When you must use your survival knife in any situation, whether it be a backcountry emergency or just a weekend camping trip at your local park, you need your knife to be sharp. To avoid being caught with a dull knife it is necessary to carry a knife sharpener. One of the key traits for the survival knife sharpener is portability and the ability to operate without electricity.
You will need something small that can still actually sharpen a blade, not just hone it. You might even need a sharpener that can handle the serrated edge that you have on your Ka-Bar 2-1245-1 Black Tanto Knife. And, you also need a knife sharpener with a proven track record of success, something that you might see on Dual Survival.
If these are some of the constraints that you are considering, this may be the Best Survival Knife Sharpener for you!
Best Survival Knife Sharpener: Smith’s PP1 Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener
See the Smith’s PP1 Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener at Amazon.
This sharpener is tiny, weighing in at 1 ounce, so you will hardly notice it is there. It was truly designed with hikers, campers, hunters, fisherman, and survivalists in mind.
The Pocket Pal boasts a carbide sharpening stage for extremely dull or slightly damaged knives that really need a new edge.
The carbide blades are for straight-edged knives only, not serrated. The next stage consists of ceramic stones that provide a polishing or stropping type action. Both straight-edged and serrated blades can be used on the ceramic stage.
The Pocket Pal also has a round, tapered diamond coated rod for sharpening serrated and standard edges, pre-set carbide blades for quickly restoring a dull edge, and specially shaped ceramic stones. The carbide blades and ceramic stones are reversible and replaceable for extended sharpening life.
Out in the field this the Pocket Pal is an excellent tool. Once you are back at home give all your knives some extra care and check out this hunting knife post to get all your knives back into their best shape.
What owners think
The Pocket Pal has won over many survivalists, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts with its light weight, and ease of use design. The carbide blocks offer a foolproof way to get your knives to the correct angle needed to finish the sharpening process. Learn more about correct knife sharpening angles.
This sharpener should be limited to use on your survival knives or knives you use specifically for outdoor pursuits. If you have a variety of knives to sharpen, such as a chef knife or butcher knife check out the a great list of electric knife sharpeners.
Alexis DeAnda is a food fanatic, library card user, and cast iron hunter, in that order. She has been cooking for anyone that will taste it ever since her mom let her make doughnuts on Saturday mornings at the age of 7.