The Work Sharp Rolling Knife Sharpener entered a category Horl created years earlier. Horl built the format first. A magnetic block holds the knife at a fixed angle while a wheel of abrasive rolls along the edge.
Work Sharp copied that idea for its own Rolling Knife Sharpener. It then added more angle presets than the original offers.
On price, the picture is not as simple as “Work Sharp is cheaper.” The manufacturer lists it around $165. That sits close to or above Horl’s list price near $160. Street pricing at other retailers often lands lower, into the $120 to $150 band, so shoppers who wait for a sale can end up paying less either way.
This guide breaks down what the rolling design does well. It covers where the Work Sharp version differs from Horl. It also covers where rolling sharpeners in general stop being useful.
What Actually Matters in a Rolling Sharpener
A rolling sharpener lives or dies on three things. How securely the magnet holds the blade is one. How consistent the angle stays across a stroke is another.
How much material the included discs remove is the third factor.
A weak magnet lets the blade wander mid stroke. That ruins the point of a fixed angle jig. A firm magnet is worth checking before anything else.
Angle range matters more for a mixed knife drawer. A kitchen with only Western style knives can get by on two angle options. A drawer with Japanese knives, pocket knives, and outdoor blades benefits from more presets.
Grit selection decides what job the tool is for. A rolling sharpener stocked with fine and medium discs is a maintenance tool. It is not built for restoring a badly damaged edge.
| Model | Angle options | Best for | Price band | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work Sharp Rolling Knife Sharpener | 15, 17, 20, 25 degrees | Mixed knife drawers, folding knives | around $150 to $165 | |
| Horl 2 | 15 and 20 degrees | Single angle European chef knives | around $160 |
How the Rolling Design Works
The Work Sharp Rolling Knife Sharpener uses a magnetic block. It clamps the spine of the knife at a set angle. A rolling abrasive disc then moves along the edge as you push the knife through.
The manufacturer lists three included discs. A 320 grit diamond disc handles coarse work. A 600 grit diamond disc handles finer refinement.
A ceramic hone disc handles the final polish. Extra discs are sold separately for owners who want more grits later.
A built in riser adjusts the geometry for folding knives. A folder’s blade sits differently in the block than a full length kitchen knife does. Horl’s version uses the same rolling motion, but it ships with only two discs.
Work Sharp vs Horl: Honest Price and Feature Contrast
Horl’s design leans on material and simplicity. The body is solid wood. The mechanism runs on ball bearings, and the company frames it as a precision tool for quality steel.
Work Sharp’s version trades that wood body for more flexibility. It offers four angle presets instead of two. It also adds a folding knife riser and a lower cost per replacement disc.
Neither company publishes independent lab data on edge retention or angle accuracy. Edge and Grit has not run its own bench tests on either unit. Buyers can only compare spec sheet against spec sheet.
On that basis, Work Sharp offers more angle flexibility for a similar street price. For the full picture on Horl’s own strengths and weaknesses, see our full look at the Horl.
Rolling Sharpeners vs the Tumbler Category
Tumbler style sharpeners solve a similar problem with a different mechanism. A tumbler sharpener rotates an abrasive drum. The blade passes through that drum repeatedly instead of riding a single rolling disc.
Tumbler designs tend to favor speed over angle precision. Hands off operation is the main appeal. If you sharpen a high volume of knives at once, that tradeoff can be worth it.
A rolling sharpener still wins on angle control for careful, one knife at a time work. See how tumbler sharpeners handle the same job for a closer comparison.
Who a Rolling Sharpener Suits
Rolling sharpeners are built for the kitchen counter, not the workshop bench. Anyone who wants a quick touch up without measuring an angle by eye will find the format comfortable.
Owner reviews repeatedly mention how little setup the format needs. That is compared to a guided rod system or a whetstone. Low friction is the main selling point, and it is the reason the category exists.
People who already own a full sharpening setup get less value here. The same goes for anyone who sharpens serrated bread knives regularly. The format solves a comfort problem more than a capability problem.
The Limits: What Rolling Sharpeners Cannot Do
Rolling sharpeners only work on straight edges. A serrated bread knife cannot ride through a magnetic block the way a straight edge does. A recurved blade has the same problem.
Edge quality has a ceiling too. GearJunkie’s review of the Work Sharp version scored it 7.8 out of 10. The review called it a strong maintenance tool, but noted it could use a more aggressive grit option for badly dulled blades.
That gap shows up on both Work Sharp and Horl. Neither ships an aggressive coarse disc by default. The recurring complaint is the same across both brands: these tools maintain an edge that already exists.
Mistakes to Skip
Do not buy a rolling sharpener expecting it to replace a full sharpening kit. It replaces the whetstone touch up. It does not replace an occasional deep restoration.
Do not assume more angle presets means a better tool for your knives. If every knife in the house uses the same angle, extra presets go unused.
Do not skip checking your knife width against the magnetic block first. Narrower blades can sit low on some rolling designs. That affects how evenly the disc contacts the edge.
Rolling Sharpener FAQ
Is the Work Sharp Rolling Knife Sharpener better than the Horl?
Better depends on what you sharpen. Work Sharp offers more angle options and a folding knife riser. Horl offers a simpler two angle system built around premium steel.
Can a rolling sharpener handle serrated knives?
No. Both the Work Sharp and Horl designs are built for straight edges only. A serrated bread knife needs a different tool.
How many angle options does the Work Sharp rolling sharpener include?
The manufacturer lists four presets. They are 15, 17, 20, and 25 degrees, plus a riser adjustment for folding knives.
See every other Work Sharp model we cover for how the rolling version compares to the brand’s guided and belt systems.
Does a rolling sharpener remove a lot of metal?
Not much, by design. The included discs on both brands favor light maintenance passes over heavy removal. Neither is meant for restoring a damaged edge.
Is a rolling sharpener worth it over a tumbler style sharpener?
It depends on priorities. A rolling sharpener gives more angle control. A tumbler design trades some precision for speed and less hand involvement.
Where can I check current pricing on the Work Sharp Rolling Knife Sharpener?
Pricing moves around between retailers. A live listing is the most reliable way to check today’s number: current listings for the Work Sharp Rolling Knife Sharpener.
The bottom line: The Work Sharp Rolling Knife Sharpener is a solid, flexible entry into a category Horl built first. It earns its price with more angle presets and a folding knife riser, not with a lower cost, since street pricing on both brands lands in a similar range.
For a wider look at how rolling sharpeners rank against other formats, visit our rolling sharpener rankings. For the rest of our equipment coverage, browse our sharpening equipment hub.
Sources
- Work Sharp: RKS Rolling Knife Sharpener product page. https://worksharptools.com/products/rolling-knife-sharpener
- Horl: HORL 2 Rolling Knife Sharpener product page. https://www.horl.com/en-US/products/horl2-rolling-knife-sharpener