HENCKELS Sharpening Steel, 9-inch Fine Edge Honing Rod for Knife Sharpening and Blade Maintenance – Stainless Steel Knife Sharpener for Kitchen, BBQ Tools, Chef Knives & Outdoor Cooking

Reach for this every few weeks to freshen up my knives. Works like a charm and keeps knives sharp.

First honing steel ever. The length is perfect for my two knives; one filet, the other Santoku. Easy to hold, lightweight (compared to others) with a medium size grip. It does the job well, even for beginners.Patience is a virtue, don't rush. Each size needs equal attention. Instructions printed on packaging. Don't forget to wipe the knife after use to clean off microscopic steel particles. A good value for the money.

When I noticed that my nice 25-year-old set of Zwilling Henckels knives didn't seem sharp any more -- even though I used the original steel to sharpen them regularly -- I realized that the "file" grooves in the steel had gone completely dull. The new sharpening steel (which actually "trues" the edge rather than sharpening it: I have a good true knife sharpener for that) makes kitchen work a pleasure.

It works fine but I'm not sure how durable it will be

I own only one quality knife, a Forschner, and I thought I had it sharp progressing tediously from 400 to 2000 grit honing stones. Or so I thought. After ~20 passes withe this 'stick' I found the newly found razor edge remarkable. I cook for a hobby and am no professional so this will serve me well. I was surprised reading all the negative reviews. Not me!

It is easier to use it to sharpen my knife than to use a stone (a original method)

Got it due to knife block having a bad knife sharpener. After every wash I run the knives 3-4 times over it to keep the edge sharp and have found no issues. I would recommend this to anyone who needs a kitchen knife sharpener.

After using honing rods I had around, then using this, the knife is so much sharper now. I never actually sharpen the knive anymore, I just hone it to a great edge. My wife would agree, but that edge so sharp....