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Smith's 50264 vs. Zwilling 4-Stage Sharpener Side-by-Side Comparison

By , , and ·Updated

Smith's Adjustable

$27.01 from Amazon

Zwilling Henckels

$24.98 from Amazon
Smith's 50264 vs. Zwilling 4-Stage Sharpener: When Ideas Are Better Than Execution

Overall Verdict

The Smith's 50264 3-stage and the Zwilling 4-stage sharpeners have a lot in common. Both sharpen in more than one edge angle, and both have a thin, narrow body. But their sharpening performances are far from similar.

The Smith's 50264 gets the job done quickly—it’s one of the fastest we’ve tested to date. On the other hand, it eats away the knife blade and due to the flexibility of the working section, creates a rough, wavy edge. 

The Zwilling designates separate slots for each grind angle, and enjoys more stability as a result. It removes less knife material and produces a much straighter and smoother edge. However, it couldn’t sharpen to the same level that the Smith’s could. It’s also among the slowest to produce results. 

Between the two, the Smith’s is the more effective,but there are other devices that offer a more well-rounded sharpening experience—check our rating table to find one that works for you.

Ranking by
Showing: 2/2 Items

Pros & Cons

  • Angle-adjustable sharpening 
  • Sharpening slot for serrated blades included
  • Wide slot inserts
  • Replaceable abrasives (sold separately)
  • Substantial weight
  • Sharpens both Asian and standard knives
  • Strong build, high-quality body material
  • Slot cover 
  • Beautiful design
  • Shears off a considerable amount of metal
  • Awkward slot structure
  • Long, narrow base
  • Brittle sharpening blades 
  • Anti-slip pad doesn’t fully cover the base
  • Awkward grip

Key Specs

Stages
2
2
Scissor sharpener
No
No
Abrasives
Precision-ground carbide, ceramic
Ceramic discs
Grit size
Coarse, Fine
Coarse, Fine
Dimensions
L10.5 x W1.3 x H2.9 inches
L9.3 x W1.7 x H3.1 inches

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$27.38
$29.53
$27.01 at Amazon
$24.98 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
6.0
4.7

Sharpening Time to Cut a Lemon

8.0
1.0
Sharpening Time
1 minute 25 seconds
3 minutes
Cutting Feel
Light and smooth
Slightly forced

Material Retention

3.0
6.0
Metal residue on the Coarse slot of the Smith’s knife sharpener
Metal residue on the Coarse slot of the Smith’s knife sharpener
A bowl containing metal sharpening residue next to the base of the Smith’s 50264 knife 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, one swipe)
8 - (Chicken breast with skin, 2 swipes)

Edge Smoothness

4.5
7.3
Close-up view of the knife blade and edge after sharpening with the Smith’s Pull-thru
Close up view in vignette of the knife blade and edge after sharpening with the Zwilling

Design

Overall Design Scoring
7.8
7.5

In the Box

The Smith’s 50264 Adjustable pull-thru sharpener next to its plastic casing
The Zwilling Henckels knife sharpener in between its clear plastic case and instruction manual

Dimensions

The Smith’s adjustable handheld sharpener with arrows and figures showing its dimensions
The Zwilling handheld sharpener with arrows and figures showing its dimensions
Length
10.5" (26.7 cm)
9.3" (23.6 cm)
Width
1.3" (3.3 cm)
1.7" (4.3 cm)
Height
2.9" (7.4 cm)
3.1" (7.9 cm)
Weight
8.8 oz (250 g)
11.2 oz (318 g)

Build Quality

8.2
7.8
The Smith’s Pull-thru sharpener with cover and angle knob detached on a cutting board, and a lemon slice
The Zwilling Henckels 4-stage knife sharpener standing on a surface

Working Section

Top view of the angle knob on the Smith’s angle adjustable sharpener
Top view of the angle knob on the Smith’s angle adjustable sharpener
The working section of the Smith’s 50264 handheld sharpener, with its Coarse, Serrated, and Fine slots
The working section of the Zwilling with 4 abrasive slots on a frame and its clear cover
Levels of Sharpening
Sharpen, Hone/Polish
Sharpen, Polish
Abrasive
Precision-ground carbide, crossed ceramic
Ceramic blades
Mechanism
Pull through
Pull through
Sharpening Angle
14°, 16°, 18°, 20°, 22°, 24°
15 degrees, 10 degrees

Base

The Smith’s 50264 lying on a surface with its base and base pads in full view
The Smith’s 50264 lying on a surface with its base and base pads in full view
A base pad of the Smith’s sharpener
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
Slip-proof soles
EVA pad

Grip

6.5
6.5
A hand holding the Smith’s manual knife sharpener
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
Rubber
ABS, EVA

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
7.5
8.2

Slot Arrangement

7.0
10
The working section of the Smith’s 50264, with the angle knob and the Coarse, Serrated, and Fine abrasive slots
The working section on the Zwilling sharpener, with 4 slots featuring Coarse and Fine gits for standard and Asian knives

Insertion

10
9.0
Close-up view of the Coarse slot of the Smith’s sharpener, its blades in full view
Top view of a knife being sharpened with the Zwilling pro 4 stage sharpener, the sharpener being held in one hand

Pulling Through

7.5
7.5
Close-up view of the Fine slot on the Smith’s pull-thru, with nicks visible on the plastic frame
2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Zwilling Henckels 4 stage knife sharpener

Stability on Clean Surface

7.0
7.5
A person sharpening a knife with the Smith’s 50264 adjustable knife sharpener
2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Zwilling knife sharpener on a countertop

Stability on a Wet and Dirty Surface

6.0
6.0
A person sharpening a knife with the Smith’s 50264 Pull-thru sharpener on a salt-sprinkled countertop
2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Zwilling 4-stage sharpener on a salt-sprinkled countertop