A knife block has a block body and a plurality of knife storage slots extending into the block body. A first knife sharpener is aligned with a first slot of the plurality of knife storage slots and a second knife sharpener is aligned with a second slot of the plurality of knife storage slots. The first and second knife sharpeners are each configured to contact a blade of a knife stored in the corresponding first and second slots. The knife block can be provided as part of a cutlery set that includes a plurality of knives.

A knife block has a block body and a plurality of knife storage slots extending into the block body. A first knife sharpener is aligned with a first slot of the plurality of knife storage slots and a second knife sharpener is aligned with a second slot of the plurality of knife storage slots. The first and second knife sharpeners are each configured to contact a blade of a knife stored in the corresponding first and second slots. The knife block can be provided as part of a cutlery set that includes a plurality of knives.

A knife block may include a block body with a recessed portion and a block insert positioned at least partially within the recessed portion. The block insert may include a first knife slot and a second knife slot. The knife block may include a knife sharpener coupled to the block insert, where the first knife slot is sized such that a first knife is sharpened by the first knife sharpener each time the first knife is removed from the first knife slot. The knife block may include a first knife storage slot and a second knife storage slot.

A cutting board with integrated knife sharpener includes an opening in the cutting board configured to integrate the knife sharpener. The knife sharpener has a first folded down storage position and a second upright operable position. In the first folded down position, the sharpener is substantially flush with the surface of the cutting board. In the second upright operable position, the sharpener extends upward from the board opening, thus allowing access to the blade receiving slot therein. A securing mechanism is cooperatively integrated into both the board opening and sharpener to secure the same in both the first folded storage and second upright operable positions.

A sharpening apparatus that may be used by a relatively unskilled person to simultaneously sharpen the two opposed cutting edges of a knife blade by hand and to maintain a sharpened cutting edge along the blade with minimal effort and training is provided by the invention. The apparatus comprises a panel member with a slot partially extending from its top edge, and a pair of sharpening steels that are pivotably mounted to the panel member to swing downwards in a crossed relation across the slot. A pair of leaf spring bias the sharpening steels in their standby position. When the knife blade is moved down through the slot, it comes into contact with crossed sharpening steels to bow them outwards under tension applied by the leaf springs. The cutting edges of the knife blade are drawn along and against the sharpening steels to automatically sharpen their cutting edges at the proper angle without any need to match angles between the cutting edges of the knife and the sharpening steels, and without any counterweights applied to the sharpening steels. Such a sharpening apparatus can be used to maintain an extremely sharp cutting edge for precise cutting of a material without crushing or other damage with significantly reduced physical force and strain upon the user.

A combination of a sharpening sheath and a knife comprising a blade intended to be stored in the sheath, wherein the sheath comprises a cavity intended to receive the blade and an access opening at one of the ends of the cavity, the sheath comprising, in the lower part thereof, a device for receiving the cutting edge of the blade, characterized in that the sheath comprises, in the upper part thereof, a locking element cooperating with a safety element provided on the back of the blade in order to longitudinally immobilize the knife in the sheath and in that the device for receiving the cutting edge of the blade is borne by an arm rotatably mounted in the sheath, the sheath comprising biasing means acting on the arm to bring the receiving device of the cutting edge of the blade towards the locking element.

Knife sharpener systems and methods are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a knife sharpening system can include a support structure configured to hold a knife having a handle and a blade extending therefrom, and a carriage assembly mounted on the support structure. The carriage assembly can have a sharpening element that is configured to sharpen a cutting edge of the blade. The carriage assembly can be movable relative to the knife blade to cause the sharpening element to apply a force to the cutting edge of the knife blade.

A tool for steeling a knife includes a frame and first and second steeling components. Each of the components is shiftably mounted relative to the frame for movement between a first position and a second position. The steeling components cooperatively define a knife interface configured to engage and thereby steel the knife. The steeling components are resiliently biased into the first position, with the knife interface moving as the steeling components shift between the first and second positions.

A device for sharpening bladed tools comprising a body defining an elongate handle portion adapted to be gripped in one hand by a user, the body having a forwardly projecting support member curved or angled downwardly with respect to the handle portion and fitted with a sharpening element at or near the end thereof, wherein the support member comprises a pair of spaced support arms extending generally parallel to the longitudinal extent of the handle portion, the support arms being positioned to respective sides of the sharpening element and defining an aperture therebetween adapted to accommodate a blade or anvil of a tool during sharpening of a counterpart tool blade.

A sharpening sheath, adapted to receive a knife to be sharpened or stored, comprising a cavity for receiving a blade, an access opening at one end of the cavity, the sheath comprising, preferably in the vicinity of the access opening an upper part provided with a guiding device for the back of the blade and a lower part comprising a sharpening device on which the cutting edge of the blade is intended to be applied when inserting or extracting the blade in the sheath, characterized in that the guide device comprises a V-shaped groove and in that the sharpening device comprises two sharpening elements arranged in a V-shape opposite the groove of the guide device, the sharpening device being mounted so as to be movable relative to the guide device and being returned by return means in the direction of the guide device.