What is the best kitchen knife sharpener?

Chef's Choice 300 Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener, White

Features:- 2 Stage Electric Knife Sharpener Orbiting diamonds hone your knives into impressive sharpness Magnetic guides hold knife at the precise angle and assure correct pressure Patented Diamond Hone multistage process removes less metal t... read more...

Very easy to use. Knives stay nice and sharp after using it.

✔ Highest voted answer

Reply · Send thanks · posted 158 days ago · 2 people agree

Chef's Choice M4623 Diamond Hone 3-Stage Manual Sharpener for Euro-American/Santoku/Serrated Knives

This breakthrough, versatile 3-stage manual knife sharpener is engineered to restore and recreate both a 20 degree edge for European and American style knives and a 15 degree edge for Asian style knives. It will quickly and easily sharpen virtuall... read more...

You should check out this manual knife sharpener. I read about it in a cooking magazine and it looks like a nice product. It has different angles for different types of knives (Asian/European/American) so you won't ruin those nice knives you have! No need for an electric sharpener if you ask me. It's so easy to do it manually... takes less than a minute if you're slow.

Reply · Send thanks · posted 158 days ago · 1 person agrees

J.A. Henckels 9-Inch Poly Sharpening Steel

Keep your knives sharp and ready for daily kitchen tasks with this handy sharpening steel. A comfortable, ergonomic handle and long, 9" steel make sharpening your knives quick and easy read more...

I say a completely manual knife sharpener is the only way to go, in just about every way.
In my experience electric knife sharpeners (and the type where you pass the knife through it) can do as much damage as good. The angle of the sharpening mechanism on these devices is fixed, so 'sharpening' can completely change the angle of the blade, actually dulling and damaging it. They are often made of ceramic or coarse carbide which can seriously damage a blade. This is not to say they are ineffective with all knives, but they are not compatible with all knives either.
Having a decent (and varied) knife collection, I prefer having control of how I sharpen my knives so as not to damage them.
This thing is extremely simple to use, and once you get the hang of it it's as easy (if not easier) than any electric sharpener. Definitely recommended!

Reply · Send thanks · posted 158 days ago · 1 person agrees

One of my best sharpeners has been the pampered chef knife sharpener. It comes with a rubber on the bottom so all you have to do is set it on the counter, open it up so there is more leverage, then move the blade in and out. It works great. It's very easy to use and provides great balance so I'm never afraid of cutting myself.