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Chef's Choice 4643 vs. Mueller 4-Stage Manual Sharpener Side-by-Side Comparison

By , , and ·Updated

Chef's Choice 4643

$55.49 from Amazon

Mueller 4-Stage

$13.97 from Amazon
Chef's Choice 4643 vs. Mueller 4-Stage Manual Sharpener: How They Stack Up

Overall Verdict

The Chef’s Choice 4643 may be double the price of the Mueller 4-stage sharpener but our test results revealed the latter to be the more effective one.

The Chef’s Choice 4643 has a great design. Though lightweight, it sports four rubber feet that keep it well balanced and in place during the hardest pulls. In terms of stability, the Mueller is okay but it does depend on its heavy weight and the tall body doesn’t particularly help either.

That being said, the Mueller fared much better in speed and sharpness. The Chef’s Choice 4643’s unconventional disc design, while performing well at preserving knife material, couldn’t bring a keen edge to it.

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Pros & Cons

  • Works with 20° and 15° edges
  • Compatible with serrated blades
  • Grippy handle
  • Neat, ergonomic overall design
  • Strong construction, pretty coloring
  • Quick sharpening
  • Scissor slot
  • Ease of use
  • Expensive price
  • Awkward slot layout
  • High center of gravity
  • Harsh on the knife edge

Key Specs

Stages
2
3
Scissor sharpener
No
Yes
Abrasives
Diamond discs
Diamond, tungsten carbide, ceramic
Grit size
Coarse, Fine
Coarse, Medium, Fine
Dimensions
L9.3 x W2.0 x H2.8 inches
L9.3 x W1.8 x H3.1 inches

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$51.51
$12.35
$55.49 at Amazon
$13.97 at Amazon

*You help support Shouldit's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners.

Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
4.3
6.7

Sharpening Time to Cut a Lemon

1.0
8.8
Sharpening Time
4 minutes
1 minute 15 seconds
Cutting Feel
Slightly heavy
Swift and smooth

Material Retention

7.0
5.0
A bowl containing metal sharpening residue next to the base of the Chef's Choice AngleSelect sharpener
Metal sharpening residue in a bowl
Metal sharpening residue in a bowl
Medal dust on the abrasive slots of the Mueller steel knife sharpener
Sharpening Time
1 minute
1 minute
Target Sharpness

Maximum Sharpness Achieved

6.0
8.0
Sharpening Time
6 minutes
6 minutes
Sharpness Level
7 (Ripe tomatoes, 1 swipe)
8 (Chicken breast with skin, 1 swipe)

Edge Smoothness

5.2
4.0
Close up view of the knife blade and edge after sharpening with the Chef's Choice AngleSelect
Close up view in vignette of the knife blade and knife edge after sharpening with the Mueller knife sharpener

Design

Overall Design Scoring
9.3
9.1

In the Box

The Chef’s Choice manual knife sharpener next to its plastic case
The Mueller 4-stage knife sharpener lying next to its package box, user guide, and promotion leaflets

Dimensions

The Chef's Choice 4643 handheld sharpener with arrows and figures showing its dimensions
The Mueller handheld sharpener with arrows and figures showing its dimensions.
Length
9.3" (23.6 cm)
9.3" (23.6 cm)
Width
2.0" (5.1 cm)
1.8" (4.6 cm)
Height
2.8" (7.1 cm)
3.1" (7.9 cm)
Weight
6.6 oz (187 g)
8.6 oz (244 g)

Build Quality

9.0
9.1
The Chef’s Choice 4643 sharpener disassembled on a cutting board, with a lemon slice
The Chef’s Choice 4643 sharpener disassembled on a cutting board, with a lemon slice
The Chef’s Choice 4643 sharpener disassembled on a cutting board
The Mueller sharpener standing on a surface

Working Section

The working section of the Chef's Choice with 3 abrasive slots on a frame and part of its handle and base
The working section of the Mueller with 4 abrasive slots on a frame and part of its handle and base
The working section of the Mueller with 4 abrasive slots on a frame and part of its handle and base
Top view of the abrasive slots of the Mueller handheld sharpener, with scissor slot, tungsten blades, diamond rods, and ceramic rods
Levels of Sharpening
Coarse, Fine
Sharpen (slot 1, 2, 3), Hone (slot 4)
Abrasive
Diamond-coated disks
Tungsten carbide blades, diamond rods, ceramic rods
Mechanism
Pull through
Pull through
Sharpening Angle
15° & 20°
20 degree

Base

The underneath of the Chef's Choice sharpener
The underneath of the Chef's Choice sharpener
One of the feet underneath the Chef's Choice sharpener
The Mueller sharpener lying on a surface with its base in full view
Material
Synthetic rubber
ABS plastic
Feet Type
Slip-proof sole (x 4)
Anti-slip rubber pads

Grip

10
9.0
A hand holding the Chef’s Choice manual knife sharpener
The grip of the Mueller steel knife sharpener and part of its body
Material
Rubber
ABS plastic and rubber

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
8.4
8.2

Slot Arrangement

7.0
7.0
The Chef’s Choice 4643 manual knife sharpener viewed from the side
The working section on the Mueller handheld sharpener, with 1 slot for scissors and slots 2, 3, 4 for knives

Insertion

8.5
9.0
Close up view of the Chef’s Choice sharpener’s sharpening slots 1, 2, and 3
Close up view of the Chef’s Choice sharpener’s sharpening slots 1, 2, and 3
The working section on the Chef's Choice, with 3 slots featuring diamond-coated abrasive discs
Top view of a kitchen knife in one of the Mueller’s abrasive slots, the sharpener being held by one hand

Pulling Through

8.5
7.5
One of the abrasive slots on the Chef’s Choice 4643 with cutting marks on it
2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Mueller sharpener

Stability on a Clean Surface

9.5
8.5
2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Chef's Choice sharpener
1 hand holding a knife and sharpening it with the Mueller on a countertop, the Mueller held in another hand

Stability on a Wet and Dirty Surface

7.0
8.0
2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Chef's Choice on a salt-sprinkled countertop
A kitchen knife being sharpened with the Mueller sharpener on a countertop sprinkled with salt particles