Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener Review
Without question, a knife should be a part of every hunter’s kit when heading into the outdoors. I always find myself leaving the driveway worrying something crucial was left behind, so I have a mantra of wallet, phone, knife, gun, and keys, patting each to account for its presence. I know if those items are accounted for, I can figure everything else out along the way. Keep in mind I’m primarily hunting an hour from my house, so I have the luxury of getting the meat home quickly. Obviously, you’ll need to be more prepared on a backcountry hunt, but hopefully you catch my drift.
My above gear list was fine for small game hunting near the camp where a knife sharpener was readily available, but for hunting big game animals afield I was missing a key piece of gear. While butchering my first big game animal in the comfort of my home I quickly realized the value of having a sharpener nearby. Gutting, skinning, and deboning all take their toll on a knife’s edge, and had I been cleaning the animal in the field it would have been a miserable experience. It will take quite a few sharpening sessions to be done safely and efficiently. A dull blade is your worst enemy, especially when hunting solo and an accident could put you in a really bad spot. This is where the Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener really shines. It’s extremely packable, lightweight, and most importantly performs its intended job flawlessly.
The tool includes guided ramps for maintaining a consistent angle, a fine plate and a coarse plate, a ceramic rod for sharpening serrated blades, fishing hooks, and fine tuning your knife edge, as well as a strip of leather for stropping. The plates are held on with magnets and can be removed for cleaning. As an added feature, when the sharpening plates are removed broad head wrenches are exposed for both three and four blade broad heads. The body of the tool feels strong and secure in your hand, and the cupped thumb and index finger grip add confidence to your hold while sharpening. The length of the sharpening stones is just right for your average sized blade, and the overall design allows for multiple strokes on larger blades.
The great thing about this sharpener is it can be used across multiple facets of your daily life. You could have one for the toolbox, the garage, the truck, the hunting pack, and the kitchen never feeling like you have too many. After hunting with and without this system, I can honestly say I now have an added step to my “leaving the driveway” mantra.
-Kevin Johansen, Fall Obsession Pro Staff