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Gorilla Grip vs. Zwilling 4-Stage Manual Sharpener Side-by-Side Comparison

By , , and ·Updated

Gorilla Grip

Check Price on Amazon

Zwilling Henckels

$29.99 from Amazon
Gorilla Grip vs. Zwilling 4-Stage Manual Sharpener: Comparison in Speed, Sharpness, & Design

Overall Verdict

Despite its lower price tag, the Gorilla Grip’s fast speed and effectiveness garnered it a better rating than the Zwilling’s.

The Gorilla Grip is not without flaws: A tapered and bumpy base is never a good sign in the world of manual pull-through sharpeners. However, in our tests, its substantial weight allowed enough stability and balance to work with. It was rather rough on the knife’s edge but it got the job done quickly enough. 

The Zwilling has an impressive build and offers two grind angle options but it took twice as long as the Gorilla Grip in our speed test. It shaved off less material but that wasn’t much consolation given its less effective sharpening.

Ranking by
Showing: 2/2 Items

Pros & Cons

  • Substantial sharpening rods
  • Solid construction
  • Intuitive order of sharpening slots
  • Ergonomic grip
  • Substantial weight
  • Sharpens both Asian and standard knives
  • Strong build, high-quality body material
  • Slot cover
  • Beautiful design
  • Tapered and bumpy base
  • Poorly fitted rubber feet
  • Brittle sharpening blades
  • Anti-slip pad doesn't fully cover the base
  • Awkward grip

Key Specs

Stages
3
2
Scissor sharpener
No
No
Abrasives
Diamond, tungsten carbide, ceramic
Ceramic discs
Grit size
Coarse, Medium, Fine
Coarse, Fine
Dimensions
L7.9 x W1.9 x H3.0 inches
L9.3 x W1.7 x H3.1 inches

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$9.43
$29.53
Check Price on Amazon
$29.99 at Amazon

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Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
6.5
4.7

Sharpening Time to Cut a Lemon

7.6
1.0
Sharpening Time
1 minute 30 seconds
3 minutes
Cutting Feel
Swift and smooth
Slightly forced

Material Retention

5.0
6.0
Metal residue on an abrasive slot on the Gorilla Grip knife sharpener
Metal residue on an abrasive slot on the Gorilla Grip knife sharpener
A bowl containing metal sharpening residue next to the base of the Gorilla Grip sharpener
Medal dust on an abrasive slot on the Zwilling knife sharpener
Medal dust on an abrasive slot on the Zwilling knife sharpener
A bowl containing metal sharpening residue next to the Zwilling sharpener
Sharpening Time
1 minute
1 minute
Target Sharpness

Maximum Sharpness Achieved

8.0
7.0
ZWILLING Maximum Sharpness Achieved video
ZWILLING Maximum Sharpness Achieved video 1
Sharpening Time
6 minutes
6 minutes
Sharpness Level
8 (chicken breast with skin, 1 swipe)
8 - (Chicken breast with skin, 2 swipes)

Edge Smoothness

5.0
7.3
Close up view in vignette of the knife blade and edge after sharpening with the Gorilla Grip
Close up view in vignette of the knife blade and edge after sharpening with the Zwilling

Design

Overall Design Scoring
8.8
7.5

In the Box

The Gorilla Grip sharpener on top of its package box with the instruction manual on the left side
The Zwilling Henckels knife sharpener in between its clear plastic case and instruction manual

Dimensions

The Gorilla Grip handheld sharpener with arrows and figures showing its dimensions
The Zwilling handheld sharpener with arrows and figures showing its dimensions
Length
7.9" (20.1 cm)
9.3" (23.6 cm)
Width
1.9" (4.8 cm)
1.7" (4.3 cm)
Height
3.0" (7.6 cm)
3.1" (7.9 cm)
Weight
6.6 oz (187 g)
11.2 oz (318 g)

Build Quality

8.5
7.8
The Gorilla Grip sharpener lying on a surface, with its base visible
The Zwilling Henckels 4-stage knife sharpener standing on a surface

Working Section

The working section of the Gorilla Grip with 3 abrasive slots on a frame and part of its handle and base
The working section of the Gorilla Grip with 3 abrasive slots on a frame and part of its handle and base
The Gorilla Grip’s diamond-coated rod abrasives
The Gorilla Grip’s tungsten blade abrasives
The Gorilla Grip’s ceramic rod abrasives
The working section of the Zwilling with 4 abrasive slots on a frame and its clear cover
Levels of Sharpening
Prep, Sharpen, Polish
Sharpen, Polish
Abrasive
Diamond rods, tungsten carbide blades, ceramic rods
Ceramic blades
Mechanism
Pull through
Pull through
Sharpening Angle
20 degrees
15 degrees, 10 degrees

Base

The Gorilla Grip’s base and base pad
The Gorilla Grip’s base and base pad
The Gorilla Grip’s base and base pad at the handle
The Zwilling sharpener lying on a surface with its base in full view
The Zwilling sharpener lying on a surface with its base in full view
The Zwilling sharpener’s base and base pad
Material
rubber
Plastic
Feet Type
non-slip pad
EVA pad

Grip

9.5
6.5
The Gorilla Grip sharpener standing on a surface
The grip of the Zwilling 4-stage knife sharpener
The grip of the Zwilling 4-stage knife sharpener
A hand holding the Zwilling knife sharpener and a hand resting on the table
Material
Thermoplastic rubber
ABS, EVA

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
8.6
8.2

Slot Arrangement

10
10
The working section on the Gorilla Grip, with 3 slots featuring diamond rods, tungsten carbide blades, ceramic rods
The working section on the Zwilling sharpener, with 4 slots featuring Coarse and Fine gits for standard and Asian knives

Insertion

9.0
9.0
Top view of a knife being sharpened with the Gorilla Grip, the sharpener being held in one hand
Top view of a knife being sharpened with the Zwilling pro 4 stage sharpener, the sharpener being held in one hand

Pulling Through

8.5
7.5
Two hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Gorilla Grip sharpener
2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Zwilling Henckels 4 stage knife sharpener

Stability on a Clean Surface

8.0
7.5
2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Gorilla Grip sharpener on a countertop
2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Zwilling knife sharpener on a countertop

Stability on a Wet and Dirty Surface

7.0
6.0
2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Gorilla Grip on a salt-sprinkled countertop
2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Zwilling 4-stage sharpener on a salt-sprinkled countertop