A lot of shoppers assume any Smith’s sharpening stone in the lineup does roughly the same job, so picking one comes down to price. That is not how the lineup actually works. Smith’s sells three different stone types under one name, and mixing them up wastes money and leaves knives dull.
The Tri-Hone systems, the standalone Arkansas bench stones, and the diamond and DualGrit combination stones each solve a different problem. A three stage system that suits a kitchen drawer of stainless knives is the wrong pick for someone chasing a mirror edge on carbon steel.
This guide breaks down the current Smith’s stone lineup. It covers what each type is actually good for, and where owners run into trouble.
What Actually Matters When Choosing a Smith’s Sharpening Stone
Three things separate one Smith’s stone from another: the abrasive material, the format, and the job it is built for. Get any one wrong and the stone feels disappointing even when nothing is actually defective.
Natural Arkansas stones are quarried novaculite. They cut slowly, need a few drops of honing oil, and reward patience with a very fine edge. Diamond stones use a metal plate coated in industrial grade diamond, so they cut fast with just water and stay flat far longer.
Format matters just as much as material. A Tri-Hone system locks three stones into one base with angle guide rods, which suits beginners. A single bench stone gives more control but leaves angle consistency up to the user’s hand.
For the actual stroke mechanics once a stone is on the bench, getting the stroke right on any of these bench stones covers the motion in more depth. For stone types outside this brand, our stone by stone comparison across every type we carry is the wider starting point.
The table below lines up every current smith’s sharpening stone option side by side, so the tradeoffs are easy to scan before reading the full breakdown.
| Model | Type | Best for | Price band | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tri-Hone Arkansas (TRI6) | Natural, 3 stage system | Beginners, mixed knife drawers | $$ | Price |
| Diamond Tri-Hone (50008 / 50448) | Diamond plate, 3 stage system | Modern steel, fast touch ups | $$ | |
| 6 inch Medium Arkansas Bench Stone | Natural, single stone | Slow, controlled finishing | $$ | |
| 8 inch DualGrit Combination Stone | Aluminum oxide, single stone | Budget repair work | $ |
Smith’s TRI6 Arkansas Tri-Hone System
Best Overall
Natural Arkansas stones | fine, medium, coarse | around $57
The TRI6 mounts three genuine Arkansas stones on a rotating base with angle guide rods. Owner reviews on major retail listings run largely positive, praising durability and how quickly it handles a full knife.
It suits someone building a first real sharpening setup who wants guide rods instead of guessing an angle by eye. Cooks chasing a fast weeknight edge should skip it, since natural stone still takes longer per pass than diamond.
Pros
- Three genuine Arkansas grits in one base
- Guide rods teach a consistent angle
- Base rotates to the next stone without resetup
Cons
- Slower per pass than diamond
- One buyer reported a unit shipped missing the guide rod
- Rubber feet can slide on a smooth counter
Smith’s Diamond Tri-Hone System
Best for Modern Steel
Diamond plated stones | fine, medium, coarse | similar range to the Arkansas Tri-Hone
This is the same three stone base and guide rod setup, but with diamond plates instead of natural stone. A long time owner reported good freehand results on kitchen knives and a folding knife with this exact system.
Diamond cuts fast on modern stainless and powder steels that shrug off natural stone. Buyers chasing an Arkansas style mirror polish should still keep a fine natural stone around, since diamond finishes rougher at the same grit number. why a diamond plate behaves differently than natural stone explains the reason in full.
Pros
- Cuts fast on hard modern steel
- Works with a few drops of water, no oil
- Stays flat longer than natural stone
Cons
- Coarser feeling finish than natural stone at a given grit
- Its exact current price was not separately listed at the time of writing
Smith’s 6 Inch Medium Arkansas Bench Stone
Best Single Stone
Natural Arkansas, medium grit | single stone | around $40
This is the medium stone from the Tri-Hone system sold on its own, with no base or guide rods. It is the pick for someone who already owns a coarse diamond plate and wants a natural medium stone to follow it.
Skip it as a first stone purchase. Without guide rods, holding a steady angle by hand takes real practice, and beginners tend to round an edge instead of sharpening it. how novaculite grades stack up against these bench stones covers grade differences in more depth.
Pros
- True Arkansas novaculite
- Fits into an existing stone rotation
- Smaller footprint than a full system
Cons
- No base or guide included
- Angle control sits entirely with the user
- Needs occasional oiling to keep cutting well
Smith’s 8 Inch DualGrit Combination Stone
Best Budget
Aluminum oxide, two sided | fine and coarse | around $15
This is a basic two sided oil stone, not a diamond or natural Arkansas stone. The coarse side handles repair work on a rolled or chipped edge, and the fine side cleans up the burr afterward.
It is a fine option for a garage tool box, or a first stone to practice technique on before spending more. Anyone who already owns a Tri-Hone system does not need this too, since it duplicates the coarse and medium stones already in that base.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Two grits in one stone
- Easy to find a same sized replacement
Cons
- Aluminum oxide wears down faster than diamond or natural stone
- No base included
- The two grits feel closer together than the fine and coarse labels suggest
Mistakes to Skip When Buying Into This Lineup
Buying the diamond Tri-Hone and expecting an Arkansas style finish is the most common mismatch. Diamond and natural stone grit numbers are not directly comparable, so a diamond fine stone often feels coarser than a natural fine stone at the same number.
Skipping oil on a natural Arkansas stone shortens its useful life and slows every session. A few drops before each use keeps metal particles from clogging the surface.
Buying a single coarse stone for routine touch ups is another common mistake. Coarse stones exist for repair work, and using one for weekly maintenance removes more steel than necessary. Once a stone or two is on the bench, laying out a full grit sequence across these three stones helps decide which grit to reach for first.
The bottom line: Most buyers building a first real setup should start with the Arkansas Tri-Hone system. It is forgiving, the guide rods teach a consistent angle, and three genuine grits cover most kitchen and pocket knife work. Reach for the diamond version only once modern stainless or powder steel is a regular part of the rotation.
Which smith’s sharpening stone should a beginner buy?
The Arkansas Tri-Hone system is the easiest starting point. The guide rods hold a consistent angle while a new user is still learning to feel the bevel.
Do Smith’s diamond stones need oil?
No. A few drops of water keep metal particles from building up on the plate. Oil is only needed on the natural Arkansas stones.
Can the Tri-Hone stones be replaced individually?
Yes. Smith’s sells the Arkansas and diamond stones separately in the same sizes used in the systems, so a worn stone does not mean replacing the whole base.
Are Smith’s Arkansas stones real novaculite?
The manufacturer lists them as natural Arkansas stone, which is quarried novaculite. The coarser combination stones in the lineup use synthetic aluminum oxide instead.
What is the difference between the PP1 and a smith’s sharpening stone system?
The PP1 is a small guided sharpener with fixed slots, not a set of loose stones. It trades flexibility for speed and portability.
Why does a coarse Smith’s stone feel slower than expected?
Natural Arkansas coarse stones cut gently compared to diamond coarse plates. Owner reports repeatedly note this, and it is normal rather than a defect.
Sources
- Smith’s Products: Sharpening stones product listing. https://smithsproducts.com/sharpeners/shop-all/sharpening-stones/