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Sharpal 101N 6-in-1 Review

Great little portable sharpener that has versatile sharpening abilities and extra features, but forms basic quality edges
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Sharpal 101N 6-in-1 Review (The Sharpal 6-in-1 offers a convenient, quick fix for pocket knives, but we wouldn't necessarily trust it with any of...)
The Sharpal 6-in-1 offers a convenient, quick fix for pocket knives, but we wouldn't necessarily trust it with any of our high-quality kitchen knives.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Price:  $16 List
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Manufacturer:   Sharpal
By Graham Faulknor and Aaron Rice  ⋅  Aug 5, 2024
66
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#11 of 17
  • Sharpening Ability - 40% 4.7
  • Ease of Use - 30% 8.0
  • Versatility - 20% 6.8
  • Storage - 10% 9.3

Our Verdict

If you constantly whip out your pocket knife to fix this or fiddle with that, chances are you wear down the edge of your blade pretty quickly. Enter the Sharpal 101N 6-in-1. This pocket-sized sharpener is a great tool for keeping smaller blades and pocket knives nice and sharp. We wouldn't recommend it as your main sharpener for kitchen knives, but it is perfect for those on-the-go moments when you are caught unprepared with a dull knife; think camping or fishing scenarios. It is equipped with other features, such as a flint stick and emergency whistle, that make it a great pocket companion for your outdoor activities.
REASONS TO BUY
Can sharpen serrated edges
Fits in your pocket
Bonus flint firestarter
REASONS TO AVOID
Basic level sharpening
No angle adjustment
Cannot sharpen single-sided blades

Compare to Similar Products

 
sharpal 101n 6-in-1
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Great for Outdoor Sharpening Emergencies
Best Buy Award
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Bottom Line A two-tiered sharpener that comes with a serrated blade sharpening rod, a bonus flint, and fits in your pocketA great little knife sharpener that makes up for inconsistencies with exceptional affordability and user-friendlinessSimple, affordable, and intuitive to use, but may require some effort to achieve the best resultsAn inexpensive, manual sharpener with a three-tiered system that is as easy to use as it is to storeThis pocket-sized manual sharpener offers a quick fix in a pinch and can sharpen serrated blades, but cannot work blades of various angles
Rating Categories Sharpal 101N 6-in-1 Longzon 4-in-1 Presto EverSharp Kitchellence 3-Stag... Smith's Pocket Pal
Sharpening Ability (40%)
4.7
6.4
6.3
6.1
4.4
Ease of Use (30%)
8.0
8.3
7.5
8.5
8.5
Versatility (20%)
6.8
6.8
6.8
4.4
6.8
Storage (10%)
9.3
8.1
5.8
8.2
9.3
Specs Sharpal 101N 6-in-1 Longzon 4-in-1 Presto EverSharp Kitchellence 3-Stag... Smith's Pocket Pal
Type of Sharpener Manual - Portable Manual - Pull Electric - Pull Manual - Pull Manual - Portable
Sharpening Tiers Available 2 3 2 3 2
Adjustable Sharpening Angle No No No Yes: manual adjustment No
Sharpens Serrated Blade Yes No Yes No Yes
Sharpens Scissors No Yes No No No
Sharpens Single-Bevel Blades No No No No No
Measured Dimensions 3.5" L x 1.5" W x 0.5" H 9.3" L x 1.8" W x 3" H 5.7" L x 8.2" W x 3.7" H 7.8" L x 1.8" W x 2.6" H 3.2" L x 1.1" W x 0.5" H
Measured Weight 0.1 lb 0.5 lb 2.6 lb 0.4 lb 0.1 lb
Measured Sharpness 534 g 372 g 394 g 355 g 551 g
Space Used 3 cu in 50 cu in 173 cu in 37 cu in 2 cu in

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Sharpal 101N is a tiny knife sharpener that can fit just about anywhere you find convenient. It has two sharpening tiers made of tungsten carbide and ceramic material, plus a rounded sharpening rod to fit between the teeth of a serrated blade. It comes with a handful of other useful features that will appeal to those who spend a decent amount of time in the backwoods.

Performance Comparison


Lightweight, pocket-sized, and highly versatile, the Sharpal 101N 6-in-1 is a great choice to bring on your next camping or fishing trip.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Sharpening Ability


The Sharpal 101N is a unique product that fills a specific sharpening niche. It will do the trick if you are far from creature comforts and conveniences (like electricity), and thanks to its collection of other handy features, you can think of it as your Swiss army knife of sharpeners. However, we do not recommend using it on your nicer blades and kitchen knives. We tested it on a chef's knife, just like all our other sharpeners, and its comparative performance on this type of blade was below average.


The grind angle is fixed, so it will completely reprofile the edge of any knife to a 14°-15° angle. Additionally, because the angle guide is a bit loose, we didn't get a super consistent edge, which became apparent when we used our goniometer to measure the bevel angle, and the line was not as crisp as in the initial measurement. When examined under the microscope, we could see some major burs left after sharpening and some waviness on the edge of the blade.


All of these visual notes aligned with what we found in our standardized sharpness measurement. We dulled a brand-new chef's knife by running a 6-inch metal pipe over the edge until it reached a sharpness level of at least 600 g (measured in the amount of force required to cut a standardized material). We then used the Sharpal to try and bring it back as close to factory-level sharpness as we could. Unfortunately, our test knife reached a sharpness level of 534 g, which is not the worst result, but it does fall below average for the group. In our paper-cutting test, the resharpened knife created more rips in the sheet of paper rather than running through in a smooth slicing motion. However, if you use the sharpener in the right context, it is a good option for blades that you might already be a bit rough on, like a hunting or pocket knife.

In order to keep our results fair, we standardized the type of knife...
In order to keep our results fair, we standardized the type of knife we used with each sharpener. However, we do not recommend using the Sharpal 101N for kitchen knives.
An enlarged view of the edge of our chef's knife after a run through...
An enlarged view of the edge of our chef's knife after a run through the Sharpal 101N shows a slight wave in the center of the frame and an uneven burr throughout.

Ease of Use


Luckily, the Sharpal 101N 6-in-1 is quite easy to use. With absolutely no setup and a remarkably small profile, it is simple enough to keep on hand for emergency sharpening needs. Using the Sharpal requires very little skill or technique, and despite being so small, we did not have any trouble holding the sharpener steady while drawing the knife through each slot.


We timed the entire sharpening process and found that it only takes about a minute to pull the blade through each slot several times (roughly 10 times in our testing). The Sharpal's overall functionality is quite basic, which is a big part of why it is so easy to get the hang of. However, the comprehensiveness of the process is just average; it only includes two grit levels, so if you want a more refined sharpening process, you'll need to look elsewhere.

sharpal 101n 6-in-1 - here, you can truly see how small the sharpal 101n is compared to...
Here, you can truly see how small the Sharpal 101N is compared to our testing knife and the tester's hand. Still, we did not find that this impacted its ease-of-use.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Versatility


As the name implies, the Sharpal 101N 6-in-1 is quite versatile for a product of this size. In fact, it managed to beat the average score for the group in this metric. The 6 functions of the Sharpal include coarse sharpening, fine honing, fishhook sharpening, serrated sharpening, an emergency whistle, and a flint stick firestarter. We were intrigued by the tapered diamond rod that is used for sharpening serrated knives. It has a medium-level 400 grit and has a small groove running lengthwise to sharpen gut hooks and fish hooks.


However, in terms of knife sharpening versatility, it doesn't stand up to more full-featured products. It is not designed to sharpen scissors or single-sided blades, and the grind angle is not adjustable. Again, the quality of the edge this produces is not something we would want to see on a high-caliber kitchen knife, but for its intended purpose as an outdoors pocket tool, it hits the mark.

The flint stick works as a firestarter if you forget your matches.
The flint stick works as a firestarter if you forget your matches.
The sharpening rod on the Sharpal 101N adds the ability to work on...
The sharpening rod on the Sharpal 101N adds the ability to work on serrated blades, gut hooks, and fish hooks.

Storage


The Sharpal measures a whopping 3 cu in. Need we say more? It can fit virtually anywhere. Pocket, glovebox, kitchen drawer, tackle box; you name it, the Sharpal will find a way to squeeze in so you never find yourself with a shamefully dull knife edge at exactly the wrong moment. The only sharpeners that were comparable in this metric were other pocket-style models. However, the Sharpal manages to pack a lot more punch with its extra features, so we think it is a better choice.


Our only worry with a product so small is that we might lose it, but the Sharpal 6-in-1 has a predrilled hole in one corner, so you can clip it onto a lanyard to help prevent this. It is a self-contained tool, so you don't have to worry about keeping track of accessories, either.

sharpal 101n 6-in-1 - the sharpal 101n has one of the smallest measured volumes among the...
The Sharpal 101N has one of the smallest measured volumes among the sharpeners we tested.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Should You Buy the Sharpal 101N 6-in-1?


The Sharpal 101N is not a one-size-fits-all tool. It will appeal to the outdoors person who likes to keep their tools sharp, whether it be a pocket knife, hunting knife, gut hook, or fish hook. For blades that need to be sharp but don't need to be perfect, the Sharpal is a great accessory, and its practicality in this scenario is improved by the fact that it can go with you practically everywhere. However, we do not recommend using it as your only sharpening tool, and if you are looking for a primary sharpener to use for your kitchen knives, you'll want to check out some other models.

sharpal 101n 6-in-1 - we appreciate the sharpal 101n when we are in a pinch and need to...
We appreciate the Sharpal 101N when we are in a pinch and need to tune up the blade of a pocket knife.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

What Other Knife Sharpeners Should You Consider?


If you like the handiness of the Sharpal 6-in-1 but recognize that you might need a bit more power for more standard sharpening, then the Work Sharp E2 is our favorite model for general use. It is an electric pull-through model that would be a great complementary machine to the Sharpal. A budget alternative would be the Presto EverSharp, an electric pull-through sharpener that produces decent results and is easy to use. If you want a single sharpener that truly does it all and can be used on everything from kitchen knives to garden tools to pocket knives, the Work Sharp Ken Onion Edition should be at the top of your shortlist. This is another electric pull-through model that offers enough flexibility to sharpen nearly any blade you can find.

Graham Faulknor and Aaron Rice
 

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