5 Ways To Sharpen A Knife Without A Sharpener 

I'll never look at my coffee mug the same way again, lol.

one time i was at a restaurant and i got bored so i sharpened one of their knives on one of their ceramic bowls

I'm sharpening a ruler thanks for the help

guy gets right to it. good video. doesn't use irritating rap music or fancy intro's, and he actually talks.

the mug one is really helpful

I love how he is like all outside survival and I'm just sitting in my kitching, trying to figure out a way how to not turn cutting tomatoes into a mess. Like yeah, sure, when I hear knife , I do not think of camping. I just want to cook. little update: so the mug thing actually worked. thx

I'm really pleased with this! It works like a charm ru-vid.comUgkxDcr-y2Pf6xdnrFHrSP7dl9kpKaCozcSQ Takes less time than my old electric sharpener because it can take more off the knife faster, and then it smooths out nicely with the finer grit polisher. I don't know how long it will last before the grit wears away, but I wouldn't mind having to replace it every once in a while.

I tried it and the coffee cup actually works quite well.

so easy! my swiss army knives were super dull, grabbed a coffee mug and now they slice through just about anything. thaks dude!

If you find two flat river rocks you can rub them together (in an irregular pattern) to flatten them both out perfectly smooth. You can even do it with the back sides of the stones as well, then you will have two sharpening stones with two workable sides that sit flush and don't rock.

let's see... ok... This is the best knife sharpening video I've seen yet.. bar none...

The window edge method: Also applies to Glass top desks, if you are inside. Old favorite of mine is the coffee cup/plate method (ANY bare non-coated ceramic works.) River rocks are Awesome also. With a little patience, you can find a couple different "grit" river rocks even.

The tip about stropping a knife on nylon webbing was worth the watch! Thanks!

this was very helpful now my butterflyknife is sharp thanks this deserves a like

Even five years later, these tips are always appreciated. I was wondering what I'd have to buy at the store to sharpen my kitchen knives and decided to look for a DIY way online. The first video I checked out was yours and I didn't have to look at any other. I have plenty of ceramic mugs in my cupboard and I now have an instant method of sharpening my knives. Thank you so much!

Thank you! Worked perfectly my wrists sliced so easily! 10 out of 10 would reccomend

Great video, John. When I was guiding in Alaska, we'd find two pieces of slate, wet them in the creek, and rub them together until they were smooth. Then we had two sharpeners, one for me and one for my hunter. Slim Randles, Albuquerque

Place on even surface...places on grass XD

for the river rock, find two flat ones and put some sand in between them and rub the flat sides together and they will surface each other and make then perfect flat. You can also use cinder blocks to make your own sharpening stones. They will surface any rock perfectly flat

Denim also works as a strop, not as well as a belt but it still works.

Wow! Never knew half those things could sharpen. Thanks again John.

When I sharpen my knives I always finish by strapping them on 1000 grit or higher sand paper on a sanding block. This gives an insanely sharp edge and also gives it a mirror polish which helps to keep your edge from rusting. Great tips. Will keep them in mind. I have used the river rock method tho.

610 dislikes?? Did these people not have a knife to sharpen in the first place? This video was extremely helpful

I used my skateboard

A really busted and rolled edge can be fairly straightened by using the side of one's hand as a strop. Also, the leather soles or uppers from one's boots can be improvised as strops as well. A ceramic brick does the job of a sharpening stone. These tips have helped me a lot when away from my stones and honers. Thanks, John!

A fine file, the underside of a saucer and my leather belt and a month later and that knife is still the only one that passes the paper test in my mums kitchen knife drawer.

I was taught a while back by a friend that you can sharpen a knife on a houses "font porch" steps and he even showed me how to do it with his knife. Of course, I am home alone now and have no front porch steps to sharpen my kitchen knife on! LOL You were my 1st video and you will be the only one I need. This was an awesome instructional video. Thank you. Eight years later and still relevant - if only the current generation had a clue how to do half of this stuff. Be blessed and thanks again.

This is the coolest video I have ever seen. Thank you so much!

This is the most helpful video I’ve ever seen.

I found the sharpening information very helpful. My trick is to use a plastic garbage bag for a rain kilt. I have been doing it for years. With gaiters on it keeps your legs dry. It provides more ventilation than rain pants and is easy to put on and off. Simply cut a slit along the bottom of a large black plastic garbage bag and pull it on and use the ties like a belt or tuck it under your backpack hip belt and it is done. Plus it weighs a fraction of what rain pants weigh and can be used a number of ways as a pack cover, sit pad, ground cloth, or to wrap up dry clothing in.

I love this guy. I'm gonna employ these tips straight away.

You're channel deserves more attention! Thank you so much for your help!! 💚💚💚

This is really helpful! I've been collecting pocket knifes almost 10 years and have never sharpened a knife lol I pick up new ones so regularly that I've never had one unusably dull until now.

Very useful.

This is a perfect tutorial. This video should be used as an example of how to make guides and tutorials and "how to" videos. THANK YOU, really helped me. my knife is badass now. Perfect video.

You’re amazing and have saved my day!! Thank you a million times 😊

I have to say thank you for this video. I have been using the edge of a vehicle window to sharpen my knives since my grandfather taught me how to do it back in the 70's. I have gotten some strange looks for doing it until the others seen how sharp my hunting knife was. Great video

You're pretty cool. I enjoyed your presentation immensely 👍🏻

Thanks, really helpful. I'm taking a wilderness survival class in high school and noticed those who have knives are encouraged to bring them. Especially when we go camping, which we do often. I do have a knife, but I haven't used it in 7 years, so it's really dull and rusty, I needed to restore it at home while the shops were closed and I had no idea what I could use, or if I even had anything that would suffice. Great advice, I'll be at my top knife game next class, that's for sure!

Thanks man, I'm usually that guy who's knife is always dull. But the river rock trick really works... I'll have to try the other ones.

Great video and informative tips. Always a will then there's an option.

thanks for the tips. red clay bricks also work really well as sharpening stone. and glue sandpaper 400 or 600 grit sandpaper onto disposable chopsticks for handy sharpening tool for hooks and serrated edges.

Thank you, I really needed this tips!

Mug trick works well to thin out the edge of a super-dull knife. Used that on a neighbor's kitchen knife. Then used my usual tools to get a really nice edge.

love your ideas!

Cool, now I can shave myself with my chef knife. I almost cut my bag in the process as well lol.

Loved the hacks. I got tired of ordering stuff from Amazon and was looking for creative solutions using everyday items. This channel appears to share that same philosophy. Thank you and please keep up the good work

Thanks for getting right to the point unlike other youtubers

This really helped me!!! I was spending a week in the woods about 2 days after I watched this video. This helped me cut firewood and other things!! Thanks you

great video!!

He's awesome all calm and not irradiating thanks man

Thanks for the advice, I knew the others, but never thought about the car glass or the cup, thanks again

you my friend have earned a subscriber

Love it. Absolutely love you. What a great video. Not only do you know exactly what you’re talking about, but you LOOK like you do, and that makes it 110% better for me haha! Straight to the point, no gimmicks, no bs, just exactly what the title says. You show us how to sharpen a knife. Great great video my friend.

Thanks m8! I've been looking for tutorial just like this

Very useful. Exactly the video I was looking for

thanks for the mug tip

thanks Chris, I'm always looking for a way to make my pocket knives like new and razor sharp

These are probs the best tips on youtube Thank you mate

Good stuff bredren 👍🏾 Thanks for sharing

Love the tip John. I hope you do some more hikes on your other channel. Those are always entertaining and educational.

Great video, however I would like to mention that whenever using a strop regardless of its composition one should always roll the blade over its back, never over the cutting edge as this will prevent from cutting into the strop and prevent any possibility of rolling the cutting edge of the blade. Granddad who was a toolmaker taught me that.

Love the video my mechete could barely cut butter but now I’m able to get a better edge on it

that coffe mug one helps so much . great vid mate

John, really good video! Each of these suggestions are very smart. Keep up the good work, my friend.

One tip is to take two rock and get them wet, and then grind them at each other. You will get a smudgy rock substance. put this on a flat surface. For an example a stick cut in half. And work it as usual.

Thanks for this tips.

thank you for the tips Brother. going to do it now

Anything with Pumas works for polishing too. Tooth Polish, hand cleaner, anything that you can feel a bit of light grind too. In an emergency you can even use coffee grounds on a piece of wood if you have too. It's not perfect but it will work.

Apparently, The po po don't appreciate your ingenuity when you sharpen your blade on their window

Wow!!! Thanx a bunch: best thing I've seen since I have to sharpen paring knives the have a short blade...can't wait to try this.

Great information. Thankyou! Video well done, concise and to the point.

A piece of cardboard or newspaper also works for stropping.

on the river rock method, I would suggest grinding two flat surfaced river rocks together to get a much smoother, flatter and more desirable surface to sharpen on. Just sayin'.

most realistically useful video i've seen~~~have used the river rock method for decades, but the coffee cup and window edge tricks, not~~~for the "stuck without tool" sitch, doesn't get much better than this!!! thx, ehya

Thanks! I think this will work on a project I am working on!

1:54 I guess you can call that a whet stone by sum stsshhh

Would any of these same items sharpen a dull metal or plastic butter knife and even spoon handle?

Great video you dont even have to watch just listen and you can still clearly understand very well worded and put together. You get a like my friend

The coffee mug and nylon strap work amazing thanks!

This is awesome information and a great demonstration. You taught us so much in just 3 short minutes. Thanks so much.

All the teens watching this video like: 👀

Thank You so much for the great tips, I will definitely try them :) God Bless

Very well done video. Working on a project involving some survival and seeing some other alternatives helps a lot. Thanks, john.

I Lost a v sharpener and improvised one with a pair of scissors by barely opening the blades and drawing the blade of the knife through the v of the scissors, worked great

I also use stainless steel welding rods from my home made cook kit or titanium tent stakes to re-hone my edge.

Guy has a great voice that clearly explains the topic! No Bs

I use the emery board as my go to for sharpening my kitchen knives ... works beautifully.

Good because I seem to have misplaced my wet stone :(

can I fine it on seat belt too

this was really helpful thanks

Great quick video, thank you!

Just spent half hour tryin to sharpen my knife on a mug... It didn't work! 😐

You can also use the underside of the teeth of your victims to sharpen a knife.

The mug method works like a dream! Thank you sir

Very sharp learning curve! Thank you vey much.

1. Window - Not a sharpener. 2. Ceramic mug - Not a sharpener. 3. Might be ok. :) 4. Knife on knife - Not a sharpener. 5. Might be ok. :)

Really nice and helpful video!thanks!

I am so going to try these out at camping thanks!!

Thank You for this video. Much much appreciated