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How to Sharpen a Swiss Army Knife? [Best Guide 2023]

by Defiel Writer | Apr 27, 2022 | Preparedness, Survival | 1 comment

knife sharpening using a metal sandpaper like surface

Do you want to keep your Swiss Army Knife sharp and ready for use? Read on to learn the best way to sharpen it and maintain a sharp knife!

A dull knife blade is even more hazardous than a sharp one due to the greater chance of slippage. Therefore, sharpening knives is necessary while working with them to maintain them properly and limit the possibility of an accident.

This article will help you determine when and how to sharpen your self-defense knife and which sharpening equipment is best for you.

The essential thing is to continue with prudence: sharpening knives may be dangerous. Therefore even expert sharpeners should approach with caution.

Let’s jump in and learn the proper maintenance for your swiss army knife.

Table of Contents

  • Do You Need to Sharpen Your Knife Now?
  • Honing Vs. Sharpening
  • How to Sharpen a Swiss Army Knife?
    • 1. Blade and Sharpener
    • 2. Get Your Honing Steel
    • 3. The 20° Angle Trick
    • 4. Sharpening Up
    • 5. Repetition
  • Tools You May Use
  • Last Words

Do You Need to Sharpen Your Knife Now?

swiss army knife display

There are a few methods to tell if it’s time for you to sharpen your blade edge. One way to know this is through the paper test. It involves holding a piece of paper in one hand while cutting it with the knife in the other.

A sharp knife edge will cut through the paper with ease. Another way is to slice a tomato – if your knives struggle to cut through the thin skin and delicate flesh of the tomato, they are undoubtedly dull.

Otherwise, follow the rule of frequency. I recommend sharpening your knife after 30-40 uses of cutting something. Before each new culinary undertaking, some professionals prefer to sharpen their knives.

Honing Vs. Sharpening

honing swiss army knife

Sharpening and honing are the two operations involved in knife maintenance. Most people often refer to honing as sharpening. Any blade may get dull, which means its fine edge has curved due to wear and must be sharpened regularly.

Honing brings the knife’s edge back into alignment, restoring the full impact of its razor’s edge. With honing steel, you can do it yourself at home.

If you want to learn how to sharpen a tanto blade, click here.


Buy Victorinox Swiss Army Classic SD Pocket Knife here

How to Sharpen a Swiss Army Knife?

sharpening swiss army knife

Now that you know when you need to sharpen your Swiss army knife and the difference between honing and sharpening it, we can dive into how you can bring the sharpness back to your blade.

1. Blade and Sharpener

To sharpen your Victorinox Swiss army knife, you will need to get the blade into a sharpening tool such as an electric or manual pocket knife sharpener. 

Once the blade is in, you will want to pull it towards yourself five times with pressure and another five without. This should be done for both sides of the knife’s edge so that each side has been sharpened equally.

2. Get Your Honing Steel

Use the honing steel after that. If you’re new to honing steels, it’s good to rest the tip on a folded tea towel or moist dishcloth for more stability. Users that have used the steel before will be used to holding it in mid-air.

3. The 20° Angle Trick

Maintain a 20° angle in between the blade and the sharpening steel (on Amazon).

This is especially important if you don’t have experience using sharpening steels, as getting this right will ensure your blade is sharpened evenly.

4. Sharpening Up

Ensure that you are pulling the survival knife downwards and towards yourself, as this will help to sharpen it up further, allowing for a sharper edge when finished honing with your steel.

5. Repetition

It is important to repeat steps one through four at least five times for each side of the blade so that you get a thorough sharpening and honing job done on your knife’s edges. 

This will ensure that both sides are equally as sharp when finished, allowing it to be used for longer without it becoming dull quickly.


Buy Honing Steel here

Tools You May Use

sharpening swiss army knife using sharpy tool

How do you determine which sharpening and the honing tool is suitable for you when we have so many options?

To begin, you must first grasp the difference between honing and sharpening so that you can select the appropriate instruments. Even if you only use the sharpening tools two or three times a year, you should have a mix of honing and sharpening tools in your kitchen.

You should also select the appropriate sharpening tool for your knife. Stamped knives are composed of steel with a bit of reduced hardness, making honing easier and allowing for the use of domestic honing steel.

A forged knife’s more rigid steel means you won’t have to sharpen it as often, but you’ll need a diamond or ceramic honing steel to accomplish the job since its hardness must be much greater than the blades.

Sharpening smaller kitchen knives using a sharpy tool is also simple. I recommend you do professional sharpening for larger wavy edge blades like bread knives. Still, if you’re an experienced sharpener, you may use the sharpy tool for smaller wavy-edged blades.

However, professional knife service could better maintain all wavy-edged blades for most individuals.


Buy Victorinox Sharpy Tool here

Last Words

Knives are used for chopping, slicing, and mincing in the kitchen and in practically every survival circumstance, and they are sure to get dirty with regular usage.

The longer they last, the better you clean and maintain them. This knife care may seem self-evident, yet it makes a significant impact. 

We hope you learned something from this article, and if you liked it, please consider following us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Also, consider sharing this content and subscribing to get 100+ free survival ebooks.

1 Comment

  1. catharine ernser on May 5, 2022 at

    This one is incredible, Defiel! Thank you for giving this important information—a well-written article with straightforward advice on how to keep your blade in good repair. I appreciated how concisely you presented facts.

    Reply

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