If you're looking for knife sharpener, you have to decide how "advanced" you want to get. You can opt for the tradtional sharpening steel - which is a long stainless steel rod with a handle. But that does mean you have to invest a bit of time learning how to use it and what to look for as the knife sharpens. But if you're a hand on type of person, you might enjoy the active engagement that this knife sharpening activity brings. And there are those that believe a sharpening steel is the best way to sharpen knives to get the best edge.

There's a great slection of knife sharpeners for you to buy from major bands, especially the trusted Wusthof Knife Sharpener.

This is the traditional way to sharpen your kitchen knives. The 10-inch long sharpening steel is able to sharpen your biggest knives. It is made to last with a stainless steel rod and walnut handle secured to each other by triple-brass rivets. Some people, hone their knives before each use.

If you decide to use a knife sharpener the next choice is one-step or two-step. The two-step seems to be more available. In the first step the knife sharpener coarse sharpens the knife and in the second step a finer edge is created. This is done with two sharpening blades or discs that you pull the knife through. A one-step knife sharpener obviously creates both in one blade system. The advantage to the one-step is that you need no knowledge of knife edges to use it. With the two-step knife sharpener you do have to figure out when to move from the coarse sharpener to the finer edge.

Once you've figured out whether you want a one- or two-step knife sharpener, think about manual or electric. I don't think this is as big of a decision, but if you have a lot of knives to sharpen, perhaps the electric will save your energy.

The AccuSharp 001 Manual Knife Sharpener is effective and very easy to use. All you do is run the sharpening groove down the length of your knife. It even works on serrated knives and cleavers. The handle is easy to grip and hold. And there's a safety grip that runs the length of the knife sharper to protect your fingers. It's made so that left-handed people can use it too. The sharpening blades do have to be replaced, but a blade should last between 5 and 10 years depending on your use and maintenance. The blades won't rust and you can wash the knife sharpener in hot soapy water, even put it in the dishwasher!

Very easy to sharpen knives with the Presto Pro EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener two-step proces. First, you grind and sharpen on one side. And then you hone the blade on the second. There are blade guides to ensure that you hold the knife blade at the correct angle.

This electric knife sharpener is okay to use on knives made of alloy, carbon or stainless steel. You can only sharpen non-electric serrated knives that are serrated on one side.

Three suction cups on the bottom of the Presto Pro EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener provide a stable and safe work platform. Clean up is quick and easy because two bottom containers catch the metal filings. Two-year warranty against defects.

The Wusthof Knife Sharpener provides a secure method to easily sharpen your knife. You just hold the EZ-grip handle in one hand to stabilize the knife sharpener. With the knife in the other hand draw it through the knife sharpener. Wusthof has designed each side of the knife sharpener so that you automatically bring the knife through the sharpener at the correct angle. The first side does the coarse sharpening, and the second side provides the finished edge. There's even a slot to sharpen your kitchen shears. This sharpening design allows left-handed people to use the knife sharpener too.

This is a one-step knife sharpener that does the coarse and fine edge knife sharpening in one step.

The case of the Ozitech Diamond Fingers Pro Knife Sharpener unfolds showing your the sharpening knife fingers and gives you the handle to hold the knife sharpener still. With your hand on the handle you just draw the knife through the diamond-coated sharpening fingers 4 to 6 times. And that's it. You don't have to guess when to move from Stage 1 sharpening to Stage 2 perfecting the edge.

When it's all folding up this Ozitech Knife Sharpener can fit in your pocket.

The J.A. Henckels Twin Sharm Duo Knife Sharpener can be used to sharpen all knives with a dull edge. This is a two-step sharpening process. The first step uses a steel wheel for pre-shaping and coarse sharpening. The second step uses a ceramic wheel to give you knife a fine edge.

To use this knife sharpener, just press down on the comfortable round handle, and bring the knives through the sharpener slot. Just a few times should do it.

Great for both left-handed and righ-handed people.