Sharpening Steels

The F Dick Multiron Steel is ribbed so as to aggressively catch burred or bent edges. The surface is fine-cut. So, with pressure, you can easily straighten damaged or burred edges. With light pressure, it hones nicely. This is a favorite steel at Knife Merchant as you can really feel any problem areas on the knife. You'll know by touch when you have a bad spot and using this steel really allows you to go a lot longer between sharpening. F. Dick has been producing and innovating honing products longer than any other manufacturer, they have state of the art manufacturing techniques that make this steel perfectly cut and tapered so the user gets the best results from their knife's edge. Made in Germany. Learn More

The F. Dick EuroCut 12 in. Round Regular Cut Steel with Black Plastic Handle is the top selling regular cut steel. The EuroCut series are a less expensive handle, but the rod itself is the same quality, and carries the same warranty. The 12 inch rod is great for both short and long knives, F. Dick uses state of the art technology to create optimal balance, perfectly cut lines to the correct depth and hygienically sealed handles that will never gap and are suited for use in even the cleanest environments. Best bang-for-the-buck honing rod for American and German steel knives. Made in Germany. Learn More

The F. Dick EuroCut 12 in. Oval Regular Cut Steel with Black Plastic Handle is the best value Oval steel on the market today. In fact when cooks come to our Knife Merchant store looking for honing tools this is the go to model Chef David will recommend. The oval shape makes hitting the ideal 15 to 20 degree angle more fool proof and the wider surface area ensures the user gets the entire edge from heel to tip. F. Dick has been the leader in steel honing rod production since the early 1800's and has pioneered many of the techniques used to taper, harden and balance their steels so that each rod is a masterpiece. Made in Germany. Learn More

The F. Dick EuroCut 12 in. Round Fine Cut Sharpening Steel with Black Plastic Handle similar to the regular cut steel but has lighter lines running down it, the idea of the fine cut is to get a slightly less roughened edge than the regular cut steel. The benefit to this over the regular cut is the edge it will obtain is ideal for slicing fish and beef without tearing the meat. F. Dick uses state of the art technology to ensure their steels are perfectly tapered, hygienically sealed and optimally balanced. Made in Germany. Learn More

The F. Dick EuroCut 12 in. Oval Fine Cut Sharpening Steel with Black Plastic Handle is the ideal honing tool for butchers, sushi chefs and meat processors alike. The Fine cut edge puts a slightly finer edge on your knife than the regular cut which is suited for cutting meat and fish without tearing. F. Dick ensures their honing tools are perfectly tapered, entirely hygienic and well balanced. Made in Germany. Learn More

Victorinox 12 in. Helical Cut Steel is to be used for removing burrs and setting an edge. This is a coarse steel and is most often used on hunting knives, cleavers or in conjunction with a finer or ceramic rod. As an example, we use one as part of our knife sharpening process. On a damaged knife, we would grind the blade to remove chips, or reshape a broken tip. This rod will remove the heavy burr prior to next phase sharpening. It would not be used as part of normal edge maintenance where you would want a finer steel. Learn More

Stop Tearing Your Protein: The Professional Standard for Daily Edge Maintenance In a high-volume kitchen, even the finest forged blades lose their 'bite' after just a few hours of work. Most cooks reach for a stone, but the professional reaches for the Victorinox 12-inch Regular Cut Honing Steel. This tool is not a sharpener in the traditional sense; it is an edge-alignment specialist. Over hundreds of cuts, a knife's apex eventually rolls to one side—the Victorinox honing rod realigns that edge back to the center, restoring razor-like performance without the aggressive metal removal of an electric sharpener. Engineered for Full-Length Efficiency The 12-inch rod length is critical. Unlike shorter consumer steels, this 30cm reach accommodates everything from a 3.25-inch paring knife to a 10-inch chef's knife or a 12-inch cimeter. It provides the necessary stroke distance to maintain a consistent angle from heel to tip, ensuring your entire blade is treated equally. The 'Regular Cut' refers to the texture of the steel ridges—designed to be aggressive enough to bite into hard-tempered stainless steel, yet precise enough to leave a polished, toothy edge perfect for slicing through fibrous meats and delicate vegetables alike. Ergonomics That Protect the User Victorinox understands that knife maintenance shouldn't be a hazard. The durable black handle features a flared bolster to act as a hand guard, preventing the blade from slipping toward your fingers during high-speed honing. The synthetic material is non-porous and slip-resistant, even when your hands are wet or greasy. This is a tool built to live on a butcher's belt or a chef's magnet bar, enduring the rigors of commercial use while preserving the life of your most expensive cutlery. Learn More

The Victorinox 12 in Combination Sharpening Steel features two sides grooved as fine cut and two sides that are smooth to be used as a polishing rod. Polishing rods are widely used by butchers who want to keep a razor edge. We recommend taking a couple of strokes on the fine side (top and bottom), then rotate 90 degrees and finish on the polish side for a smooth mirror finish edge.
Made in Sheffield, England.
Plastic handle with ring for hanging. Learn More

Zwilling has discontinued production of all Bob Kramer products. This was a highly rated honing rod by America's test kitchen, but we offer similar (if not better) substitute rods. Please see Friedr. Dick Combination rods:  https://knifemerchant.com/f-dick-10-in-square-combi-fine-cut-polished-with-non-slip-handle.html,    https://knifemerchant.com/f-dick-dickoron-12-in-round-combination-steel.html Victorinox combination rods: https://knifemerchant.com/victorinox-10-in-combination-cut-sharpening-steel.html , https://knifemerchant.com/victorinox-12-in-combination-sharpening-steel.html Learn More