Review on 🔪 Smiths CCD4 Field Sharpening System: Enhance Your Blade's Edge Anywhere, Anytime! by Ashwin Drollinger

Preface: As the title suggests, what I received was slightly damaged - the ceramic rods have small chips and one of them is slightly deformed. However, that hasn't stopped me from using it effectively, so I won't complain. I will count it towards the (currently) low price. I am very satisfied with this product. I was hesitant to buy any "sharpening system" because they all seem to be geared towards people who don't really know how to sharpen a knife. However, it has proven indispensable in my efforts to keep all of my hobby knives sharp. The diamond sharpener quickly cuts through all the steel blades I've put on it - Krupp 4116, 420C, 440C and AUS8 - all of which give a nice edge in minimal time. The ceramic rods give a polished and razor sharp edge when used correctly and the instructions clearly show how this is done. To be honest I don't really use the staves as instructed. I hold one in one hand and a knife in the other. This allows me to be more precise when sharpening, but it's definitely not intended for rods. However, it made the razor blade much easier to reach. As evidence of the sharpener, a friend gave me his SOG Trident Tanto to sharpen and this knife was VERY badly sharpened and so dull it wouldn't cut. generally cardboard. After a few passes over the carbide portion of the sharpener (removes a lot of metal so be careful) the shavings were gone and the blade was profiled decently and then I used a diamond sharpener and then a ceramic sharpener. In about 30 minutes, the knife went from chipped, jagged edges and dull to a razor-sharp, polished, straight blade. I've since convinced my colleague that he no longer wants to sharpen it with his key sharpener.