Nakiyo 12" Honing Steel

The Nakiyo 12" Honing Steel is made for us in Solingen, Germany, in a longer length than most competitors for improved ease of use. Contrary to popular belief, honing steels don't actually sharpen by removing metal, but they are an important tool for maintaining European and American knives. These knives are typically made from relatively soft steel, which is made to withstand hard impact but deforms and dents with use. A few strokes before or after each use with a high-quality steel will straighten the dented or misaligned edge, keeping it cutting freely for much longer before intensive sharpening with a sharpening stone is needed. Honing is not necessary for Japanese knives, which are made from harder steel that doesn't deform easily. Instead, consider using a fine sharpening rod for regular maintenance or a sharpening stone for infrequent sharpening.