[Combat-wombat]

Thinking about picking one up...I like the idea of the Gatco but it's too small.

:D

[brownie0486]

Ya, One complaint about the sharpmaker.

It needs new dark rough ceramics after 10,000+ sharpenings of knives.

They wear out and need to be replaced every 4 years or so or whenever you get up around 10,000+ knives.

In 10 years of sharpening knives at the gun club and elsewhere I've had to replace them once.

Oh--you won't be sharpening for others regularly? Disregard the above.

Brownie

[sam3]

yep, they work to good. so good when you cut yourself with your very well sharpened knife it will leave a nice straight easy to stich cut.

[Prodigalshooter]

I'll just echo the comments above, I've had one since they were first introduced, still going strong after 20 years. Bought one of the new models, as it's even better with the additional back bevel slots.
You just can't lose with a Sharpmaker.

[Sir Galahad]

Also, it comes with a video cassette and a picture book to show you how to use it with different types of knives, if that helps you decide. I got one and I think it's great. I used to have a full set of DMT diamond benchstones in all the grits and the Sharpmaker is much better.

[hso]

Great product.

I like it and the Gatco.

[oldpaladin]

Combat-wombat ,

The Spyderco is just about the easiest design that is available today. The Gatco, one of which I also have, is more laborious... Shucks, every six months or so, I open-up the Gatco, and then put it back. Unused... Your choice, but I carry my Spyderco everywhere I go...

Regards and Respects,
Carter, oldpaladin, out...

[Joe Demko]

The only complaint I have about my Spyderco Sharpmaker, which is an old one, is that I didn't buy the diamond speed sleeves while they were still available. They'd be nice to have for dealing with truly blunt edges or reprofiling an existing edge. Otherwise, all I have to say is that I use nothing else. Got a drawer full of stones that now go unused.

[OF]

I love my Spyderco - well worth the asking price.

- Gabe

[45R]

If you get the Spyderco sharpener make sure that you get alot of band-aids to do with it.

[Byron Quick]

I use the Spyderco Sharpmaker to sharpen everything from chisels to penknives, kitchen cutlery, 18 inch Bowies/machetes, and Himalayan Import khukris. I've never cut myself once while using it. Not to say I have not cut myself with the various tools and knives after I sharpened them.

I too have unused stones.

It's a great tool and well worth the price.

[Brass]

Well I find out that the sharpmaker is hard to shapern the tip portion of a larger knife ( i tired to sharpern the Gerber BMF on it and it takes forever to get the tip semi-sharp). Other than that it is an awesome sharperning kit.

[ed dixon]

I'm of the ilk that could dull a blade on a flat stone, sorta get it sharper, then dull it again before I finished (and cried). I'm not that dumb, just never had the need or instruction to really master a little brick of stone. The Sharpmaker was the solution. I kept surprising myself that it really worked so well. It's still personal, manual and basically old-school so I allow myself a little credit. The hype in this case is not hype. Get it and enjoy. At least all your knives will be sharp if you take off some time to master the stones or learn how to knap arrowheads with your teeth.

Regards. Ed

[Jaeger]

I've used one for years with tremendous success. The only "downfall" has already been mentioned. Tips are tough.

Get one. It's worth every penny!

[deputy tom]

Brownie hit it right on the head! tom.;)

[Kor]

FYI, I find the stones work very well for polishing/honing sear engagement surfaces, as when doing a quick 'n dirty trigger job. If you know how to detail-strip your guns, you can also use the stones to de-horn and de-burr rough/sharp edges in the inside and outside of your guns.