WORKSHARP FREAKIN ROCKS : THE GUIDED FIELD SHARPENER- APPRENTICE GEAR & EDC
What's going on, everybody?
This is Stephen over at The Apprentice Corner: Gear & EDC, back again with another gear review. Today I'm talking about a piece of equipment that has become a permanent part of my toolbox over the last six to eight months: the Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener.
If you've spent any time in the EDC, outdoor, or knife communities, you've probably heard of it. It's one of those products that seems to come up every time someone asks for sharpening recommendations. After using it for the better part of a year, I can honestly say the praise is well deserved.
Previous Sharpening Experiences
For most of my life, I took the budget approach to knife sharpening.
I'd grab a Smith's sharpener (which are fantastic for the record), an Ozark Trail sharpener, or whatever happened to be available at the local sporting goods store or Walmart. They work well enough, and I never really had any major complaints.
That changed when I started sharpening my girlfriend's kitchen knives.
No matter how often I sharpened them, they seemed to lose their edge almost immediately. They would feel great for a meal or two, then it was right back to struggling through tomatoes and vegetables. Before long, I felt like I was sharpening knives every week.
I noticed the same pattern with my own pocket knives.
Whether I spent the day stripping cable at work, opening packages, or tackling projects around the house, my knives seemed to dull much faster than I expected. Even some of my nicer knives would feel noticeably less sharp after a day or two of heavier use.
At some point, I realized the problem might not be the knives.
It might be the sharpener-or at least, my skill with sharpening.
After doing some research online, I kept seeing the same recommendation over and over again: Work Sharp.
At the time, I was still fairly new to sharpening. I was learning about blade geometries, edge angles, different grinds, and proper sharpening techniques. Rather than spending a lot of money on one of Work Sharp's powered sharpeners, I decided to start with their more affordable option: the Guided Field Sharpener.
That was about eight months ago.
Since then, it has become one of my favorite pieces of gear.
Would it be convenient to own one of Work Sharp's electric systems? Absolutely.
Do I feel like I need one?
Honestly, no.
The Field Sharpener has handled everything I've thrown at it.
What Makes It So Good?
The biggest compliment I can give this sharpener is that it simply works.
My girlfriend's kitchen knives actually stay sharp now. My pocket knives hold an edge longer because I'm able to sharpen them correctly and maintain them consistently.
It's incredibly easy to use, whether you're experienced or completely new to sharpening.
The guided angle system helps remove a lot of the guesswork, and the sharpener itself includes clear markings and indicators that make it easy to understand what each surface is used for.
The system includes:
Coarse diamond plate
Fine diamond plate
Adjustable Ceramic sharpening rod (which allows serration sharpening)
Built-in angle guides
Leather strop for finishing and polishing edges
One feature I really appreciate is the rotating ceramic rod. It allows you to switch between different surfaces depending on the type of edge maintenance you're performing. Whether you're touching up a working edge or putting a finer finish on a blade, the options are right there.
After sharpening, the built-in leather strop helps refine the edge and remove any remaining burrs. It's a small feature, but it makes a surprisingly big difference. Another thing I love about the Work Sharp system is that it's designed for long-term use.
On Work Sharp's website, you can purchase replacement diamond plates, ceramic rods and leather strops. The components are magnetic and easily replaceable, which means when something eventually wears out, you don't have to buy an entirely new sharpener. That's the kind of design philosophy I appreciate. Buy once, maintain it, and keep using it.
A Rare “Universal” Recommendation
One thing I've learned through years of collecting gear is that most recommendations are highly personal.
The perfect flashlight for me might not be the perfect flashlight for you.
The same goes for knives, multitools, backpacks, wallets, and just about every other category of EDC gear.
But every once in a while, a piece of gear comes along that feels almost universally recommendable.
The Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener is one of those products.
Whether you're:
An EDC enthusiast
A hunter
A camper
An outdoorsman
A home cook
A tradesperson
Someone who simply wants sharp kitchen knives
This sharpener will probably serve you very well.
Looking Beyond Just Sharpeners
If you're interested in Work Sharp products, I'd definitely recommend checking out their website.
They offer a wide variety of sharpening systems, ranging from simple handheld solutions all the way up to powered sharpening platforms.
More recently, they've also entered the knife market.
One knife I've had my eye on for months is the Work Sharp RMX. It looks fantastic, and most of the feedback I've seen has been overwhelmingly positive. They've also released some newer models recently that look incredibly promising.
Hopefully Santa decides I've been good this year and drops one under the tree.
If not, I'll just keep admiring them through my computer screen like the rest of us gear addicts.
The Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener has easily been one of the best gear purchases I've made in the last year.
It's affordable, portable, easy to learn, easy to maintain, and most importantly, it actually works.
Sometimes gear gets hyped up beyond what it deserves.
This isn't one of those cases.
If you're tired of dull knives and want a sharpening solution that grows with your skill level, I genuinely think the Work Sharp Field Sharpener is worth every penny.
I've included some photos below for anyone who wants a closer look at the sharpener.
And if you're brand new to sharpening and would like tips, tutorials, or even a more in-depth guide, feel free to reach out through Discord or message me directly. I'm always happy to help fellow gear enthusiasts learn the basics.
Until next time, this is Stephen from The Apprentice Corner: Gear & EDC.
Stay sharp, and I'll see you guys soon.
Later on…