The Wicked Edge GO gives professional-level knife sharpening for those with amateur skills. And you can use it anywhere there’s a table-like surface.
Knife sharpening takes some skill. And as you shop the world of knife sharpeners, you’ll find that brands build products with the goal of reducing the human error that often results in mediocre knife sharpening.
The Wicked Edge GO ($250) is one of the best portable knife sharpeners I’ve used because it largely removes human error from knife sharpening. Sure, there are a few steps to learn to get good results. But by following the brand’s instructions, I was turning out legitimately razor-sharp knives, even on very hard steel.
In short: Wicked Edge knife sharpeners use a unique system of a vice, sharpening stones, and guided rods to maintain a consistent, adjustable angle. The results are replicable, and the system is easy to learn.
These sharpeners are the entry-level product of the Wicked Edge family but are still a significant investment at $250.
Wicked Edge GO Knife Sharpener: Finding an Edge Angle
The GO comes with good instructions that I learned quickly. In short, you mount the device on a table, bench, or countertop. Next, install a knife into the vice and put a course or medium sharpening stone on the guide rods.
From here, you find the angle of the knife edge. You do this by coloring the edge with a sharpie, then doing a test scrape across the edge with the stone. This reveals if you need to adjust the angle, as you can see where the sharpener is removing material.
Is material grinding off right at the edge but not along the entire angle of the grind? Your angle is too big. Steel ground off inside the grind but not reaching the cutting edge? It’s too fine.
When you get it perfect, the hone will remove material along the entire grind surface. That’s your angle. Record it for future use and get sharpening.
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I’m not disputing that the other systems out there can get your knives equally sharp but the Wicked Edge is the cream of the crop when it comes to accurate, repeatable results in my opinion. For quick touch ups of my budget knives I’m happy to hit the Sharpmaker but when the super-steels need to regain their edge I go straight to the Wicked Edge.
I have the hard shell case for my Wicked Edge as I often take it with me to shows and events where I may need to sharpen. The hard case makes carrying the thing around a whole lot easier. The small plastic box off to the side holds random odds and ends that help and cannot fit into the hard case.
A dull knife is near worthless so you should be looking to keep a razor edge on all of your blades. That means you’ll be spending time on the sharpener, no matter what type of steel you have. If you’re serious about your knives then why skimp on so-so sharpening systems? I continually scratch my head at folks who invest in $200, $300, $400+ knives and don’t given them the treatment they deserve. So, overall I highly recommend the Wicked Edge system. It’s not cheap but overall well worth it in my experience.
The diamond stones do 90% of the work containing the 100-1000 grit sections of the process. Really, for a general EDC blade these three stone sets are all you realistically need. The diamonds make it very easy to sharpen even the hardest steels like Spyderco’s ZDP-189 or M390 that routinely present great difficulty to novice sharpeners.
Knife Sharpening Made EASY! // Wicked Edge Gen 3 Pro Review
FAQ
Is it worth having knives professionally sharpened?
What knife sharpener do pros use?
What are the pros and cons of electric knife sharpeners?
Do electric sharpeners wear your blade away?
How much does a Wicked Edge go cost?
The Wicked Edge GO Deluxe Pack, which has two sets of stones and a strop set, will run you $400 and do everything most people will ever need to do. But for the person who values a wicked-sharp knife, the Wicked Edge GO is one of the most effective, easy-to-use tools you can buy.
Should you buy a Wicked Edge Gen 4 Pro?
With the top-tier results that the Gen 4 Pro provides, it will be a worthy investment for any dedicated knife user. The Gen 3 Pro, a predecessor to the Gen 4 Pro, is another of Wicked Edge’s finest crafts. This sharpening system boasts several innovative design elements that deliver top-tier sharpening results.
How does Wicked Edge work?
Wicked Edge is unique as it has a vise in the center to clamp the knife and on either side there are two arms with sharpening guides attached. These arms and guides allow you to precisely control the exact angle you want your knife to be sharpened at.
Is the Wicked Edge go a good knife?
But for the person who values a wicked-sharp knife, the Wicked Edge GO is one of the most effective, easy-to-use tools you can buy. It’s a significant investment but seems to be a well-built product that should last for many years of regular use.