For most people, the Smith's to buy is the 2-Step (CCKS): a pocket-size carbide and ceramic pull-through that Smith's sets at 20 degrees, with more than 17,000 Amazon ratings. Get the Pocket Pal instead if you also sharpen serrated blades or fish hooks, and the Adjustable Angle Pull-Thru if your kitchen knives are thinner than 20 degrees. Smith's makes field tools first. That's their strength, and it's also why their fixed slots are a poor match for a thin Japanese chef's knife.
Quick picks
| Best overall Smith's | Smith's 2-Step Knife Sharpener (CCKS) | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Best for kitchen knives | Smith's Adjustable Angle Pull-Thru (50264) | Amazon |
| Best field sharpener | Smith's Pocket Pal (PP1) | Amazon |
| Best for knives and scissors | Smith's JIFF-S 10-Second Knife & Scissors Sharpener | Amazon |
| Best freehand field stone | Smith's DCS4 Diamond Combination Sharpener | Amazon |
| Best Smith's electric | Smith's Edge Pro Compact Electric (50005) | Amazon |
| Best bench stones | Smith's Tri-Hone Sharpening System (TRI6) | Amazon |
How we sorted the lineup
We pulled every Smith's sharpener in Amazon's results on October 15, 2026, along with bought-in-the-past-month counts and ratings, and read Smith's own product pages for the angle and abrasive of each model. The 2-Step showed 2,000+ purchases in the past month, the most of any Smith's model; the Pocket Pal has the most ratings at more than 22,000. Where Smith's doesn't publish an angle, we say so instead of guessing.
This is a spec review. We compared Smith's pages, Amazon listings and published reviews; we didn't sharpen with each model. How we research.
Smith's sharpeners by job
| Job | Smith's model | Angle | Abrasives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick pull-through, drawer or tackle box | 2-Step (CCKS) | 20°, preset (Smith's page) | Carbide coarse, ceramic fine |
| Kitchen knives at different angles | Adjustable Angle Pull-Thru (50264) | 14–24°, six settings | Carbide, ceramic, fixed serrated slot |
| Field kit: serrations and hooks too | Pocket Pal (PP1) | Preset; not published by Smith's | Carbide, ceramic, tapered diamond rod |
| Knives plus scissors | JIFF-S 10-Second, Jiffy-Pro | Preset; not published | Carbide; ceramic rod for scissors |
| Freehand field stone | DCS4 Diamond Combination | You set it | Coarse and fine diamond |
| Powered | Edge Pro Compact Electric (50005) | Guided; not published | Bonded synthetic wheels, ceramic manual slot |
| Bench stones at home | Tri-Hone (TRI6) | You set it (angle guide included) | 300 and 800 synthetic, 1,000 Arkansas |
A note on that 20. Pocket, hunting and most older Western kitchen knives sit around 20 degrees per side, so the 2-Step matches them. Many Japanese knives and current Wüsthof and Shun blades are 14 to 16. Pull those through a 20 degree slot and it grinds a thicker edge than the maker put on. Our knife sharpening angle chart lists the brands.
The Smith's sharpeners worth buying
Smith's 2-Step Knife Sharpener (CCKS)
The one most people mean when they search for a Smith's. It's tiny and it floats. Smith's says three to four strokes through the carbide slot will restore a very dull blade. The ceramic rods are for knives that are already reasonably sharp. Blade Magazine's note on the 2-Step makes the trade-off plain: carbide removes metal fast, which makes it better for resetting a dull edge than for daily upkeep. Use the ceramic slot most of the time and the carbide slot only when the knife has really gone. For fishing, compare it with the other fillet knife sharpeners we picked.
- Angle20°, preset (Smith's page)
- Coarsecrossed tungsten carbide
- Finecrossed ceramic rods
- Size2.33 x 2.71 in, under 2 oz
- Floatsyes
- Ratings17,023
Why it stands out
- Smith's best seller, 2,000+ bought in the past month
- Pocket size, with a lanyard hole and non-slip feet
- Published 20° angle suits outdoor and most Western knives
Think twice if
- Your knives are 15° Japanese or thin German blades
- You need to sharpen serrations
Smith's Adjustable Angle Pull-Thru (50264)
The Smith's for a mixed kitchen drawer. A knob sets the coarse and fine abrasives anywhere from 14 to 24 degrees in six steps, so a 15 degree santoku and a 20 degree carving knife each get their own angle. There's also a fixed slot for serrated blades. Smith's tells you to match the knife's original factory grind, which is the right advice for any sharpener.
- Angles14–24°, 6 settings
- Stagescoarse carbide, fine ceramic
- Serratedseparate fixed-angle slot
- Partsreplaceable
- Ratings4,585
Why it stands out
- Reaches 14°, close to Wüsthof and Japanese edges
- Serrated slot built in
- Carbide and ceramic parts are replaceable
Think twice if
- You want something for a pocket; it's a countertop tool
Smith's Pocket Pal (PP1)
Everything a tackle box needs in one ounce. Carbide sets a new edge on a dull straight blade, ceramic polishes it and also handles serrations, and the fold-out tapered diamond rod works serration scallops and hooks. Smith's says not to use the carbide slot on serrated edges. The listing doesn't give an angle; a vendor answer on Tractor Supply's page for the PP1 Mini says 20 degrees in the coarse slot and 23 in the fine, which we couldn't confirm with Smith's.
- Coarsecarbide (straight edges only)
- Fineceramic (straight or serrated)
- Rodfold-out tapered diamond for serrations and hooks
- Size3.5 x 1 in, 1 oz
- Ratings22,365
Why it stands out
- Covers straight edges and serrations
- Carbide and ceramic stones are reversible and replaceable
- The most-rated Smith's sharpener on Amazon
Think twice if
- You want it for fine kitchen knives
Smith's JIFF-S 10-Second Knife & Scissors Sharpener
The pick if the drawer also holds dull scissors. Smith's built the scissors sharpener into the handle, with a floating ceramic rod that follows the scissors' own bevel, and the knife slot uses crossed carbide. Smith's suggests three or four strokes for either. The full-length guard is a real safety plus on a pull-over design, where the sharpener moves over the blade. For game shears and larger scissors, Smith's Jiffy-Pro has enlarged scissors slots and adds a ceramic stage for knives.
- Knife slotcrossed carbide, preset angle
- Scissorsfloating round ceramic rod, right- and left-handed
- Guardfull-length finger and thumb guard
- Partsreversible, replaceable
- Ratings1,596
Why it stands out
- Scissors and knives in one tool
- Finger and thumb guard
Think twice if
- You want a fine finishing stage for knives; the JIFF-S knife slot is carbide only
Smith's DCS4 Diamond Combination Sharpener
A small double-sided diamond stone that packs into its own handle. Because you hold the angle yourself, it works on any knife, including the thin ones the pull-throughs don't suit. Smith's says the interrupted surface catches metal filings. It doesn't publish grit numbers, so treat it as coarse for repair and fine for finishing. Color the bevel with a marker first to see whether you're holding the right angle.
- Stone4 in, double-sided coarse and fine monocrystalline diamond
- Extrasmicro-tool pad and fish-hook groove each side
- Handlerubber grip, stores the stone
- Ratings3,484
Why it stands out
- Any angle, any knife
- Hook groove on both sides
- Diamond cuts hard steels
Think twice if
- You've never sharpened freehand and want a guided slot
Smith's Edge Pro Compact Electric (50005)
Smith's compact electric sharpens one side of the blade at a time on bonded abrasive wheels, with guides that hold the angle, then finishes in a manual ceramic slot. Smith's says the wheels limit heat so they won't de-temper the blade. It's for straight edges only, and the listing doesn't state the angle. If you want an electric for kitchen knives, a 15 degree Chef'sChoice is the more precise tool; our best electric knife sharpener guide compares them.
- Power120 V
- Electric stagebonded synthetic wheels, one side at a time, with blade guides
- Manual stagecrossed ceramic rods
- Edgesstraight only
- Ratings1,125
Why it stands out
- Fast for a pile of hunting or fillet knives
- Ceramic slot for a final hone
Think twice if
- You need serrated sharpening or a known angle
Smith's Tri-Hone Sharpening System (TRI6)
Smith's started as an Arkansas stone company, and this rotating three-stone bench set is what that looks like today: 300 grit to repair, 800 to sharpen, and a 1,000 grit Arkansas stone to finish, with honing solution and an angle guide in the box. Its rating is lower than the pull-throughs, at 3.7 stars, so read the recent reviews before buying.
- Stones300 synthetic, 800 synthetic, 1,000 Arkansas, each 6 x 1.63 in
- Includesangle guide, 1 oz honing solution, non-skid base
- Ratings5,103
Why it stands out
- Three grits on one base
- Works on knives and tools at any angle
Think twice if
- You want a quick guided result; this is freehand
See the listing photos of how the three stones rotate on the base
Side-by-side comparison
| Model | Angle | Serrated | Scissors | Bought past month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Step CCKS | 20° | No | No | 2,000+ |
| Adjustable 50264 | 14–24° | Yes (own slot) | No | 100+ |
| Pocket Pal | Not published | Ceramic slot, diamond rod | No | 600+ |
| JIFF-S | Not published | No | Yes | 800+ |
| DCS4 | Freehand | Edge of the stone | No | 400+ |
| Edge Pro 50005 | Not published | No | No | 900+ |
| Tri-Hone TRI6 | Freehand, guide included | No | No | Not shown |
Angles from Smith's product pages where published. Sales from Amazon search, October 15, 2026.
How to use a Smith's pull-through
- Put the sharpener on a flat surface and grip the handle. Keep your fingers behind the guard.
- Decide whether the knife needs the coarse slot. If it still cuts but drags, skip carbide and go to ceramic.
- For a dull knife, set the heel in the carbide slot and pull straight back toward you to the tip, with light pressure and the blade upright. Three to four strokes is what Smith's suggests.
- Move to the ceramic slot and make several more light strokes to smooth the edge.
- Wipe the blade, and test on a sheet of paper.
Pressing hard doesn't speed carbide up; it just tears more steel off and leaves a ragged edge. If the knife still won't cut after the ceramic slot, the angle probably doesn't match, which is the case for the adjustable model or a stone. Our general how to use a knife sharpener guide covers other brands' slots.
Smith's compared with a Lansky or Work Sharp
These are different kinds of tool. Smith's fixed pull-throughs are about speed and pocket size. A Lansky clamp kit holds one of four angles while you stroke hones by hand, which is slower and more precise; our Lansky which-kit guide sorts those. Work Sharp's guided field sharpener sits in between, with a pivot and angle guides. For a single pull-through in the truck, Smith's is the cheaper, simpler choice. For pocket knives you care about, see best knife sharpener for pocket knives, and for big game blades, best knife sharpener for hunting knives.
Also in the lineup
The Smith's 3001 10-inch oval diamond rod is a kitchen honing rod with a diamond-coated surface, so it removes some steel as well as straightening the edge. The CCD4 3-in-1 system combines a 750 grit diamond stone, a carbide slot and teardrop ceramic rods that set up for straight or serrated blades.
The pick
Buy the 2-Step for outdoor and everyday knives, and keep the carbide slot for the bad days. Pick the Pocket Pal if a serrated blade or hooks are in the kit. For kitchen knives below 20 degrees, skip the fixed slots and buy the Adjustable Angle Pull-Thru, or see our best manual knife sharpener picks and our budget sharpener picks.
Sources: smithsproducts.com product pages (2-Step, Adjustable Angle Pull-Thru, 10-Second Knife & Scissors, Jiffy-Pro, Diamond Combination), read October 15, 2026; Blade Magazine's note on the Smith's 2-Step; Tractor Supply PP1 Mini Q&A (unconfirmed angle). Specs from Amazon listings and sales from Amazon search, checked the same day. How we research · Affiliate disclosure