Hi Scudd, don't take this the wrong way but, have you read the instructions with the Lansky? The reason I ask is, the system is really quite good, if a little hard on knives, and ideally suited to people, myself included, who find it hard to use stones free hand. I use the lansky from time to time and a good oval steel to touch up during work. I am doing an experiment at the moment by using a £8.99 frost knife for all my gralloching, butchery and gamebird prep for a whole season, at present its holding up very well. I will write a review at the end of the doe season. Best wishes, JC