johnny Mack
This last year I decided to try out a fixed blade knife for processing game instead of constantly having to remember to refill my replaceable blades. Once I settled on the Benchmade Altitude, I knew that a fixed blade is only as good as how sharp you keep it. With that in mind, I set off to find a small, lightweight and convenient sharpener that I could trust and rely upon while hunting.
After doing a lot of research and learning about the pros and cons of different sharpeners, as well as how they work with certain types of steel, I landed upon the Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener. The Guided Field Sharpener is not the smallest or lightest offering from Work Sharp, but it is the most ideal for what I needed from a sharpener.
My first experience with Work Sharp was when shopping in Cabela’s and Sportman’s Warehouse. I would always walk past the knife section and see a display for Work Sharp and their electric sharpeners. Most of the time I would just continue to walk right on by until I decided my knife could use a fresh new edge.
The first time I sharpened my knife in the store, my blade came right back to life. Knowing that I couldn’t pack an electric sharpener with me on my backcountry adventures, I knew I needed to look into one small and light enough to do the job and this is where I found the Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener amongst the electric sharpeners. On Work Sharp’s website it costs $34.95 but you can find it much cheaper at different locations such as Amazon for $28.99 plus prime shipping (LINK).
ABOUT THE SHARPENER
The Sharpener has quite an array of features for being so small. It will sharpen serrated blades, fish hooks and even broadheads. It has a leather strop to finish blades to a fine edge and you can rotate the ceramic rod for a coarse or fine finish. The sharpener also includes a 20° angled guide to help with the edge on both fine and coarse diamond plates. It also comes with a small instruction guide on the inside and back of one of the diamond plates.
What I love about this sharpener is no matter what I am trying to sharpen, it can handle it. I will not use it on kitchen knives, but like the title states, it is a “field” sharpener.
SPECIFICATIONS
Sharpening Angles – 20° and 25°
Included Abrasives – Coarse Diamond, Fine Diamond, Leather Strop, & Multi-grit Ceramic Rod
Extra Features – Broadhead Wrench, Fish Hook Sharpener, & Serration Sharpening Rod
Weight – 4.6 oz.
Overall Length – 6 3/4 in.
Warranty – Legacy Lifetime
The Benchmade Altitude is made in the USA.
YOUR NEXT SHARPENER
If you are interested in getting your hands on a Work Sharp guided field sharpener, I highly recommend them. The ease of use and dependability of the sharpener are excellent, especially when coupled with its size and weight. The ability to keep and maintain a sharp edge on your knives while out in the field is not only a necessity but also paramount for safety.
Thanks for reading this gear review. If you want to know more about the Worksharp Guided Field Sharpener and our experience with it, feel free to ask. In the meantime make sure to go subscribe to the Washington Backcountry YouTube channel as well as follow us on Instagram @Washington_Backcountry. Don’t forget that knowledge is power and mentorship is conservation.
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