Once you have decided that cutlery with quality steel is something you want you are still left with the issue of how to maintain it.  No matter how good the steel is any knife will eventually need attention to the edge.  How that is done and how often are influenced by several factors. 

Sure, it true the better the steel the longer the knife will hold an edge.  Harder steel with higher Rockwell ratings can in fact be difficult to sharpen because the steel is so hard.  The selection of steel for any knife is a trade off.  Choose a very hard steel and you can forget trying to sharpen it with just a stone.  Some steels are even a challenge for diamond stones.  

No matter what material is in a knife blade there are some constant rules for sharpening that applies to them all.   The most important is the absolute requirement to maintain the same blade angle throughout the sharpening process.  If you have the skill to hold the bevel angle you want just using freehand strokes on a stone then you are a very rare person. You can use most any stone which is true.  If you are working on a blade with very hard steel you might want to use a diamond bench stone just to make the process faster. 

If you are like me you just have not ever been able to make a edge sharp with a bench stone alone.  Making the same angle stroke on the stone several times in a row and then the same angle again on the other side of the blade is a talent with which I have not been so blessed to have.  

Thanks to many innovations by the makers of sharpening products folks like me can have sharp knives now too.  No longer do he have rely on a guy we know with "The Knack".  I have personally used all the sharpening products we carry on this site.  I can attest to the fact that each one will work as intended.  Even the handy Smith JIFF 10 Second Knife & Scissors Sharpener can give a decent edge while in the field.  

Browse the different products we offer and feel free to contact us at  with any questions you might have.         

Check out the best electric sharpening system anywhere.  Chef's Choice makes a complete line of electric knife sharpening stations that actually work as well as they claim. Three years of warrenty make a Chef's Choice an investment you will never regret.  The fine, razor sharp, edges you can produce will make all your knives a pleasure to use.

Buying top quality cutlery is the best start to ensure reliable cutters.  And every knowledgable knife owner knows that keeping your cutlery sharp is vital but not so easy to accomplish.  A sharpening system that will work for every user is the goal of Smith's Abrasives.  We at Fox Quality Knives recommend Smith's Abrasives because we know the products they make work and are a great value for the buyer.  Compared to others Smith's Abrasives comes out on top no matter how you look at it.  Price, quality, ease of use, and we guarantee you will be happy with the Smith product you buy or your money back. 

No matter your skill level at sharpening, Smith's Abrasives makes a sharpener that will work for you.  From the fool proof jig system you find with the Precision Knife Sharpening System, to the handy Smith Jiff for a quick field touch up, you will find a sharpener that fits your needs. 

Check out Smith's Abrasives web site for the latest in sharpening technology. 

Please contact us if you don't see what you need as we continue to build our web site.