To help you determine the best tri-stone knife sharpener for your blades, we interviewed some experts with decades of experience. We also conduct many real-life tests and side-by-side comparisons to get a thorough idea of the pros and cons of each top-rated option on the market. At the end of the day, here are our favorite picks:
Here are the best tri-stone knife sharpeners you can buy in 2024:
- Budget Option: Smith's TRI6
- Best For Double Edged Blades: WÜSTHOF 3069720201
- Best For Straight-Edge Blade: AccuSharp AS025C
- Best For Big Knives: Norton Abrasives IM200
- Best For Quick Edge Sharpening: Smith's AC50380
- Compact Design: Mercer Culinary M15930
| 6 Best Tri-Stone Knife Sharpeners | ||
|---|---|---|
Budget Option | Smith's TRI6 | |
Best For Double Edged Blades | WÜSTHOF 3069720201 | |
Best For Straight-Edge Blade | AccuSharp AS025C | |
Best For Big Knives | Norton Abrasives IM200 | |
Best For Quick Edge Sharpening | Smith's AC50380 | |
Compact Design | Mercer Culinary M15930 | |
Budget Option: Smith's TRI6
- Easy to use – including an angled guide
- Good control – a rotating molded triangle base
- Safe - non-slip rubber feet
- Wish the angled guide came with more different angles
For those sharpening novices who would like to take it a step further than a quick sharpening, the Smith's TRI6 is a worthwhile consideration. It is affordable, simple to learn, and provides you with good control to manually sharpen the desired knife edge.
This will not be a huge knife sharpening stone to work with but definitely good enough for casual home users
You'll also like the included angle guide which helps you to dial exactly in the desired blade angle. Besides, the sturdy, non-slip rubber feet add to its reliability.
| Smith's TRI6 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 1.63 pounds |
Dimension | 5 x 5 x 5 inches |
Grit Type | Fine, Coarse, Medium |
Highlight Features | including an angled guide a rotating molded triangle base non-slip rubber feet |
The Smith's TRI6 is the best budget option for entry-level users who want to elevate their knife-sharpening experience.
Best For Double Edged Blades: WÜSTHOF 3069720201
- Very reliable – nice grip & non-slip base
- Sharpening blades fast and effortlessly – 3000-grit fine stone & 1000-grit medium stone
- Not waterproof
Just as we have come to expect from WÜSTHOF products during the past years, the performance of the 3069720201 model does not disappoint.
This version is specifically for double-edged blades. It provides two angles: 10 degrees and 14 degrees – which is suitable for Japanese style knives, new knives with PEtec edge, and the Classic Series Wusthof knives.
It’s easy to use, sturdy, and well-made. It features slip-resistant texture on the bottom to remain stable during use and an elevated grip to keep the blade from contacting fingertips or knuckles.
The tri-stone design includes course grit 240, medium grit 1000, and fine grit 3000, making the blade-sharpening process a lot faster.
| WÜSTHOF 3069720201 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 2 pounds |
Dimension | 9.2 x 3.2 x 2.9 inches |
Grit Type | Medium, Coarse, Fine |
Highlight Features | nice grip & non-slip base 3000-grit fine stone & 1000-grit medium stone |
If you are looking for a dedicated tri-stone knife sharpener for double-edged blades, then look no further than the WÜSTHOF 3069720201
Best For Straight-Edge Blade: AccuSharp AS025C
- Ideal for straight edge blades – a 21-degree angled guide
- Premium quality & durability - 1500-grit ceramic fine stone, 280-grit synthetic medium stone, & 320-grit diamond coarse stone
- Able to sharpen longer blades – the 6” size
- None
AccuSharp provides a wide range of knife sharpener lines for straight edge blades, but we find this version to be the best performer.
Its abrasives are upgraded to 1500-grit ceramic fine stone, 280-grit synthetic medium stone, and 320-grit diamond coarse stone to make the knife-sharpening process faster. It also helps extend the lifespan.
Moreover, it comes with a 21-degree angled guide to help novice users to manually sharpen their knives with ease.
Compared to the AccuSharp 023, the size of this version is twice in length, meaning that it can handle longer blades.
| AccuSharp AS025C Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 1.5 Pounds |
Dimension | 10 x 4 x 4 inches |
Grit Type | Medium, Coarse |
Highlight Features | a 21-degree angled guide 1500-grit ceramic fine stone, 280-grit synthetic medium stone, & 320-grit diamond coarse stone the 6” size |
Though it isn’t a quite versatile option, the AccuSharp AS025C clearly shows its worth and value when working on straight-edge blades
Best For Big Knives: Norton Abrasives IM200
- Perfect for big knives – the size of 20.8 x 8.7 x 7.4 inches
- Convenience – the 4.5-ounce oil reservoir
- Not friendly enough for beginners
Aside from sturdiness and quality, the Norton Abrasives IM200 boasts a bigger size of 20.8 x 8.7 x 7.4 inches, making it the perfect contender for big knives.
Not only can the tool sharpen big knives faster than its competitors but also features an oil reservoir for convenience in lubricating the blade while working.
Additionally, this reservoir is up to 4.5 ounces in size, which means it requires less refilling. A nice plus!
| Norton Abrasives IM200 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 1.9 Pounds |
Dimension | 20.8 x 8.7 x 7.4 inches |
Grit Type | Coarse |
Highlight Features | the size of 20.8 x 8.7 x 7.4 inches the 4.5-ounce oil reservoir |
Coming with larger-sized stones, the Norton Abrasives IM200 is perfect to sharpen big knives in less time.
Best For Quick Edge Sharpening: Smith's AC50380
- Relatively affordable for the premium quality
- Good at sharpening small-sized woodworking tools - the uninterrupted surface on coarse and fine stones
- Easy to store – the hanging tab
- None
This is our favorite tri-stone knife sharpener that perfectly balances durability, performance, and price. If you want something for quick edge setting, then this is it!
Making it stand out from other counterparts is the coarse and fine stones with an uninterrupted surface, allowing this tool to work well on small-sized woodworking tools and instruments.
The sharpening surface size of 6" x 1 5/8" also makes it a good pick for tactical, hunting, kitchen, and pocket knives. Last but not least, only this option comes with a hanging tab.
| Smith's AC50380 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 16 Ounces |
Dimension | 10.24 x 3.54 x 3.46 inches |
Grit Type | Fine, Coarse |
Highlight Features | the uninterrupted surface on coarse and fine stones 6" x 1 5/8" sharpening surface area |
When it comes to the best tri-stone knife sharpener for quick edge sharpening, our solid pick is the Mercer Culinary M15930
Compact Design: Mercer Culinary M15930
- Travel-friendly & easy to store – the size of 13.25 x 4 x 6 inches
- Reliable – made in the USA
- Expensive
If you are in need of a compact tri-stone knife sharpener whether for travel or for storage, the Mercer Culinary M15930 is the shiniest contender due to its modest size of 13.25 x 4 x 6 inches.
Of course, such petite dimensions come at some certain sacrifice, such as the lack of fine grit.
Unlike most other picks in this review, the M15930 features a coarse stone, a medium stone, and an aluminum oxide stone. However, it does well on its primary jobs with no problem. This unit is proudly made in the US, which ensures the quality.
| Mercer Culinary M15930 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 1.54 pounds |
Dimension | 13.25 x 4 x 6 inches |
Grit Type | Coarse, Medium |
Highlight Features | the size of 13.25 x 4 x 6 inches made in the USA |
We were quite impressed with the incredibly compact size of the Mercer Culinary M15930.
How To Choose The Best Tri-Stone Knife Sharpener?
Grits
The fine or coarse level of the sharpening surface is defined by grits.
To hone a knife, pick a fine grit at least 4000. If the knife isn’t thoroughly dull, a medium grit ranging from 1000 to 4000 is ideal. A damaged or blunt blade needs a coarse grit under 1000 to sharpen.
If you also would like to polish the blade edges, consider a sharpener that offers a very high grit.
Types Of Blades
There are two primary types of blades on the market:
- Straight-edge blades
- Double-edged blades
Unless you want to transform a single-edged blade into a double-edged, pick the right sharpener for the knife you have.
Angles
Angles are an important element to consider for those who want to get a precise edge angle.
Knives are varied in angles, such as 20 degrees, 14 degrees, 10 degrees, etc. You should determine the angle of your knives to pick the right sharpener. For ease of use, pick a system that comes with an angled guide.
Portability
Ask yourself if you will be taking the knife sharpener with you.
If it’s a “Yes”, then consider a portable option. For those who plan to use this device at home only and for big blades, it is recommended choosing a large stone.
Which Brands Make The Best Tri-Stone Knife Sharpener?
Smith’s
Speaking of knife sharpening tools, there are actually many incredible products from the Smith’s company. Not only do they provide top-notch quality and versatile sharpening angles but the prices are also very reasonable.
WUSTHOF
We believe that the long-term vision and continuity are key for this Solingen-based knife sharpener brand to keep its top position on the market over the past 200 years.
At WUSTHOF, all the products are made by the world’s most skilled knife artisans and in high-precision production. That explains the unparalleled durability of their products.
AccuSharp
AccuSharp is one of the best stops for high-quality knife sharpeners at incredibly affordable prices. They are also the favorite option of beginners thanks to the compact size and easy-to-use design.
FAQs
How do you sharpen a tri stone?
To learn more about how to sharpen a tri-stone, please watch this tutorial video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTnYJY5DONw
Are Shapton stones worth the money?
Yes, they are.
Shapton stones are the best option on the market if you want a full set from the same brand. What sets them apart from their competitors is the material – which is the most carefully graded ceramic particle on the market – for superior performance on harder steel.
Is a wet stone the best knife sharpener?
We would say that wet stones and oil stones have specific pros and cons to perform best on some certain aspects. For example, oil stones provide a gamut of coarseness levels for versatility while wet stones offer faster sharpening.
Does rubbing knives together sharpen them?
No, it doesn’t. Rubbing knives together does not sharpen them, but just knick the blade and dull it. The proper way to sharpen a knife blade is using a honing steel or a knife sharpener.
How many swipes do you need to sharpen a knife?
It depends on many elements:
- The blade size
- The grit of the sharpener
In general, casual kitchen knives require around 5 wipes on each side to get sharpened.
Conclusion
Knife sharpeners are simple but important in the world of cooking. They are specifically designed to keep your blades from dullness and enhance your cooking experience to the perfection.
Remember to determine your demand first and utilize them to steer you towards our analyses of these products. They all are the best tri-stone knife sharpeners on the market that serve your unique needs better than the rest.
