I bought the Work Sharp based on the recommendations of the Yard. I got used to the sharpener by started on some cheap kitchen knives and moved on to the good stuff after I built up my confidence. All the knives in the house are sharp enough to shave with now. The Work Sharp is a fool proof way to get a fine edge on your blades.

I used stones and mouse pad with different papers for years. After I turned my para2 into a butter knife for the second time, I pretty much bailed on them. Been using a lansky for most of my fixed blades and sharpmaker more for the folders. I get pretty good results from them, but am not much of a sharpener by any stretch. My lansky put a shaving edge on my Howling Rat last week and I could have keeled over from surprise!

Nice surprise huh?!!?