Anyone recommend a good knife sharpener? Not really wanting a mechanical one, want one that can get a knife shaving sharp.

Diamond whetstone. There are several brands.

Worksharp is mechanical and will sharpen enough to shave with. Then, you just maintain the blade with a butchers steel.

I've been using a Lansky system for many years. I was never any good at holding a precise angle and the Lansky does that for me. It won't take too much steel off like some mechanicals can either. I have one at home and one at camp.

I recently starting using a honing steel to touch up my knives and an amazed by how much longer I can go between sharpenings. I liked it so much I bought a second one just for the fur shed.

i use a lansky too

if you want something better, but pricier, KME, Wicked Edge, and edge pro are good options

I have always had a hard time getting knives sharp. I've tried the work sharp grinder, lansky five stone set, and a few other ones. I recently bought a lansky four rod turn box. It will put a really sharp edge on a knife. The knife needs to be close because it doesn't have a very coarse stone, but it can sharpen the really easily really fast. It's also less than $20 and is small so it can get packed anywhere.

Get a good old Norton oil stone.

Hard to beat a worksharp and an F.Dick hypersteel. Have to go to 8000 grit Japanese stone and spend lots of time to beat the edge the F.Dick will restore.

Rada is the most inexpensive and best sharpener I’ve ever used.

My suggestion would be to learn how to use whetstones. Diamond plates or water stones in different grits. I have them from 600 to 10000 use them for all sorts of blades from knives to planes and wood chisels and axes. Both the stones / plates and the skill are a good investment

I just pick up old oilstones at garge sales and such. And steels. If you touch then up regularly, you don't need anything else.

I've tried a few over the years. Got a Lansky and they work real good but are very slow to get the job done. I have a Dunn wheel outfit that works great once you get the eye for it. It does not work so much for longer blade knives, like a fillet knife as the other wheel tends to get in my way. I use an Accu Sharp a lot on my cheaper knives and the give them a couple licks on the steel and they are more than sharp enough for anything I do, they remove a good bit of steel though.
You folks that talk about the F Dick steel, what model do you recommend? I went to their web page and got the thousand mile stare looking at their lineup.

Zim

I have to agree with scuba in that if you take the time to learn how nothing beats a good set of stones I have them up to 40,000 and after using that the edge looks like it has been polished

I also have a work sharp for when I am in a hurry and it will do an acceptable job but nothing like a set of stones will even the common 3 stone sets if you know how to use them

I have a friend that has a wicked edge with the 40000 grit stone and it will do a good job but in my opinion I do better by hand if I do say so myself but then I have 40 years of practice to draw on

When I looked at them I got sticker shocked!

I got a Victorinox fine cut. I liked it so much I bought another just for the fur shed. The two together were less than an F.Dick.

I bought a couple of Accu Sharp's based on a recommendation from a previous post- they really do a nice job for a quick sharp edge. Typically wet stone all my hunting knives

I use a Victorinox steel also, and I really like it.

Love my worksharp

The best non mechanical system I have use is the Edge Pro. You want scary sharp this will do it and it's not nearly as slow as a Lansky. It comes with grits from 120 - 1000 and tapes to further polishing to 3000 and beyond.

I have sharpened knives for years and it's more of a hobby for me. Quality products and time is what makes for a perfect edge.I have no problem taking a stone and getting a blade to shave hair. I can shave with a broad head after a few strokes on a file.

What I have found is that sharpening skills are similar to mechanical ability. For many, either you have the touch and patience or you don't. You can spend time learning and practicing, but everyone's aptitude is different. The more you can take yourself out of the equation for some the better, however for a few no amount of free hand sharpening will end well. That's why I support the WorkSharp for those that say they have tried everything and want to finally succeed.

My opinion YMMV

WS

Dunn system for me too. Zim use 2 different grinders with one wheel on each for longer knives

spyderco tri-angle sharpmaker
fastest, easiest, simplest system i've ever used. you can buy extra fine stones that put a crazy sharp edge on knives if you want. Works on "super steels" also