When it comes to sharpening, there's a myriad of ways to get the job done. There's freehand, fixed angle, motorized, crock sticks, and even pull through. Throughout millennia, man has used many ways to get his gear sharp, and just when you think we've exhausted new ways to get the job done, someone comes up with a fresh idea. One such innovation comes from the folks at Warthog Sharpeners.
Warthog was started with the simple aim of creating a better knife sharpener. They wanted to give people the ability to sharpen their knives to a professional level without having to send them to an expert. They began operating in 1999 and have been manufacturing and exporting high-quality diamond knife sharpeners for more than 20 years. Warthog saw there was nothing on the market that sharpened blades expertly and quickly while still being easy to use. They put their heads together and, in 2000, they designed and manufactured the first V-Sharp sharpener. Warthog proudly manufactures in Garden Route in George, South Africa.
Today we're checking out the company's Elite A4 V-Sharp model. This system features a metal frame with a durable powder coat finish and comes with a wooden base. The A4 comes with a 325 grit diamond hone, with a finishing steel on the opposite side. The system has the ability to sharpen knives at four adjustable angles: 15, 20, 25, and 30 degrees. The wonderful people at Warthog also provided additional grits to further refine the edge. Those extras include 270, 600, and 1000 grit hones, and a ceramic hone. It doesn't help with testing, but the company laser engraved the wooden base with our logo. It's a nice touch and offers some personalization to the product.
Taking the A4 Elite out of the box, there is no foam insert, no typical packaging mess. The unit is in the box with its base, screws for attaching said base, and a pamphlet detailing some product info. Assembling the base was easy, only requiring a flat-head screwdriver. The 325 grit hones were already installed and ready to go. The unit is preassembled, with nothing to install unlike other systems. I did notice that the knobs on the system were a little loose, causing some tension issues. A couple of quick turns, and we're ready to go.
The system works by drawing the knife through the V-shaped opening in the middle. This is where the two diamond hones intersect, hitting both sides of the apex at the same time. The wooden base does a great job of keeping things stable during sharpening. The system also has a flat area on the top corner that you hold to aid in stability. It feels very natural to hold, versus laying a hand on the base. The motion of the system can be very zen or hypnotic as you repeatedly pull the knife through. The whole thing is very unique in the sharpener world, and I don't recall anything else like it.
The stones themselves are a complete opposite of norms, just like the system. The stones are not very large at all, maybe 4" x .25", which makes them convenient for storage. Snapping them into the system is done by putting the shorter end in the bottom notch, marked for which angle you want to set, and the longer end snaps onto the top. There's no wrong way to put the hones in, making things pretty intuitive. The hones snap into the system with authority, giving you reassurance that they won't come out unless you want them to. Warthog provides a tool for removing the hones, but you can use the spine of your knife to pop them off. The default 325 grit hone that comes pre-installed should handle most sharpening needs. It's really nice how each hone comes with a steel, helping finalize the edge left by the coarse hone. 325 is pretty rough, and manufacturers don't normally ship a knife out with less than around 600 grit. The lower grit edge is not as refined but will definitely have a toothier edge. That's why I feel the additional grits are a must-purchase for the system. If you plan on using this routinely, you'll get a smoother performing edge by progressing through the grit up to 1000. Warthog recommends that people sharpen knives at 25°, followed by the steel at 30°. Though 20° is more normal, the higher angle and micro-bevel will produce an edge that's more robust.
Warthog makes an amazing system that's unique in the sharpening world. It's a blend of different systems, combined with an ease of use that's hard to match. Not only is the A4 Elite easy to use, but its results are repeatable. I'm learning that some of the more unique systems are somewhat geographically locked. Yes, you can buy a Warthog here in the USA, but I don't hear people talking about them. However, in their corner of the world, they're popular. If you're looking for something that you can sit on a bench, ready to use at a moment's notice, that's the A4. It's a super nice system that's well deserving of attention.
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iv'e been really busy this week i'm a bit late sorry but here i am
MrTJ, thats my favorite tool here too! So many uses.
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