The Warthog V-Sharp

(www.warthogsharp.com)
Price: $89.50 to $130.00
Marble / Granite Bases, Honing Steels and Other Accessories Available

Overview

This is a novel approach to the old stand by v-stick method of sharpening. The folks at Warthog seem to have solved several of the problems that v-stick sharpeners have traditionally had. By adding the knife guide, they have mostly eliminated the problem created by human hands not reliably holding the knife in a consisitent vertical position. They have also added the ability to adjust the angle of the v-sticks to accommodate varying knife edges. The Warthog is convenient and easy to use.

Pros

Easy to use

Quickly hones edges

Mostly eliminates hand wobble

Cons

Limited angle options

Primarily a honing tool, not a true sharpener

Inability to change grits

Summary

This is a good addition for the kitchen knife user, replacing the standard steel with a much superior honing device. For creating and maintaining custom bevels, there are better options out there. I would like to see the engineers at Warthog expand the range of angle options and create a fast and easy way to change grits. They might also consider side-by-side versions with different stages.