How to Sharpen a Knife Without a Sharpener

Sharpening a knife is pretty easy when you have the right tools. However, what will you do if you find yourself in a situation when there are no sharpening tools available, and you need to finish something? It seems like a disaster, right?

But fret not! You can still sharpen a knife even without any tools as long as you have a few tricks up your sleeve. This article will teach you a few ingenious ideas on how to sharpen a knife without a sharpener.

5 Ingenious Ways to Sharpen a Knife Without a Sharpener

We have collated 5 amazing ways you can learn how to sharpen a knife without a sharpener.

Knife

The idea of using a knife to sharpen another knife may sound absurd. However, before you judge, read first, as this idea is pretty logical.

Look for another blunt knife that also needs sharpening. This knife sharpening method will only work when you brace a blunt knife against another blunt knife.

The knives serve as the sharpening rod for each other! However, make sure that you are doing this method appropriately. Never brush both blades, as it will ruin both knives.

Here is how to sharpen a knife with another knife:

Steps

Hold the knife that needs sharpening on your left and the knife that’ll serve as the sharpener on your right.
Position the knives so that both of its blades are facing right.
Place the knife on your right hand at an angle of 10° on the knife’s blade on the left.
In swift movements, slide the blade of the first knife while keeping the angle throughout. Make sure that you direct the slide away from you to prevent untoward accidents.
Flip the knife, so both face left, and repeat the same procedure for the other side.
Repeat the procedure until the desired sharpness is achieved. Make sure that you keep the 10° angle at all times.
You can also do the same to sharpen the other knife once you are done with the first.

Flat Stone

Who needs a whetstone when you can sharpen a knife using a flat stone you find along the road? You need to find a smooth rock that has a flat surface to do the job. Hard to find? Then you can make your

own flat stone by grinding two rocks together. Using a flat stone to sharpen a knife is like using an actual sharpening stone.

Steps

As soon as you find or make a flat rock, clean it with water to remove any mud or debris that may hamper the sharpening process. Water also moistens the stone, which makes it more similar to a sharpening stone.
Again, work at a 10° sharpening angle. Position the knife at this angle along the flat rock’s surface. Make sure that the blade is facing opposite you.
Slide the knife away from you in a single swift and slanting motion. Slanting is required so that you can cover the entire length of the blade.
Turn over the knife so that the other side touches the rock. Slide it back towards you to sharpen the other side. Take proper precaution and do not let it slide off from the rock’s surface to prevent injuries.
Repeat steps 3 and 4, ensuring that you maintain the right sharpening angle. Do this until both sides of the knife are equally sharpened.

Coffee Mug

A coffee mug is a staple for many households. If you don’t have a knife sharpener, you can check your cupboards for a coffee mug. Use the mug as a substitute for a sharpener.

This trick is pretty simple to do. Whoever discovered this trick is truly a resourceful person, and we couldn’t thank that person enough!

Steps

Look for a mug with a rough bottom. The rough part of the mug will serve as the sharpener. So, if your mug is fairly new, this idea might not work at all.
Place the mug upside down on a table with a flat surface. Put a non-slip mat or a cloth if needed to keep the mug in place. The surface should not be slippery to prevent any slip-ups that can lead to injuries. Working on a non-slippery surface will also assist in easy and convenient sharpening.
Position the knife across the rough bottom at a 10° angle. Slide it across the rough surface while ensuring that the entire blade has been sharpened.
Flip the knife and repeat the same procedure.
Repeat the procedures for both sides until desired sharpness is achieved. The angle should be maintained throughout the process.

Sandpaper

Here is another easy way to sharpen a knife without a sharpener. Make use of sandpaper, of course! Sandpaper has a rough surface that can grind and smooth edges and blades. It works perfectly well on a dull blade too. Sandpaper is a must-try whenever you need to sharpen a knife but don’t have an actual knife sharpener on hand.

Steps

Choose the sandpaper you want to use. It is best to start with a course one before gradually moving to sandpaper with a finer grit.
Once you have the sandpaper of your choosing, fold it several times to form a rectangular shape.
Place the sandpaper on a flat and hard surface. Never put it on your skin or any place that may cause injury to you or any passersby.
Position the knife at a 10° angle on the surface of the sandpaper. Make sure that you position the blade in a way that it faces away from you.
Using your free hand, hold the sandpaper to keep it in place as you use your other hand to slide the blade across the sandpaper. Make sure that the sliding motion covers the entire knife blade.
Flip the knife and repeat it on the other side. Maintain the desired angle of 10° and repeat the process for both sides until you are happy with its sharpness.

Broken Glass Bottle

This follows the mechanism of using the bottom part of the coffee mug. The broken glass needs to have an unpolished edge to sharpen a knife efficiently. Use a glass cutter to cut a glass bottle safely.

Steps

Look for a bottle with a clean-cut, or cut one for yourself. The edges of the broken glass should not be polished to give efficient sharpening.
Position the knife at a 10° angle at the edge of the bottle.
Slide the knife into the edge, and make sure that you cover the full length of the blade.
Flip the knife and repeat the procedure on the other side of the blade.
Do both sides until you are happy with the sharpness of the knife you have achieved.

Takeaway

Knowing how to sharpen a knife without a sharpener is one of the best life hacks you can ever learn. This comes in handy for kitchen knives and other knives such as butcher knives and skinning knives. These techniques even work well for scimitar knives and other non-serrated knives too.