The 11 Best Fillet Knife Sharpener Reviews: Sharpen Your Knife Better

Fillet knives are one of the most useful equipments for anglers, having the ability to remove bones for delicious fish. But like most knives, the blades will begin to dull over time, which is why it needs proper maintenance and sharpening. That’s where the best fillet knife sharpener comes along!

Take note that knife sharpeners aren’t simply stones, but there are gadgets you can use for it, too. But what are the best fillet knife sharpeners suitable made for you and your knives? Read on as I show you my top 11 reviews to help you choose the right one!

Best Fillet Knife Sharpener

Quick Comparison: Top Fillet Knife Sharpeners

IMAGEPRODUCTDETAILS 
The Advanced and Quick-PerformingThe Advanced and Quick-Performing
1. Presto EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener
  • Type: Electric
  • Number of Stages: 2
  • Warranty: 1-year
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The Safe and FoolproofThe Safe and Foolproof
2. Chef’sChoice Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener
  • Type: Electric
  • Number of Stages: 2
  • Warranty: two-year
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The Sharp and Pre-ProgrammedThe Sharp and Pre-Programmed
3. Work Sharp Culinary E5 Kitchen Knife Sharpener
  • Type: Electric
  • Number of Stages: 2 + Included Ceramic Honing Rod
  • Handheld: No
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The Manual and ConsistentThe Manual and Consistent
4. Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener
  • Type: Stone
  • Number of Stages: 5
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The Professional and Ergonomic DesignThe Professional and Ergonomic Design
5. PriorityChef Knife Sharpener
  • Type: Handheld
  • Number of Stages: 2
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The Simple and SafeThe Simple and Safe
6. LINKYO Electric Knife Sharpener
  • Type: Electric
  • Number of Stages: 2
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The Solid and PortableThe Solid and Portable
7. Lanksy PS-MED01 BladeMedic
  • Type: Handheld
  • Number of Stages: 2
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The Affordable and Soft-GripThe Affordable and Soft-Grip
8. Messermeister Ceramic Rod Knife Sharpener
  • Type: Handheld
  • Number of Stages: 1
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The Budget-Friendly and SleekThe Budget-Friendly and Sleek
9. Wusthof Handheld Sharpener
  • Type: Handheld
  • Number of Stages: 2
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The Quick and EfficientThe Quick and Efficient
10. Smith’s PP1 Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener
  • Type: Handheld
  • Number of Stages: 2
  • Warranty: 3-year
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The High-Quality and EffectiveThe High-Quality and Effective
11. AccuSharp 001C Knife Sharpener
  • Type: Handheld
  • Number of Stages: 2
  • Warranty: Lifetime
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**Below, you’ll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.

The Eleven Best Fillet Knife Sharpeners

Wondering what type of fillet knife sharpener you need as an angler? These are the 11 best ones you should look into!

1. The Advanced and Quick-Performing: Presto EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener

Presto 8800 08800 EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener

The Presto is my editor’s choice for good reason. It’s one of the most technologically advanced fillet knife sharpeners today at an affordable price! It has a two-stage sharpening system that can easily sharpen non-serrated blades, offering professional results.

The sharpener doesn’t guess, utilizing its technology to position the knife for ideal sharpening angles. No matter your blade shape, it can provide accurate results within a minute or less. This is because it uses sapphire sharpening wheels, which is similar to what the professionals use.

I believe that this is an ideal knife sharpener to use at home, given its good size and precision. There’s no need to adjust it yourself when the sharpener does it for you, saving time to use on actually filleting fish.

Pros

  • Advanced technology for precise sharpening on non-serrated blades
  • It works quickly, providing noticeable results within a minute
  • Easy to use and with various angles for your liking

Cons

  • It is not portable and can only be used at home
  • Some complaints of the grinding wheels being coarse


2. The Safe and Foolproof: Chef’sChoice Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener

Chef'sChoice 0320000 Chef's Choice 320 Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener

The next best thing is the Chef’sChoice Knife Sharpener. It has the ideal and necessary technology, though at a slightly higher price. However, what I love about Chef’sChoice is that it’s a highly reputable brand many people trust, making it worth the investment.

You can choose between two or three-stage systems, both of them offering the precision angle control and sharpness for any knife. You can sharpen not only your fillet knife, bur serrated knives, sports knives, chef’s knives, even cleavers.

Its two-stage system provides diamond abrasives to pre-sharpen, then polishes it off with premium discs. You won’t need to do any work, making it safe and foolproof because you’ll always have the sharp knives after a minute.

Pros

  • Extreme precision and sharpness with 100% diamond abrasives
  • Very easy to use, simply leave it to sharpen on its own
  • It can be used to sharpen most knives without hassle

Cons

  • The fillet knife sharpener comes at an expensive price
  • It will make knives VERY sharp, handle the blades with care

3. The Sharp and Pre-Programmed: Work Sharp Culinary E5 Kitchen Knife Sharpener

Work Sharp Culinary E5 Kitchen Knife Sharpener with Ceramic Honing Rod

If you want the ultimate knife sharpener for your home, then go for Work Sharp Culinary Kitchen Knife Sharpener. While you can’t sharpen workshop knives, you can sharpen just about any kitchen knife, including those used for filleting. And let me tell you, it can sharpen within seconds and give you the sharpest blades as if they were new!

You can sharpen any knife of any brand with this state of the art sharpener. It’s made with flexible sharpening belts and with high-quality materials. What has it stand out is its pre-programmed sharpening options. You can sharpen the knives by just pressing a button, taking less than two minutes.

There are three settings to choose from, allowing you to either shape, sharpen, or hone knives based on its dullness. And, it keeps your hands and knives safe, switching off automatically after the cycle ends.

While a bit in the expensive range, it’s definitely worth the long-term investment, especially if you want extreme professional results.

Pros

  • Produces very sharp knives and with high-quality blades like new
  • Takes less than two minutes for mirror-polished, razor-sharp blades
  • Three different settings to choose from in just a press of a button

Cons

  • Extremely expensive because of its advanced technology
  • Slightly heavier and bulkier compared to other sharpeners

4. The Manual and Consistent: Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener

Work Sharp Knife Sharpener

The Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener is made for the outdoors or workshops. It can be used at home, in the field, or in the shop, made for sportsmen who want the complete and compact sharpener for many tools and knives.

It’s made with diamond plates, whine you can remove easily for speed sharpening using the broadhead wrench. The diamond plates can also be removable for storage, attached with its abrasive exposed or flipped when transporting it around.

Besides its diamond plates, it also has sharpening guides and ceramic rods for consistency and quality blade sharpness. For its performance, along with its compactness and excellent construction to last, it’s worth the price for anyone who needs it outdoors!

Pros

  • The knife sharpener is compact and can be brought outdoors
  • Made with quality diamond abrasives and ceramic rods
  • The abrasive material provides consistent blade edge angles and results

Cons

  • There are some limitations, being a bit too coarse for some
  • Too little grip and can cause some hand cramps after a while

5. The Professional and Ergonomic Design: PriorityChef Knife Sharpener

PriorityChef Knife Sharpener for Straight and Serrated Knives

The PriorityChef Knife Sharpener is made for both straight and serrated knives, providing professional results quickly. Surprisingly, it comes at such an affordable price for a sharpener, still providing a lot of helpful features.

The sharpener includes a 2-stage sharpening system for noticeable results, ensuring sharpness to fillet meats well. I also appreciate that it has a non-slip cushion at the bottom, giving the unit more vibrator base and safer space as you grip and control the knife.

While its durability is questionable, it does the job well and with proper care, can last for a long time.

Pros

  • Safe to use and grip with its cushioned, anti-slip bottom
  • Adequate abrasiveness to sharpen knives excellently
  • Very affordable price for a two-stage knife sharpener

Cons

  • It’s not as durable compared to other fillet knife sharpeners
  • May take more time and passes until you see desired results

6. The Simple and Safe: LINKYO Electric Knife Sharpener

LINKYO Electric Knife Sharpener

I’m impressed that for an electric knife sharpener, the LINKYO system comes at an affordable price. It’s simply designed with time and safety in mind, offering adequate sharpness at its cost.

The system features automatic blade positioning guides, which hold your knife at an ideal position as you sharpen it. It also has the non-slip suction cup feet, which ensure that the sharpener stays in place as you use it. The whole process takes only a few minutes and it’s pretty sharp, enough to fillet your meats smoothly.

Pros

  • Easy cleanup with mess-free receptacles and plugs to catch shards
  • Made with a simple design, easy to understand after setup
  • It positions your blades automatically for ideal positioning

Cons

  • It’s better made for cheaper knives, not expensive ones
  • Will make more noise compared to other electric sharpeners

7. The Solid and Portable: Lanksy PS-MED01 BladeMedic

Lansky PS-MED01 BladeMedic

The Lanksy PS-MED01 BladeMedic is simple and made for the outdoors for its compactness. It’s best for those who need to do field repairs on the blades, offering enough sharpness and smoothness to keep your blades strong when outdoors. It doesn’t give you the ultimate professional results, but still better than other manual knife sharpeners for the field!

It’s made with tungsten carbide, a strong material making it quick to sharpen your blades. It only takes four strokes for repairing and sharpening!

Pros

  • Made best for field repairs and sharpening fits in your pocket
  • Tungsten carbide for less time to restore blades
  • Durable and will last for years of intense field use

Cons

  • Don’t expect razor-sharp edges, enough to make blades usable
  • The sharpener’s diamond rod wears out faster than others

8. The Affordable and Soft-Grip: Messermeister Ceramic Rod Knife Sharpener

Messermeister Ceramic Rod Knife Sharpener

The Messermeister Rod Knife Sharpener stands out from the bunch for its design. It’s the typical manual knife sharpener you would see in most kitchens, but what makes it different is its construction.

It’s one of the more higher-end rod knife sharpeners, made with industrial-grade ceramic for strength and precision. The rod also has a honing or alignment steel, which ensures your blades’ edges are sharpened and won’t dull easily. With the abrasive characteristic from ceramic, it sharpens and aligns your blade edges accurately.

It’s also easy to use, having the soft-grip and ergonomic handle for a secure grip. You can either use it outdoors or in the kitchen because of its lightweight and smaller body.

Pros

  • Has a very comfortable handle for good grip to sharpen well
  • The ceramic material that prevents dullness and promotes sharp blades
  • Lightweight and easy to bring around or store, coming with a plastic sleeve

Cons

  • Needs proper cleaning regularly or it won’t work as well
  • There is no rubber tip to protect the ceramic tip

9. The Budget-Friendly and Sleek: Wusthof Handheld Sharpener

Wüsthof - 2 Stage Hand-Held Sharpener

The Wusthof Handheld Sharpener may not be the ideal one for anglers outside, but it’s an excellent kitchen appliance. Because of its size and design, you may have a tough time bringing it with you, though it’s still possible.

Either way, this knife sharpener includes two-stage systems, which can also provide professional results. It’s made with hard carbide blades for the coarse sharpening stage and fine ceramic rods for honing the blades. It isn’t razor-sharp, but sharp enough to fillet fish excellently.

Besides this, I commend it for the grip, having a rubberized base that’s weighted to secure it well.

Pros

  • Notable grip and weighted design for control and safety
  • Great materials for coursing and honing to sharpen well
  • Easy to use and takes 20 passes for great results, more or less

Cons

  • The sharpener is handheld and needs more effort for sharpening
  • It’s best made for the kitchen and not to bring outside

10. The Quick and Efficient: Smith’s PP1 Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener

Smith's PP1 Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener

If you’re looking for something portable and made for the angler on-the-go, then you’ll like the Smith’s PP1 Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener. It’s quite versatile, making it even more idea for the outdoor setting. It’s made with a tapered round diamond-coated rod, meaning it can sharpen both serrated edges quite efficiently.

It also has the carbide blades between, and ceramic stones, so you can choose which material to give you the sharper edge, depending on your blade quality and material. It also has the reversible stones to sharpen your knife for longer, giving you full control of angles and sharpness.

I appreciate that it has a lanyard hole to easily carry around, as well as the ease of use. While it’s a bit small and takes time getting used to, it does the job well done!

Pros

  • It has preset sharpening angles for better control and results
  • It’s made of high-quality materials to ensure sharpness
  • There are two different stones for easy polishing and sharpening

Cons

  • You need to do all the manual work, takes more time
  • It’s a bit too small if you have larger hands

11. The High-Quality and Effective: AccuSharp 001C Knife Sharpener

AccuSharp 001C Knife Sharpener

Last but not least, there’s the AccuSharp 001C Knife Sharpener, one of the high-quality ones made with premium material. This can act as both a knife and tool sharpener, making it useful and versatile for most anglers even when at home.

The sharpener can sharpen within TEN seconds, which is quite fast for a knife sharpener! It can sharpen your fillet knife, as well as your ax, machete, and various cutting tools well. It provides efficient results in less time, which saves you a lot.

As for the ease of use, I love the ergonomic grip and finger guard. It keeps my hands safe and I don’t worry about fatigue, as the grip keeps it secure.

Overall, I feel like this knife sharpener is built to last and made for those who want something quick and for other tools as well.

Pros

  • The fillet knife sharpener won’t rust and is easy to clean
  • Large ergonomic handle for comfort and secureness
  • It can sharpen knives and other tools in ten seconds

Cons

  • It can destroy knives if improperly handled
  • A bit difficult to understand how to use at first

How to Buy the Best Fillet Knife Sharpener

Just because you know the top fillet knife sharpeners will not mean you have to choose it solely based on these reviews. There are more to look into when selecting a suitable sharpener, so consider these crucial factors:

1. What Type of Sharpener?

There are three types of fillet knife sharpeners to choose from:

Electric Sharpeners

Electric Sharpeners

These are sharpeners that use a three-step process to hone, sharpen, and create an edge to dull blades. It utilizes coarse grit to sharpen the dull blades, then will hone the sharpened parts. You also can sharpen the blades until satisfied!

Because it requires either batteries or an electrical outlet, they are much suitable for home use, either in the kitchen or garage.

Handheld Sharpeners

Handheld Sharpeners

These sharpeners require you to manually sharpen your blades using a handheld tool. This simplifies the entire process so you won’t deal with sockets or batteries.

It’s portable and most suitable for anglers who need a quick fix when out in the waters. However, they don’t offer as much power as electrical sharpeners!

Sharpening Stones

Sharpening Stone

This is the simple sharpening tool, which I won’t be included in the reviews. However, it’s still worth noting that this is a traditional way to sharpen knives, with some people still doing it now. Using gritty stones made of a mix of certain minerals, it can help form a sharper edge, though taking time and effort.

2. Electric vs Manual?

Another two types of sharpeners to choose from are electric or manual.

With an electric fillet knife sharpener, it will only take a few minutes to achieve the necessary blade sharpness. You can either guide it or leave it alone to do the work itself. However, it requires batteries and/or an electric outlet, and they are usually bigger compared to manual fillet knife sharpeners.

For those who focus on portability to bring to the waters, manual sharpeners are a good choice. You’ll need to learn how to use it well for the best-sharpened fillet knife, but once you get a hang of it, it will keep your blades sharp just the way you like it. Take note it may take some time sharpening, as well as learning the skill to do so.

3. How Many Sharpening Stages?

Electric sharpeners usually have two and/or three sharpening stages. Models with two stages will have pre-sharpening with honing and/or polishing stages.

A sharpener with two-stage systems are functional and perform flawlessly. BUT, sharpeners that have more stage system can be even better, depending on your specific needs. If you want something more than the typical pre-sharpening and polishing, then a three (or more) stage system is best.

4. Abrasiveness Quality

To make sure that your fillet knife is sharpened well without it causing blade damage, you have to consider the sharpener’s abrasiveness. Sharpeners would usually use 100% diamond abrasives for those razor-sharp edges.

There are also other high-quality abrasives to choose from, such as tungsten carbide or polished ceramic. They can be quite pricey, but definitely worth the long-term investment for quality and durability. Avoid getting low-quality materials and abrasives which won’t do the job.

5. Comfort and Ease of Use

Look for fillet knife sharpeners that have the ergonomic design and grip handle. You want it to give you a good grip to avoid slipping, which can cause injuries or a broken blade. Besides that, look into sharpeners that include instruction manuals and have no hassle when setting it up.

Besides this, your knife sharpener needs to come with the adjustable precision angle guide. This would automatically position knives at a perfect angle to sharpen blades accurately. Such guides should handle various angles, offering a 15-degree option.

6. Price and Warranty

Consider your budget as well, but avoid scrimping and getting the cheapest sharpener! Pay for the quality and find the middle ground, based on the typical price range. You can make do with a midrange sharpener that performs flawlessly.

Also look into sharpeners that come with a good warranty, which can last between 1-3 years against any defects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that you know all about how to choose the fillet knife sharpener, what are other things to know about it? Here are frequently asked questions many have pondered on:

1. Can’t I just use a random stone or cheap sharpener?

You CAN use a stone to sharpen your knife, but it has to be a “specialized” stone made with specific minerals that can sharpen blades. You aren’t able to use just any stone, as this can worsen your fillet knife’s blade quality. Furthermore, it takes a lot of time and skill to use a stone to sharpen blades, which is why I recommend you use an electric or manual sharpener.

Cheap sharpeners can work, but only for a while. It has limited functions and poor-quality abrasive, which results in dull knives and poor performance. Again, quality knife sharpeners are a must.

2. How often should I sharpen my knives?

The frequency of sharpening depends on what you need to be done. For fine sharpening, you can and should perform this daily, as no metal would be removed and it maintains great sharpness.

Coarse sharpening should be done only when your blades have become very dull, which is after a few weeks or so. It’s much better to perform fine sharpening daily to avoid blades becoming dull to require coarse sharpening.

3. Why do I need a knife sharpener anyway?

Anglers use fillet knives for their fish, removing bones to get a cleaner cut and better meat. Knives tend to dull over time, which is why it’s crucial to have it sharpened regularly.

With a sharpened knife, it won’t slip easily, requires less pressure, and is more satisfying to use overall. It also ensures fewer mistakes as you cut through your fish meat.

4. What if my knives are professionally sharpened?

Professional sharpening services are beneficial, but many choose to wait until their knives are very dull. Because of this, professional sharpeners will need to remove a lot of metal as they sharpen it.

That’s why I recommend that you sharpen your knives regularly rather than wait until the last minute to take it to a professional. It reduces or eliminates the need to remove metal when reshaping the blade and saves you money in the long run.

5. Why do knives become dull?

Sharp knives start dulling when your knives are used to chop or cut, which causes the edges to fold or bend. The more you use it, the more the areas would break off, leaving dull edges. To maintain a sharp blade, such beds should be pushed back to shape regularly to prevent serious damage.

6. How long do knife sharpeners last and how can I clean it well?

This depends on the construction of the sharpener. If you have a high-quality sharpener, it can last for up to five years or so. It can last longer as long as it’s well-cleaned and stored properly.

To clean your knife sharpener, use a small and soft brush, dusting off any residue after sharpening. Wipe its body using a damp towel for the stainless steel to stay glistening. You can also rinse or wash the sharpener with warm and soapy water, drying it off using a soft cloth.

7. Can I use these sharpeners for things besides knives, too?

YES, you can use your knife sharpener for other things as well, depending on the make and strength. You can use it to sharpen a variety of curved blades, like paring knives, carving knives, and even draw blades. However, you can’t use it to sharpen scissors.

It’s recommended to check what else you can sharpen with the manufacturer and model beforehand.

Learn more about fillet knife sharpeners and how they work in this informative video:

Wrapping It Up

When you own a fillet knife, you get to reap the many benefits it offers, especially for your fish meat. With a sharp knife, it will give you better results and have you cut your fish easily and safely. That’s why as long as you get the right knife sharpener, you won’t have problems with quality fish fillet cuts for years to come.

Hopefully, my best fillet knife sharpener reviews and purchasing guide helped you out! So don’t wait any longer and look into any of these sharpeners now.

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