Lansky Sharpeners
No matter how well-made your knife is, its edge will inevitably wear down over time. Sharp knives cut more safely and more efficiently than dull ones so honing the edge occasionally is essential.
LanskyKnife sharpener company Lansky was founded in 1979 after medical student Arthur Lansky Levine, frustrated with the insufficiently sharp edges on his surgical tool, invented a new way to keep them honed. His invention, the Controlled Angle Sharpening System, gave knife owners a new way to sharpen the edges of their blades at a precise angle. Lansky still sells modernised versions of the Controlled Angle Sharpening System today, along with other products designed for sharpening plain edge and serrated blades as well as other tools like axes and fishing hooks.
The Controlled Angle Sharpening SystemThe controlled angle sharpening system was the product that made the company famous and it remains one of their key offerings. A clamp holds the knife blade tightly to prevent slippage. A guide rod attaches to a sharpening stone at one end and the other end is passed through the slot in the clamp that corresponds to the correct sharpening angle. Depending on the size of the kit, the system may come with three, four or five different sharpening stones of different grits.
Lansky Sharpening StonesLansky sharpening stones come in many different grits and materials. The grit number tells you how coarse the stone is, with coarser stones being used to sharpen dull or chipped edges while finer stones are used to finish an edge. Lansky sharpening range from an extra-coarse 70 grit to a very fine 2000 grit. Their man-made aluminium oxide stones are the most economical option and are popular for their rapid sharpening capabilities, while natural Arkansas stones are softer and simultaneously cut and polish. They also produce diamond hones which are more expensive but very quick to use and longer-lasting than other stones.
Other Lansky Sharpening SystemsThe Controlled Angle Sharpening System is not Lansky’s only knife sharpener. The company also produces other options for various tools, including compact pull-through Lansky tungsten carbide cutlery sharpeners which use multiple sharpening slots to refinish knives with different edge angles and are small enough to fit into a pocket. At the other end of the size scale, Lansky bench stones take some time to master but allow practiced users to sharpen knives very efficiently. Lansky also sells other sharpening products including sharpening rods, pocket stones and leather strops.