#800 Diamond Plate - Guided Field Sharpener

• I think the Guided Field Sharpener Elite is one of the best field-sharpening kits available.

• I’m disappointed by what feels like limited long-term support for Guided Sharpening System customers, especially given the prominently advertised \(40\)-year warranty.

• The WS Benchstone seems decent, but so far it doesn’t feel nearly as versatile as the Guided Sharpening System.

I own two Guided Field Sharpener Elites and even bought extra #800-grit plates just to be safe.

These well packaged plates seem to be Very Fine but I have no objective measurement.

So, is the #800 Very Fine? My fingertips said yes.

Despite my frustration with Work Sharp’s apparent support direction, I still believe the Elite is among the best commercially available field options.

For many users, the standard version is probably enough. But for for those with modern super steels from makers like Crucible and Böhler, everything I’ve read suggests that diamond plates or CBN are the most practical choices, along with diamond-based stropping compounds.

I also picked up the WS Benchstone. My first impression is that it doesn’t come close to the versatility of the Guided Sharpening System, though I do prefer the Benchstone’s angle guides. More broadly, sharpening gear can be hard to judge because truly objective standards are limited, so even accurate specs can leave room for skepticism.

At this point, my inner shopper is still a little unconvinced. And when I look at the original box and paperwork for the…