# Best Knife Sharpener for Serrated Knives: Tapered Rods and Slots Source: https://stoneandstrop.com/best/best-serrated-knife-sharpener Publisher: Stone and Strop. Picks are chosen from what each Amazon listing states, not from hands-on tests. Method: https://stoneandstrop.com/how-we-pick A serrated edge is ground on one side only, in a row of scallops, and a flat stone or a straight pull-through slot cannot reach inside them. The proper tool is a tapered rod: you match the rod diameter to each scallop, stroke it on the beveled side at the existing angle, then take the small burr off the flat back with one light pass. So the things to compare are the taper (thin enough for fine bread-knife teeth, thick enough for large scallops), the abrasive (diamond cuts fastest and works on hard steel; ceramic is finer and mainly for touch-ups), and the grit. Pull-through slots with a ceramic serrated stage exist, but they only touch the tips of the teeth. This guide compares six serrated knife sharpeners, mostly tapered rods, by taper, abrasive and grit. ## Picks ### 1. Diamond Machining Technology (DMT) Diafold Serrated Diamond Knife Sharpener, Fine (FSKF), 4" DMT Diafold serrated sharpener: 4 inch diamond cone tapering from 1/4 to 1/16 inch, fine 25 micron (600 mesh), in fold-and-go handles. Made in the USA. What the listing offers: - Taper from 1/4 down to 1/16 inch fits fine bread-knife teeth and large scallops - Monocrystalline diamond, 25 micron, works dry or with water - Handles fold over the rod to protect it, 5 inches closed Limits to know: - Fine grit only, slow on badly damaged serrations - Highest price of the dedicated serrated rods here ### 2. SHARPAL 178N 3-In-1 Pocket Knife Sharpener, 4-Inch 600 Grit SHARPAL 178N 3-in-1: 600 grit (25 micron) diamond round rod and tapered rod plus a hook groove, both rods stored in an aluminum handle. What the listing offers: - Tapered rod for serrations and a round rod for plain edges in one tool - Grit stated, 600 diamond, no water or oil needed - Rods store inside the aluminum handle, with pouch and lanyard hole Limits to know: - Single 600 grit, no finer stage for polishing - Short 3.5 inch tapered rod is slow on a long bread knife ### 3. Smith's PP1 Pocket Pal Knife Sharpener Preset Carbide & Ceramic Stone Sharpeners Fold-Out Diamond Coated Rod Outdoor Hunting Knife & Hook Sharpener, Handheld, Compact, Lightweight, Multiuse Smith's Pocket Pal: carbide and ceramic preset slots plus a fold-out tapered diamond rod for serrations and hooks, 3.5 inches long and about 1 ounce. What the listing offers: - Fold-out tapered diamond rod handles serrations; ceramic slot is rated for serrated edges - Carbide and ceramic parts are reversible and replaceable - Very light at about 1 ounce, with a lanyard hole Limits to know: - Carbide slot is for straight edges only, not serrations - Short rod, best for pocket and utility knives rather than long bread knives ### 4. AccuSharp Diamond Compact Tapered Rod Sharpener, Portable Knife & Tool Sharpener for Serrated Blades, Fillet Knives & Fish Hooks, Knife Honing Steel Rod AccuSharp tapered diamond-coated steel rod with rubber grip and hook groove, for serrated blades, electric fillet knife blades and fish hooks. What the listing offers: - Cone-shaped diamond rod reaches into tight serrations - Listing names electric fillet knife blades, a job few sharpeners mention - Low price from an established sharpener brand Limits to know: - Grit of the diamond coating is not stated - No protective cover for the rod when stored ### 5. Orange Ninja Serrated & Kitchen Knife Sharpener - 4-Stage Sharpening Tool Sharp Pebble Orange Ninja 4-slot pull-through with carbide coarse, diamond-rod medium and fine stages, sold as a serrated and kitchen knife sharpener. What the listing offers: - One countertop tool for a mixed knife block, plain and serrated - Works for right and left-handed users per the listing - No technique needed, pull through each slot Limits to know: - Slots only touch the tips of serrations; a tapered rod sharpens each scallop properly - Carbide coarse slot is harsh on good straight-edge knives ### 6. Wamery Serrated Knife Sharpener, Retractable Diamond Rod Pocket (Black) Wamery retractable diamond rod: tapered section for scallops and micro-serrations, flat and half-round section for plain edges, pen-style pocket body. What the listing offers: - Retracts into its body like a pen, safe in a pocket or drawer - Tapered and flat sections cover serrated and plain edges - Inexpensive enough to keep one in the kitchen drawer Limits to know: - Listing gives almost no detail: grit, rod length and materials are missing - Smaller brand with a one-line product listing As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.