Smith's Pocket Pal


The Warrior

The Warrior

Architect of Fire
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I'll be the first to admit, that I'm not the most talented knife sharpener in the world. Anywhos, I came across this Smith's Pocket Pal online. Read many reviews on it, most all positive. I saw a video of it on youTube, and the guy was actually using a BK2 on it. I came across one tonight at Kmart, $8.50, so I bought it. I must say, it's as good as the reviews say it is. My BK2 has never been sharpened. Mostly, it's dull from the sheath, and a little batonning. I pulled the 2 across the ceramic blades, pretty much not pushing down, and letting the weight of the blade do the work. When I finished, it would slice paper like nobody's business. Very happy with it. It's a little over 3" long, inch wide, and about 3/8 thick. It has the carbide to set the edge, and the ceramic to put the fine edge on it. Then it also has the tapered diamond rod for serrated blades.

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I have one of these as well. I keep it in my backpack as a 'just in case' item. I do most knife sharpening with my Spyderco Sharpmaker, but it's not very portable so I thought this little one would be handy to keep in my pack o' stuff that goes wherever I go. You just never know when you might need to touch up an edge.
 
I was really surprised at how well it worked. I'll just use the ceramic to keep the edge touched up. I really don't get the chance to use my knives as much as I would like to. I just don't have much experience hand sharpening. I need to learn I guess.
 
I have something similar to this though it doesn't have the rod like yours. I asked about mine and a few people told me not to bother with it specially on the knife I was asking about my Mora. So I skipped it and use the sandpaper for sharpening mine now very easy to get the hang of to and it works wonders. Even got my old SAK back in shape and being stainless took a little more work but got it done. So on the advice of a few others stay away from the V grove sections
 
carbide sharpeners like that are good to have, I keep some thing similar in my Restaurant kit,,case I drop a blade on the floor in a rush. no substitute for a good stone though.
 
Thanks for the heads up. I've used something similar that I bought at a gunshow and it renews an edge very quickly in the field. Simple and quick is good.
 
I have one. It works really well and i have a few serrated folders so that comes in handy. The V grooves are not for scandi grinds.
 
Yep only usable with flat grinds, I have one and keep it in my pack as well, works really well for such a super small device, very handy.
 
Smith's has been around for a long time with quality products. I heard the other day that the mine their blac fine stones came from has finally petered out. They have got a replacement for it but it is not quite as good as the original stones. One of the Smiths taught me years ago about sharpening blades. He was a very nice gentleman and was kind to a pesky 12 year old who used to go through the woods to visit him.
 
we got a couple of them in the family BOB's. simple and effective for what they are.

cheap enough to add em to a bag we all hope we never need, but get ready anyway.
 
I had one of those.
They are good for what they are, but wear out fairly quickly.
Great as a backup, but I wouldn't want to use one as my primary sharpener.
 
I've often wondered about the usefulness of one of these.

Think the carbide side only in an emergency as it has a tendency to eat your steel. But the ceramic and diamond rod look like a good choice.
 
itsbaker said:
Works pretty good on a machete as well or at least mine!
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Someone on Bladeforums said he carried one in his pack for his machete, that it worked very well.

solocanoe said:
we got a couple of them in the family BOB's. simple and effective for what they are.

cheap enough to add em to a bag we all hope we never need, but get ready anyway.
Click to expand...
I'm gonna put mine in my "medium" BOB too. I have an ALICE pack ready to go for my extended stay BOB, and had a sling bag for my medium. It was just too small though, imo. I have a Falcon II for a medium now. I like the added room, and having the space for a change of clothes, etc. That bag goes with me everywhere I go. I also have an enhanced butt pack, that I stuffed a heavy winter coat in, that can attach to it, if needed.

jacksterp said:
I've often wondered about the usefulness of one of these.

Think the carbide side only in an emergency as it has a tendency to eat your steel. But the ceramic and diamond rod look like a good choice.
Click to expand...
I've read a few places to leave the carbide bit alone, to just use the ceramic one.
 
The Warrior said:
Someone on Bladeforums said he carried one in his pack for his machete, that it worked very well.

I'm gonna put mine in my "medium" BOB too. I have an ALICE pack ready to go for my extended stay BOB, and had a sling bag for my medium. It was just too small though, imo. I have a Falcon II for a medium now. I like the added room, and having the space for a change of clothes, etc. That bag goes with me everywhere I go. I also have an enhanced butt pack, that I stuffed a heavy winter coat in, that can attach to it, if needed.

I've read a few places to leave the carbide bit alone, to just use the ceramic one.
Click to expand...

That's basically what I do with mine. I put small paracord lanyard on mine so I could attach a clip to it. It's nice to know that I can always bring an edge back to a knife if needed. My BOB isn't really so much for 'bug out' purposes though. Mine is more of 'things that are nice to have when you need them' type of bag.
 
TX expat said:
That's basically what I do with mine. I put small paracord lanyard on mine so I could attach a clip to it. It's nice to know that I can always bring an edge back to a knife if needed. My BOB isn't really so much for 'bug out' purposes though. Mine is more of 'things that are nice to have when you need them' type of bag.
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I noticed the lanyard hole on. Gonna have to put some 550 on there for sure. Well, tbh, my Falcon II is also my EDC, besides my medium BOB. I have things in there I certainly wouldn't need for survival, flash drive, etc. I have one of the Maxpedition EDC pouches in my Falcon II for those sorts of things, like so. I actually have different things in there now. Handy little pouch:

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The Smith's sharpeners are great. I turned my brother on to them last year. He is has no sharpening skills what so ever. But he can get a serviceable edge on a knife in a short time. I think he has bought 5 more, for himself and for friends.
 
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Aven said:
The Smith's sharpeners are great. I turned my brother on to them last year. He is has no sharpening skills what so ever. But he can get a serviceable edge on a knife in a short time. I think he has bought 5 more, for himself and for friends.
Click to expand...

This sharpener certainly won't make the blade shave the hair off your arms, but it does put a nice edge quickly on there. I have read where some strop after using this, and it will shave however...
 
i love the smiths pocket pal there great, but the diamond spike will break off in time but don't toss it. It has treads on the base and a handle can be attached.
 
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