MITSUMOTO SAKARI 12 inch Japanese Knife Sharpening Honing Rod, Professional Kitchen Knife Sharpener, Japanese High Carbon Round Honing Steel (Sourwood Handle)

Let's be real, my knife sharpening skills were... questionable. I had a drawer full of once-proud blades that had devolved into sad, dull metal objects that were more likely to bruise a tomato than slice it. I'd tried various sharpeners, usually with results that ranged from "marginally less dull" to "I think I made it worse." Then, I decided to try a honing rod, specifically this MITSUMOTO SAKARI 12 inch beauty.First impression? This thing is sleek. The black diamond plating sounds fancy, and the sourwood handle feels surprisingly comfortable and substantial. It looks less like a kitchen tool and more like a conductor's baton for a very sharp orchestra. My knives, lined up on the magnetic strip, seemed to perk up when I took it out.Using it for the first time felt a bit like learning a secret handshake. Hold the knife at a 20-degree angle? Light pressure? A few swipes? It seemed too simple to actually do anything. But then I tested the edge of my chef's knife. Holy cow. It was like the blade woke up from a long nap and had a triple espresso. It sliced through a piece of paper like it was air.This honing rod doesn't sharpen your knives in the way a stone does, but it aligns the edge, which is apparently what makes them feel razor-sharp again. It's like giving your knife a quick pep talk and straightening its tie before a big meeting (the big meeting being slicing onions).The 12-inch length is perfect – long enough to get a good stroke on even my biggest knives. The handle provides a secure grip, and the hand guard makes me feel slightly less likely to accidentally lop off a finger (a constant concern in my kitchen).Now, every time I cook, I give my main knife a few quick passes on this rod. It takes seconds, and the difference is incredible. My knives are consistently sharp, my chopping is more efficient, and I feel a small surge of power every time I hear that satisfying shiiiing sound.If your knives are feeling a bit sad and neglected, and you want a tool that's easy to use, looks great, and actually makes a noticeable difference, get this honing rod. It's the magic wand your knife block has been waiting for.

This sharpening steel does any incredible job on my various kitchen, utility, and outdoor knives. Used a 'diamond coated' steel for years with lackluster results, so I wasn't sure if all sharpening steels gave similar results or perhaps my technique was lacking. What a difference this steel made! Now instead of having to return to my sharpening jig (the Russian made TSPROF) after my wife abuses a kitchen knife, I use this and wow......I can return the edge to a freshly sharpened state in a minute or so. Gives great results on high carbon and stainless alloys. Have not tried it on any of the powdered 'super steels' available today, but have used it on Japanese aogami blue and white steel knives with great results as well, though the Japanese makers recommend using stones for honing their steel.

Yes this is impressive way to make the blade straight in a knife.

Great very good.

Excellent

Works great

Only regret is the grit is really fine so I have to use a oil stone to establish a edge.

Excellent product and excellent quality !!