Comments: "Sharpening steel," as we all know, is a misnomer. A steel doesn't actually sharpen a knife (which involves grinding away the old weak edge and reshaping a new stronger edge). The sharpening or honing steel is used to realign or straighten the edge of a knife, which is microscopically thin and folds over on itself with use. The regular use of a sharpening steel can keep the edge straight between sharpenings. If a knife is really dull, a sharpening steel will not help.

One is not necessarily looking for tons of innovation in world of sharpening steels, but this one, from a leader in the production of knife honing and sharpening tools, features an oversized hand guard and a hanging ring for easy access

Like a knife, a sharpening steel will lose its ridges with continued use, so if you've been using the same steel that came with the knife set you received as a wedding present, it may be time for a new sharpening steel. It is a very modest expense.