Spyderco Sharpmaker vs Spyderco Gauntlet: Which One Is Best? - KnifeCenter Reviews

[@jorgefernandez6407]

Just got my Sharpmaker! My only regret, is that I didn't get it sooner!!! It's a GREAT system...

[@STG60650]

I’ve had the original for years and just love it. I did get the diamond rods as well. This is for sure the best sharping system I’ve ever had and only use.

[@joseromero9944]

I've used a Ver 1.0 Sharpmaker for years with the brass guard rods and following the VHS Video (yes mine is that old) instructions with excellent results. It gives you the option to maintain the 35 degree back bevel that Spyderco puts on some of their models. That being said the Gauntlet looks like it can do some things the Sharpmaker can't. I would especially like to see some diamond rods for the Gauntlet before dropping the $100+ it costs. I have maintained my EDC knives as well as my wife's collection of Fury kitchen knives for years. Although lately we had to switch to an electric sharpener for the kitchen knives because the edges weren't staying sharp long enough. The Sharpmaker was even easy to throw in my pack to do my mother-in-law's blades as well when we visit for the holidays (something that always keeps me in her good graces). I'm not sure I'd feel as comfortable traveling with the Gauntlet due to a lack of protection for the rods. All in all, I can highly recommend the Sharpmaker for complete overhauls to minor touch-ups.

[@NathanRodger]

Keen to know what ver 1.0 of sharpmaker you have that has the 35º back bevel, as my version from the 90s has only the two 20º rod holes, rod insert for scissor angle, and a kinda janky balance area for flat stone work, where like 50% of the rod just hangs in the air. Over the years one of the medium stones got broken by a 'friend'... then the pieces vanished and my mediums just vanished.. the brass rods have gone... One of my fine stones has a chip.. so I picked up the current version a few years ago and it's great! I run both and tend to use my old one for touch ups... I also picked up the ultra fine stones... and need some diamond stones (or maybe CBN?)...

[@selvetarmiel]

For anyone wondering how to clean the ceramic rods, I find that scouring powder and a little water with an old toothbrush works great.

[@BrianWMay]

Barkeeper's Friend is particularly good - which is a sort of scouring powder plus. I use one of those washing up sponges with the green scouring pad on the back.

[@kiddkai]

Rub it with cheap baby oil(mineral oil) with finger, they come right off

[@philippelord1]

I just use an eraser

[@myvids3115]

After using Lansky I resently picked up the classic Sharpmaker for the ease of use and versitality. The thing that catched me was the very easy way to sharpen bellied knifes and serrated blades, where Lansky and others pretty much are psinful to use.

[@DuxLindy]

Spyderco's bench and pocket stones are great too. The medium/fine pocket stone comes with a leather slip you can load with compound if you're trying to get a sharpening solution on the cheap.

[@westsenkovec]

I wouldn't call them great. The surfaces are uneven, badly finished, the stones are crooked, especially the triangle stones.

[@DuxLindy]

I must have gotten lucky, both sides of my combo stone are completely flat and look straight. The only complaint I have is that the adhesive holding the thing together gave after being dropped about 6" onto a desk.

[@BrianWMay]

I use Lansky to sharpen the knife then Sharpmaker to hone it. Since buying the Sharpmaker coarse rods, setting a blade angle (usually 20º) is now much easier. There is a large gap between the coarse rods and the grey medium rods which the Lansky system covers neatly. On balance I'll not give up my Sharpmaker, we've been 'friends' for over 20 years and I'm old fashioned like that. I've had my Lansky diamond hones for that time too, but am appalled at the price for a new one these days. You can't go far wrong with either.

[@Rayo6764]

Is are the white stones on the gauntlet and the sharpmaker the same grit?

[@wayneeggerman5559]

I've been using the sharpmaker for many years with excellent results. I haven't tried the gauntlet yet but will pick one up and give it a go.

[@chrisfyfe1476]

I have an OG Sharpmaker , I’m interested I’m trying the Gauntlet .

I may get the gauntlet cause I'm tired of how short the rods are on the sharpmaker. It's a bit annoying sharpening my kitchen knives but it's ok for my smaller pocket knives. Wish the rods were simply 2-4" longer.

[@nickariaz6426]

Great vid, exactly what I was looking for

[@jscottchrist5178]

I bought the Hogue K320. How do I find out the blade angle?

[@danofiremano]

Sharpmaker is my choice because of the versatility!

[@goldog2816]

I have a friend who has been using one for a lot of years and he has to have the sharpest knives any of my friends carry,

[@CB-zx3jn]

My Sharpmaker has been working hard for me for over 10 years, and is a great "simple" sharpener. The knife steel that starts filling in the pores of the white rods can easily be cleaned out using a "Magic Eraser" (sold practically everywhere), and it's like you have brand new rods all over again. If you don't drop the rods, they will likely last longer than you would ever imagine. But if you DO drop one, game over...you'll have to replace it. They break pretty easily. I like the looks of the rods on the gauntlet, but would not even consider buying it unless it was redesigned to offer two sharpening angles (add a 15deg angle to the 20 deg angle already included). Then, I believe Spyderco would have a REAL winner! Also important to know is that now you can buy diamond and also extra-fine honing rods for the Sharpmaker, which gives you more steel-cutting power and refining ability, but the only issue with purchasing them is once you have shelled-out the extra cash for more rods, now you are getting near to the price of a good multi-angle, multi-stone knife sharpening system, which may cause some to question their Spyderco purchase in lieu of spending a little more money, and getting a whole lot more sharpening options... like KME, Wicked Edge, etc...

[@devin2355]

@DCA, which is better geared to a complete novice? Anyone have both? After a year or so, which do prefer? I have several recurve and karambit blades as well as serrated and most are in “super steels” if you will.

[@knifecenter]

Both are as easy to use but the Sharpmaker offers more options on what you can sharpen. -DCA

[@devin2355]

@@knifecenter thank you for getting back to me!

[@TacticalStrudel]

Would the gauntlet be better for a Grimsmo Norseman or is the Norseman not recurved enough for it to matter?

[@knifecenter]

Either device will work, but on any recurve, even a mild one, the elliptical stones will have better contact with the edge.

[@leonidasking2988]

How do you sharpen a recurve blade with the Gauntlet?

[@knifecenter]

On the elliptical side of the stone. It will hug the inside curve of the blade edge. -DCA

[@jimmyn1732]

Can you sharpen s110v steel with these products?

[@bigbullet9224]

Hell yea bro no metal is as tough as those stones

[@jfpinkston1]

I think the sharpmaker now ships with aluminum guard rods, the older version used brass...

[@brettmillard1338]

Can confirm. Just purchased one a couple of weeks ago. Definitely aluminum rods.

[@mountaindont34ify]

@@brettmillard1338 thats a texas sized 10-4 good buddy

[@BrianWMay]

Doesn't matter what they are if you don't use them . . . mine are brass

[@Missin44]

Which would work best for kitchen knives?

[@knifecenter]

Both should work equally well on German/Western-style knives, but if you have Japanese knives with thinner edge angles, you'll definitely want to go with the Sharpmaker.

[@jajaja24ja85]

The old product is just way better than the new one and that's kinda odd

[@robhimself79]

I really like my sharpmaker for bigger knives vs my KME but the nicer rods are way too expensive IMO. I can get some very nice stones on my KME for half the price.

[@jojojaykay]

KME stones suck

[@jerrysimpson9224]

I enjoyed the video I’m interested in both systems. However it would’ve been nice to know the difference in price between the two to make an informed decision. I suppose I’ll check your site to see if you carry them as well as Spyderco

[@johnpaulvalentine8990]

Hey knifecenter! So I am looking for one of these that can sharpen a karambit best. The karambit in my mind is the microtech iconic, which has one on the most curved blades I have ever seen. What do you guys think would be best?

[@knifecenter]

Gauntlet. The curved stones will have an easier time riding the recurve on the blade.

[@johnpaulvalentine8990]

@@knifecenter thank you

[@kinglerxstbtpc]

How portable is the Sharpmaker? Does the lid stay down firmly, what is the weight of the whole system?

[@papasauce234]

Robert Seidel The lid does stay on solidy, I'm not sure how much it says but it isn't very heavy. I recommend it, it's pretty nice. Just try not to wear down the plastic that holds in the stones.

[@usernameisusername]

I carried mine to the summit of everest

[@joseromero9944]

I usually throw a heavy duty rubber band around the Sharpmaker when traveling. The rods (except for the guard rod) don't lock into place and that can mean the lid could pop off of your pack is jostled.

[@cvdubya5774]

I just wish the CBN rods didn't cost as much as the entire Sharpmaker system.

[@rossdewar8365]

Spyderco Sharpmaker all the way!

[@dtester]

"So don't!" .... good advice that be ;)

[@MegaYangman]

Sharpmaker all the way!!

[@-ius-6502]

Sharp maker

[@ericwiltse8054]

Sharpmaker

[@boringoldman]

Clean these stones bro…. They are loaded with metal

[@chattifactory]

the gauntlet is 65 dollars more then the sharpmaker wtf are u guys talking about xD

[@knifecenter]

Not the base version. It starts at $56 vs $73.50 for the Sharpmaker.