I love most things Spyderco but the retail prices are starting to leave me behind.

Now if Spyderco made a Friendmaker I’d be set. 😞

I’ve owned my Sharpmaker about 25 years. Works fine and the storage is superior.

I appreciate the simplicity of the gauntlet. Especially the ease of setup. The CBN stones plus the ceramic stones are all I will ever need. And 20 degrees is the perfect angle for my uses. But the design could absolutely be improved to store all four stones securely. I would buy such a version in a heartbeat. One thing I notice about the cubic boron nitride encrustation is that although it works like diamond it doesn't shed like diamond. It's not only less messy but doesn't scratch blade coatiings of any type. For rod cleaning, I use a Lansky eraser block instead of water and cleanser. It is far more convenient and less messy.

The term you are looking for is ovoid. Trust me i'm a professional geometrician. I'm not really, but that is the correct terminology I believe haha.

I bought the older TRI-ANGLE and that stores and sharpens just nicely.

-Asks you to sharpen their knives every holiday -Puts their knives in the dishwasher -Uses a glass cutting board Nick, do you know my mom?

I've noticed a lot of sharpening systems look really cheap, made primarily of plastic and aren't very well designed. The Spyderco and Lanskey systems are two good examples. You're absolutely right about it needing better storage and angle options. I realize we are mostly paying for the sharpening stones, but for that price, they could put a little more effort into the rest of it.

I use magic eraser to remove the buildup on ceramic. Works well.

Lansky at 20.00 all the way. Slashing at the rods is not the way to go, you can go both up and down and keep contact and angle.

After my grandfather (great knife and tool sharpener) died, I bought a sharpener like this for my mother. It was round fine and medium ceramic stones in a block of wood. The stones stowed in the wood block. She loved it. It was better than this. I do like the new stone shape though. Great review Nick.

I'm glad you sold me on KME already.

Maybe it's my go-playing phase from over a decade ago at work, but I'd refer to the cross-section of those sharpening stones as 'biconvex', similar to Japanese style go/igo stones. I'd worry about not being able to sharpen up to the plunge or choil with that shape though... on the plus side, these would be great for large, recurved blades... touching up sickles, billhooks and brush axes, for example. At least the kit includes CBN by default. This was not the case when I got my Sharpmaker almost thirty years ago.

Oval is both a noun and an adjective. “The oval is oval.”

That gauntlet part is a very good thing. I use a Lansky Turnbox which has no guard. I’d used it at least 100 times before I took a freshly honed kitchen pairing knife over the back of my thumb. Just once, but I’m still carrying the scar 6 months on!

Barkeepers Friend! Magic for cleaning pots and pans too.

I must admit i'm liking the shape of these new sharpening rods, looks like it'd be a good idea to get them alone too.

You can round the tip of your knife if you keep zinging it off the stones like that. Leave that technique for Hollywood movies.

Only reason I want one of these is to sharpen recurve blades. The elliptical stones seem like they would be easier than trying to use the corner of a bench stone

One of these days spyderco will nail it but not today

I love all the thought that went into this re-design, but it's not a replacement for the Sharpmaker and not as simple or useful in the kitchen as the old/now-re-released Galley V. The ceramics are very good, and compared to premium whetstones they're more affordable, but Spyderco needs to get more competitive.

An eraser also works great at cleaning the stones

Nick, nice video, question for anyone who’s had both this and the Sharpmaker, after a year or so which do you prefer? I do have a few recurve and even a couple of karambit blades, not to mention a few serrated blades as wet. Thanks!

I really appreciate your honesty. Thx bro.

Ovoid. Swarf. I feel like a grammar nazi. The size comparison really gave me a good mental image, thanks tradition. Great review.

What do you expect from a company that's selling a dog-shaped knife with a 1.5" blade for $200?

Meeeh, idk, sounds like it costs a lot for what you get. I got a lansky system on Amazon with a set of fine and medium ceramic rods for like $20; it stores a heck of a lot better too. The extent of my knowledge is: bought a pocket knife 2 weeks ago and looked at like 5 videos about how to sharpen it.

Thanks Nick. Going to have to pick one up soon. Looks nice and portable

Honestly, buy a strop. $30 on Amazon gets you a wood backed strop and compound. Much better than any ceramic stone. Especially since most knives are "budget" steels. If you have actually regrind a knife, this is a way to go, but if you stropped it after the results are unbeatable.

One thing I like about my Gauntlet is that it is easier for me to keep from dragging the tip off the hone as compared to the Sharpmaker. I also like how the ovoid shape of the rod makes it easier to keep one small point of contact on the edge. With the Sharpmaker I sometimes feel when I use the flats, if I wobble the blade a little , then I "skip over" a section of the edge as I draw downward.

The ovoid shape makes it much easier to do the tip on curved blade knives without having to lfit the handles as you would on the standard Sharpmaker

I have a Spyderco Gauntlet Pro as you used in this video Nick. It is an easy system to use after only a little practice. I kept the original box to keep the system and rods in. This is a decent sharpening system when you don’t already have anything else.

The real question is why would I get this over the more versatile sharpmaker?? Also the sharpmaker has ultrafine rods that u can get too..

Looks like a good way to sharpen serrated knives. Thanks for the video 😎👍

At the 3:10 mark, I think “swarf” is the term you are looking for.

Terrific review ! Getting one ! Thanks !

I have a sharpmaker would you suggest cbn rods over the diamond?

So essentially its a cheaper sharpmaker?

WE130 is perfect for me.

Hello N.S., to clean my tri-angle it states: Clean w/dish soap and water! I've done that, it works😱. I WOULDN'T use anything abrasive to clean those rods! 🤯 Why would you say that?🤔 Have fun and be safe. Take care, "God Bless", sincerely, Randy. 👍👍😇👊

Should have a tensioner to reduce the stone movement

The lansky turn box are 19 bucks .. Selfless well gives ya few more angles

Abrasive on your ceramic rods? Are you sure about that?

it looks like an ok system but how long with that base last? Seems like it might give out in a couple years....hard to tell by looking at it in a youtube video. So Question of the day: name the top five knives that you think your grand kids will want from your collection? Mine three year old granddaughter made a few picks from mine....She wants my grandfather's old buck 112, Santa Fe Stoneworks 3inch mammoth tooth Damascus 3 inch blade, my wife's grandfather's Japanese bamboo folder, mini Pakistani clone 3inch blade( had to use in my navy days since we had this 3 inch blade rule for shipboard use) and my Spyderco PM. I am sure her picks will change as she gets older

Do you ever mutter vengefully while sharpening knives?

Sorry Spyderco, this device is overpriced, I still love your products and I still have my Sharpmaker from 9 years ago, it was only 48 dollars back then. Doing the Work Sharp manual guided system these days, same 50 dollars as the gauntlet and better for reprofiling edges with newer high wear steels, diamonds are a mans best friend..🤣.. Love you Nick, stay safe fellow knife nuts..☺

I know it would break tradition, but showing it next to the sharpmaker would probably be a better size comparison than the delica. Assuming you still have the sharpmaker of course.

I have the gauntlet, its ok for what it is. Decent for touchups. I think if you just get the regular 50$+ standard package its fine and decent value great for the beginner looking to transition from your basic handheld "blade mechanic" type touch up pull thru sharpeners made by lasky and smith and the like. But as you state is exactly so: its very limited in what you can sharpen and how you can sharpen it. On that note, what was the name of that Spydie-stone that you whipped out somewhere towards the mid-end of the video? I believe that would be another great option to add to the mix. The gauntlet is indeed a weird beast its like in one sense its mot realky worth paying what damn near double for the "premium" version which is essentially just the two other rods, however that said, once you have the standard package its almost not worth NOT getting the additional rods if that makes sense, forgive the DUBnegative there but you get the point. Basically i suppose that it feels more justified, or "worth-it" to purchase the CBN rods later on (when you realize that you kind of need them to really justify labeling the gauntlet as a "Complete knife sharpening system!") Plus the initial pocket burn of spending 50+$ plus shipping to get the base model has worn off. Other than that, had i known then what i know now although i remember specifically being tight on money then, now rather than just buy the base gauntlet i think i would just wait a week till i could afford the tri sharpener the og one that tjey been making before knives... Oh well live and let learn..

This thing costs $30 more than the basic version of the Edge Pro while having like 10% of its capabilities.

@Nick Shabazz - hey sorry to be off topic but did you take down your “pry bar” medford disassembly videos? They were super helpful but I can’t seem to find them

I wonder what would be the best system for me, a newbie to the k knife community, I have about 30 knives mostly D2 blades some a little more premium s30v and a.20cv but what would you suggest be my first sharpener.

I was hoping you were going to pull out the Z hunter.

Honest and to the point as always, you're the man Nick

I personally like the Lansky turnbox more. Same principle, but is smaller in size and has both 20 and 25 degree holes in it. Basically a wooden box/block with storage for rods inside. Smith's had a similar concept but had a flat diamond file and a carbide wedge for quick sharpening. Only problem with lansky is, that the rods are round, where the Smith's one had teardrop shaped rods. I personally like the aesthetics and size of the Lansky one, but functionally the Smith's one had a lot more features on it.

A topologist would abstract from the exact shape. Topology is about viewing continuous transformations as a noop.

How do you sharpen a recurve blade with this sytem?

You'll get watch people into knives yet Nick - luckily in Ireland we can't own any of these fine pieces of equipment ha!

Great review 👌👍

I agree the Sharpmaker is way more versatile for not much more money. Besides the optional diamond rods it also, as you pointed in your original SM review, allows you to place them flat for objects that don't fit the one angle (or in Sharpmaker's case two angles). Glad I went with your Sharpmaker suggestion!

Can you do a review on Civivi Wyvern?

I bought a sharp maker the other day, I used to use stones but I'd always end up with wonky grinds, all I have to say about the sharp maker is silly sharp for, silly people. 😂 Maybe not the best combo but damn is it just great 👍

OK, you sold me this thing:)

does this only sharpen at 20 degrees? If so, yikes, what a price tag!

I like Wicked Edge System, but is tooo expensive, so I use old Lansky Deluxe ... :) some modified :)

Nick, love your videos. Just want to say that over here in ‘Lightning Ridge’ I get extreme satisfaction from watching your videos and when there is nothing else to look at, I just go back and watch the ones that’s already dropped. Just want to ask, can I use loctite 248 medium strength threadlocker for knife screws? Thanks for all the videos 😄✌️

is the sharp maker discontinued?

"For your knife shi...I mean safety" lol

I was given a mtech similar to yours. It honestly came with a nice razor sharp grind! But oh it’s ugly

$115 ? $100 must be in marketing, Lol

I just bought the edge pro apex kit 4 with about an additional 200$ worth of accessories for it it lut a damn fine mirror edge by far the best system I ever used i wonder how this compares? I guess its not fair to compare a 150$ system to the 400$ i have in the edge pro but still wondering

But can it sharpen a Z-Hunter?

Never seen this one before. I like the tri edge sharpener so I'll definitely have to try it. 🍻

The shape of those stones is fantastic.

Alpinist ftw.

Guys, I sorry... truly. I feel like I've let you down. I'm sorry but I've got to admit it... ...The Z-Hunter knives are pretty cool. I haven't bought one (yet) but they're cheap and look cool. Now you may say, "Shuddup, ya freakin moron" but I consider myself somewhat of a knife nut... just to poor... Of course, they be beaters but still. Please convince me otherwise as I am on the fence... Sorry and thank you in advance.

I try and resharpen most, but not all, at 15 degrees. This would not make that an easy thing to do.

I’ve never quite understood this one, myself. The Sharpmaker is perfect for me

CBN is also good for higher carbide steels - from what I've read. No personal experience with it.

Words are hard

what the hell is that?

This seems like a downgrade over the sharpmaker

Why not just get some chosera stones

Sharp for two slices

Lansky system is better n cheaper.

I am now a Morphologist heretofore. Dr. Jump Keys MiPhd. I may be grumpy and get miphd every now and then, but a morphologist I shall be. Let it be known this twenty ninth day of June in the year of twenty in the twenty first century. Shapes I can describe. Of course that shape that the King of Shabazz stumbled over can not be described on this channel, due to community violations.

So where is promised Swayback disassembly and first impressions?

The sharp maker is so much better

Until I saw the Spiderco Delica I thought it was the size of the Nimitz 👍

Ellipse. lol

Metrologist

4:22 knife shit :)))

Why has your accent changes so much?

Geometor. 😂

0:56 ohh the edge hits the ceramic. Hurts.

"if you are not a brilliant man"... I might be that guy actually.

He uses his cheapest knife for demo lol

This guy is very overpriced, just like the sharpmaker. I like the sharpmaker, but I got it a few years ago for like half the price as they're charging these days. At least the sharpmaker was portable. The safety thing is way overdone. I don't understand how it would even be possible to completely miss the rod and slice your hand. This isn't a speed tool. You have to concentrate somewhat.

Ew no

People who like having the name Syderco on their knives will like it.