Leatherman sharpening comes down to three numbers and one rule. Plain blade sections get 16 degrees per side, serrated sections get 20 degrees on the beveled side only. The saw and file do not get sharpened at all.
Those figures come from Leatherman’s own maintenance guidance. The rest is about your specific tool. A Wave+ runs soft 420HC that any pocket stone will cut.
A Charge+ runs harder 154CM. The Arc runs MagnaCut, the only steel Leatherman will sharpen for free. Knowing which one you own decides both the abrasive and the effort.
Below is what Leatherman actually says and which blades can be touched. It also covers the recurve problem that trips up Wave owners, and three compact sharpeners that fit the job.
What Leatherman says about sharpening its blades
Leatherman’s maintenance page lists a 32 degree inclusive angle for straight edged blades. That is 16 degrees per side. It also says any standard equipment works on those blades: whetstones, rods, and guided kits.
Serrated sections are different. Leatherman lists 20 degrees, sharpened on one side only, because grinding the flat back wears the teeth down. The flat side gets nothing more than a light burr removal.
You can turn the Leatherman spec into a stone angle for your blade height before you start. Small blades sit low on a stone, so the number matters more than it does on a chef knife.
Which steel your Leatherman actually has
Most of the lineup runs 420HC. The Wave+ uses it on both the plain drop point and the serrated secondary blade. It is a softer stainless that sharpens fast and loses its edge fast.
The Charge+ steps up to 154CM on the main blade. Older Charge variants, notably the TTi, were listed with S30V. Both hold an edge longer than 420HC, and both need diamond or a good ceramic to move metal at a reasonable pace.
The Arc runs MagnaCut. A professional sharpener’s owner report compares its behavior to 154CM, so treat it the same way.
We could not confirm the current steel on every model, including the Free P4, Signal, and Skeletool. Check the product page for your exact tool.
The recurve problem on Wave and Charge blades
Owners repeatedly mention a bowed or recurved edge near the plunge line on Wave and Charge blades. Experienced sharpeners say this is standard on those two models, not a defect, and the Free series does not have it. The dip means a flat stone cannot reach the whole edge in one pass.
You have two choices. Leave the recurve and sharpen the rest of the blade, which is fine for a work tool. Or reprofile it out on a coarse stone, which on 420HC takes minutes, not hours.
A tapered rod handles the dip without reprofiling. Angle the rod into the recurve and work that section separately from the belly. It is the same move as working the tip and belly of a small folder, on a shorter blade.
Sharpening the serrated blade without wrecking it
Plenty of owners say the serrated blade is the one they actually use. It cuts rope, straps, and packaging, and it dulls at the tips of the teeth first. A tapered diamond or ceramic rod is the right tool.
Match the rod diameter to the scallop, set 20 degrees, and take a few strokes in each gullet on the beveled side. Then lay the flat side on a fine stone for a pass or two to knock the burr off. Never grind the flat side to raise a new edge.
Our rundown of rods and kits for serrated edges covers rod sizing in more depth. For a Leatherman, a pocket sized rod with a serration groove is enough.
Saw, file, and scissors: what you can and cannot do
The saw and the file are not sharpened, and Leatherman publishes no procedure for them. The industry norm for hardened saw teeth and file cuts is replacement, not resharpening. Keep them clean and dry and accept the wear.
The Wave+ scissors can be touched up on a fine stone along the outer bevel of each blade. Keep the inside faces flat. The Charge+ swaps scissors for a strap cutter, which is a replaceable style edge and not worth chasing.
Leatherman’s sharpening service and warranty reality
Leatherman runs a free sharpening service, but it applies only to MagnaCut blades. You submit the sharpening service form, ship the tool, and it comes back factory sharp. No other steel qualifies.
The 25 year limited warranty does not cover cleaning or sharpening. The warranty page says Leatherman may, at its discretion, attempt to sharpen or repair a damaged blade. Owners who ask for a sharpening during an unrelated repair report mixed results.
Leatherman also sells a Tool Maintenance Kit at $69.95. It is a cleaning and care kit, not a sharpener. For everything except the Arc, plan on sharpening it yourself.
Compact sharpeners that fit a Leatherman
A multitool blade is short, often recurved, and sometimes serrated. That rules out most pull through slots for the plain blade and makes a serration rod close to mandatory. If you want the broader field, see our comparison of sharpeners built around multitool blades.
| Model | Type | Best for | Price band | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener | Guided plates plus ceramic rod | Plain and serrated blades together | $$ | |
| Fallkniven DC4 | Diamond and ceramic pocket stone | Holding a true 16 degrees on the plain blade | $$ | Price |
| Sharpal 101N 6-in-1 | Slots plus tapered diamond rod | Quick 420HC touch ups | $ | Price |
Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener
Best Overall
Diamond plates plus ceramic rod | 20 degree guides | serration groove | $$
This is the one compact unit that covers both Leatherman blades. The diamond plates handle 420HC and 154CM, and the ceramic rod has a groove sized for serrations. Owners praise the size and the fact that the rod lives in the same body as the plates.
The honest catch is the angle: the guides are fixed at 20 degrees, not Leatherman’s 16. You either accept a 20 degree micro bevel on the plain blade, which cuts fine on soft steel. Or you freehand 16 on the plates and use the guides only for the serrations.
Pros
- Diamond and ceramic in one pocket sized body
- Serration rod with a proper groove
- Cuts every Leatherman steel, MagnaCut included
Cons
- Fixed 20 degree guides do not match the 16 degree spec
- Recurved Wave blades still need the rod, not the plates
Fallkniven DC4
Best for the Plain Blade
Diamond one side, ceramic the other | freehand | pocket stone | $$
The DC4 is a small two sided stone with no guides at all, and that is the point. You can hold the exact 16 degrees Leatherman specifies. The diamond side reprofiles a recurve without fighting a fixed slot.
It does nothing for serrations. Wave+ owners who lean on the serrated blade will need a rod alongside it. Freehand means a short learning curve, though 420HC is forgiving practice material.
Pros
- Any angle, including the true 16 degree spec
- Diamond side reprofiles recurves quickly
- Slips into a pocket beside the tool
Cons
- No serration option at all
- Small surface for a beginner to hold an angle on
Sharpal 101N 6-in-1
Best Budget
Carbide and ceramic slots | tapered diamond rod | $
The Sharpal earns its place on the tapered diamond rod, which is a real serration tool at a budget price. The slots are a different story. They impose roughly 20 degrees per side and the carbide slot removes metal in a hurry.
On a 420HC Wave+ blade that is an acceptable fast touch up. On 154CM or MagnaCut the carbide slot chews the edge, so Charge and Arc owners should use only the rod and skip the slots. It is a mediocre choice for the harder steels and a fair one for the soft ones.
Pros
- Tapered diamond rod handles serrations and recurves
- Cheap enough to keep in a truck or pack
- Quick results on soft 420HC
Cons
- Carbide slot is rough on 154CM and MagnaCut edges
- Slot angle is around 20 degrees, not 16
All three are sized for the pocket. If you carry a separate folder too, our guide to sharpeners that ride along with an EDC blade has a wider set of picks.
Leatherman sharpening mistakes to avoid
- Grinding the flat side of the serrated blade. That is how the teeth disappear.
- Running a recurved Wave blade through a pull through slot. The slot never reaches the dip and rounds the edge on either side of it.
- Using a carbide slot on a Charge+ or Arc. Harder steel chips instead of shearing cleanly.
- Sending a 420HC tool to Leatherman expecting a free sharpening. Only MagnaCut qualifies.
- Trying to sharpen the saw or file. Neither is designed for it.
The bottom line: For most Leatherman sharpening jobs the Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener is the practical pick. It handles the plain blade, the serrations, and every steel in the lineup from one pocket sized body. Buy the DC4 instead if you only use the plain blade and want the exact factory angle.
Leatherman sharpening FAQ
What angle does Leatherman use on its blades?
Leatherman lists 32 degrees inclusive for straight edged blades, which is 16 degrees per side. Serrated sections are 20 degrees on the beveled side only.
Can I sharpen the serrated blade on a Wave+?
Yes, with a tapered rod at 20 degrees on the beveled side. Then lay the flat side on a fine stone for a pass or two to remove the burr. Do not grind the flat side.
Does Leatherman sharpen tools for free?
Only MagnaCut blades, through the sharpening service form. The 25 year warranty excludes sharpening, though Leatherman may sharpen a damaged blade at its discretion during a repair.
Can the saw or file be sharpened?
No. Leatherman gives no procedure for either, and the normal practice for hardened saw teeth and file cuts is replacement. Clean them and keep them dry.
What sharpener works on a Charge+ or Arc?
Diamond. Both 154CM and MagnaCut are hard enough that ceramic alone is slow and carbide slots chip the edge. A diamond plate or pocket stone followed by ceramic is the reliable route.
Why does my Wave blade have a dip near the handle?
That recurve is standard on Wave and Charge blades. Sharpen it with a rod, or reprofile it out on a coarse stone. For a wider view of the tools that can do it, see which sharpener designs handle short and recurved blades.
Sources
- Leatherman: Maintenance Tips, blade sharpening angles and serrated blade rule. https://www.leatherman.com/pages/customerservice-maintenance
- Leatherman: Sharpening Service, free MagnaCut sharpening program. https://www.leatherman.com/pages/sharpening
- Leatherman: Warranty, 25 year limited warranty terms. https://www.leatherman.com/pages/customerservice-warranty