The most widely owned knife sharpener in America is a brand almost nobody talks about. Smith’s sells more units through Walmart, Tractor Supply, and hardware store endcaps than most specialty makers sell all year. It stays quiet because it never chased the enthusiast crowd.
Smith’s built its whole lineup around one idea. Cheap tools bring a dull blade back to useful. They are not gear for turning sharpening into a hobby.
This lineup breakdown covers three Smith’s tools worth knowing. The PP1 pocket sharpener, the 50264 pull through, and the 50603 mower tool each do a different job. Below is what a Smith’s knife sharpener buyer gets under fifteen dollars, and where that tier runs out.
What a Good Knife Sharpener Needs to Do at This Price
A budget sharpener has one job. Remove enough metal to reset an edge, fast, without needing skill. Smith’s tools do that with preset carbide stages set at a fixed angle.
That speed comes at a cost. Carbide pull through stages remove more metal per pass than a whetstone would. That shortens the life of a blade over many sharpenings.
Consistency matters as much as speed. A locked or adjustable angle guide beats a freehand rod for anyone who has not practiced sharpening. Every model in this lineup leans on that same idea.
Materials matter too, since carbide handles the heavy lifting on a badly dulled edge. A ceramic or fine stage cleans up the burr carbide leaves behind. Skip that step and the edge feels sharp but bites unevenly.
| Model | Type | Best for | Price band |
|---|---|---|---|
| PP1 Pocket Pal | Compact pull through | Pocket and field knives | Under $15 |
| 50264 Adjustable Manual | Adjustable pull through | Kitchen and hunting knives | Under $15 |
| 50603 Mower Sharpener | Handheld carbide tool | Lawn mower blades | Under $20 |
Smith’s PP1 Pocket Pal
Most Portable
Pocket sized | preset carbide and ceramic stages | fold out diamond rod | around $15
The PP1 is a Smith’s sharpener built for a glove box or a pack pocket, not a kitchen drawer. The manufacturer lists preset carbide blades, a ceramic finishing slot, and a fold out diamond coated rod for serrated edges and gut hooks. Both the blades and the stones are reversible and replaceable, which stretches the tool’s working life.
Owner reviews repeatedly frame it as a fine emergency tool for soft steel, like kitchen knives and budget folders. Testing reported by BladeReviews found it restored a usable edge on ordinary steel. Results were only mediocre on a harder alloy like S30V.
The recurring complaint is that a pull through carbide design is simply too aggressive for a good blade. Skip this one if the knife in question is expensive.
Pros
- Cheap and genuinely pocket sized
- No technique required, angle is preset
- Diamond rod handles serrations in the field
Cons
- Struggles on hard or premium steel
- Removes more metal than a stone would
- Not built as a primary sharpener
Smith’s 50264 Adjustable Manual
Best Overall
Pull through | 6 angle settings, 14 to 24 degrees | coarse and fine stages, serrated notch | around $15
The 50264 is the most capable smith’s knife sharpener in this lineup. It lets an owner pick an angle instead of a fixed housing angle. A coarse stage handles dull blades, a fine stage handles touch ups, and a notch covers serrated edges.
Reviewers single out the adjustable angle as unusual at this price. It is genuinely rare on a manual pull through. That range makes it useful across kitchen knives, hunting knives, and everything between.
Its carbide stage is still a metal removal tool first. Anyone chasing a specific bevel for a favorite blade should look toward a guided stone system instead.
Pros
- Real angle adjustment, rare in this price range
- Handles severely dulled blades well
- Works across kitchen, hunting, and pocket knives
Cons
- Still removes metal aggressively
- No fine control over exact bevel geometry
- Grit levels are not published in exact numbers
Technique still matters on either pull through model. Our step by step walkthrough for running the PP1 correctly covers stroke count and pressure. The same guide covers dialing in the right angle on the 50264 before the first pull.
Smith’s 50603 Mower Blade Sharpener
Best for Mower Blades
Handheld carbide tool | 7 by 2.75 inches | oversized handle and guard | wire brush included | around $17
The 50603 steps outside the knife category entirely. It solves a different problem: sharpening a mower blade without pulling it off the deck. The manufacturer lists a preset carbide blade, an oversized handle, and a large safety guard.
A wire bristle brush lives in the handle for clearing debris before sharpening starts. It is a small but useful touch for a dirty garage job. One owner comment on the maker’s listing calls the process slow at first, though results reportedly improve with practice.
This is not a knife sharpener and should not be treated as one. It exists for one job. It works at a fair price for anyone who removes their own mower blade instead of paying a shop.
Pros
- Purpose built, not a repurposed knife tool
- Safety guard and oversized handle protect fingers
- Cleaning brush built into the handle
Cons
- Slow going on the first pass
- Plastic head construction, not built for daily shop use
- Only useful if you already remove your own blade
Where Smith’s Runs Out of Road
Smith’s earns its budget tier position honestly. A ten to fifteen dollar tool will not match a guided whetstone system or a quality electric machine. The company sells volume, not precision.
That reputation was built over decades through the same channels. Big box hardware aisles, outdoor gear counters, and grocery store end caps carried it, not knife specialty shops. It is a hardware store brand, not a collector brand, and it prices accordingly.
The most common mistake is expecting a Smith’s tool to hold an edge like a stone finished blade. Carbide pull throughs leave a coarser edge that dulls faster. That is fine for weekly kitchen use and frustrating for anyone chasing an edge that lasts.
Step past the brand once a knife is worth more than the sharpener itself. Step past it once an edge needs a specific bevel, or sharpening becomes frequent enough to justify a stone. For occasional touch ups on ordinary knives, this lineup still does its job.
Anyone weighing more options should see our guide to picking the right sharpener style for your knives. It lays out how manual, pull through, and guided stone tools differ. For another budget pick nearby, this rundown on a similarly priced Walmart option is worth a read.
The bottom line: the 50264 is the strongest pick here, since its adjustable angle covers more knife types than the PP1. Keep the PP1 for a glove box or pack. Only reach for the 50603 if a mower blade is the actual job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Smith’s a good sharpener brand?
For its price tier, yes. Smith’s is not built for enthusiasts chasing a fine edge. It delivers a usable edge fast, with no real technique required.
What is the real difference between the PP1 and the 50264?
The PP1 is smaller and meant for portability. The 50264 adds adjustable angle settings and a wider range of knife types it handles well. The 50264 is the better all around choice for a kitchen drawer.
Can I use a Smith’s pocket sharpener on a lawn mower blade?
No. The PP1 and 50264 are built for knife edges. The 50603 is a separate tool built for mower blades, not knife edges.
How many pulls does the 50264 need to fix a dull blade?
The manufacturer does not publish an exact pull count, and it varies with how dull the blade already is. A few light passes on the coarse stage is a good start. Follow with one light pass on the fine stage.
Does the PP1 handle serrated blades?
Yes. The fold out diamond coated rod is built for that job, along with gut hooks. It is one reason the PP1 earns its spot in a pack or glove box even next to the more capable 50264.
When should I upgrade from Smith’s to something else?
A pricier knife, or a desire for control over bevel and finish, means it is time to upgrade. A guided whetstone system or a quality electric sharpener is the better investment. Our full sharpening equipment archive covers those options in depth.
Sources
- Smith’s Consumer Products: Pocket Pal Knife Sharpener product page, specifications. https://smithsproducts.com/pocket-pal-knife-sharpener-1/
- Smith’s Consumer Products: 50603 Rotary Lawn Mower Blade Sharpener product page, specifications. https://smithsproducts.com/50603