5 Reasons You Should Pack a Field Sharpener

Presented by Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpeners

Whether you’re planning a camping trip or an expedition to the Amazon Jungle, success is all about preparation. The jobs we ask our blades to do outdoors can really punish an edge. When you’re in a remote area, effective abrasives won’t be available and yet you’re going to need a sharp knife to be productive. The good news is there are affordable solutions available.

Here are 5 reasons a field sharpener should be a mandatory part of your kit:

1. Blades Dull Faster in the Field
When you’re in the field, the jobs at hand are going to wear out your edge faster than when you’re at home. Batoning, whittling, and field-dressing game will challenge even the hardest super steels, let alone softer steels like 1095. When your blade inevitably dulls, a field sharpener is the most effective and easiest way to get that essential edge working again.

2. A Dull Blade Will Slow you Down
Even with a sharp knife, survival experts say that major jobs like building a shelter are going to wear your hands out. But, the extra force it takes to make cuts with a dull knife will slow you down, consume more of your energy, and cause blisters and hand fatigue. What started as a few hours’ work with a sharp knife can turn into a day-long ordeal with a blunter edge.

3. Suitable Abrasives are Hard to Come By
Anyone who’s ever had to turn to mother nature to sharpen a knife knows that safe and effective abrasives like ceramics just aren’t available. And, without the experience, you could do more harm than using improvised sharpening surfaces. Beware of sharpening on certain abrasive surfaces like sandstone – they can tear up your edge. A dull blade is bad, but a damaged blade is much worse. What was once the cornerstone of your kit can quickly become dead weight.

4. Today’s Field Sharpeners Deliver an End-to-End Solution
When Work Sharp came out with their Guided Field Sharpener, it took outdoorsmen by storm. There are other good products out there, but none offer as complete a sharpening solution tailored to the outdoors as the Guided Field Sharpener. “With a 5-step sharpening process, our Guided Field Sharpener is the fastest way to restore an edge in field,” says Work Sharp’s Kyle Crawford. “Built-in guides ensure a consistent sharpening angle, while coarse and fine diamond sharpening plates, ceramic hones, and a leather strop work together to sharpen any kind of knife or cutting tool.”

5. They Are Compact and Won’t Weigh You Down
For outdoorsmen, every ounce counts during an excursion. If a tool doesn’t earn its keep then it has to go. One of the best things about the Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener is its compact size and minimum weight. “You‘ll forget you’re carrying a Guided Field Sharpener until you need it,” Crawford tells us. The ability to touch up your blade on the spot is more than just a convenience. A field sharpener guarantees you a properly functioning knife when you need it most.

The Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener is versatile, compact, lightweight, and affordable. Even in the city, it’s well worth throwing in a toolbox, tackle box, or the glove box of your truck. It would also make an awesome gift that anyone who uses a knife will appreciate.

The Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener is available directly from Work Sharp, at outdoor retailers, or from leading knife dealers.