I have tested this product and found that it did a decent job of Honing
the knife, not sharpening. Honing a knife is different than sharpening
a knife. Honing is the process of realigning the blade while
sharpening actually is a process to remove and reshape the blade. A
knife should be regularly maintained on a honing steel or with a
product such as this. Depending on how often your knives are used and
on what surfaces, your knife should be professionally sharpened on
average once a year. Remember never to cut on glass, marble or your
countertops, just wood or thick plastic. Never put your knives in the
dishwasher! So to answer your question this is a good honing steel,
instead of having a metal rod with a handle you have what they refer to
as fingers that help the user keep the proper 20 degree angle needed
when honing a knife. Also this product and any other sharpener on the
market as much as they say they can sharpen serrated blades....they
can't. That in itself could justify another thread just on that topic.

Chef Dom
www.DominicsKitchenStore.com