Handheld sharpeners slide around the bench, which is exactly what you don't want near a blade. This one twists down onto the benchtop and locks, so both hands stay on the knife.
Three to five pulls backward through the tungsten steel surface is enough for a kitchen knife that's gone dull, which makes it a two-minute job rather than something you keep meaning to do.
Specifications
Size
7 cm diameter, 6 cm high
Sharpening surface
Tungsten steel
Base
Vacuum suction cup, twist to lock
Suits
Kitchen, slicing and chef's knives, and scissors
Not for
Ceramic or serrated knives
Styling notes
Lock it to a clean, dry, smooth surface — the suction won't hold on textured stone or a wet bench. Because it comes off as easily as it goes on, it can live in a drawer rather than on the bench. Keep it away from ceramic and serrated blades, which need different treatment entirely and will be damaged by a pull-through sharpener.
