Keeping you knife sharp regularly is a good practice, because it reduces amounts of needless injury, helps you to cut with your knife faster and easier, and keeps your knife in good condition. You can easily sharpen your knife at home if you keep a few things around the house. First, before sharpening your knife, you should check and see its current condition.

Using your nail, press the edge of the knife into the nail slowly and carefully. Make sure you have a firm grip on the knife when you do this.You can find a quick rundown here If the edge of the blade does not stop at the nail, but slips away, it is dull. A whetstone or a fine graded slipstone will help to make your dull knife edge become sharp. You can purchase a whetstone or slipstone at a local hardware store.

With a firm and confident grip, hold the knife by the handle at a 45 degree angle and stroke it evenly across the whetstone to sharpen it. If you choose to use a slipstone, simply hold the knife firmly, and make smooth continuing circular motions on each side of the blade, from hilt to tip. Knife sharpening is simple and smart.