What is the best sharpening system, technique or method for sharpening a high-end pocket knife with hard to sharpen steel like CPM-S30v

You have discriminating tastes in blades. Benchmade makes great knives!
I have carried many brands of factory blades, but I keep coming back to Benchmade . They are my first choice when it comes to purchasing factory blades:

Here are merely a few of my go-to EDC’s. As far as sharpening them…I have my work cut out for me.
Benchmade knives are a great product with a lifetime warranty. You don’t need to invest in a sharpening system (if you’re willing to wait 4–6 weeks turnaround time).
Benchmade sharpens for life!
Simply send your knife to the factory, and they will put that out-of-the-box-razor-sharp edge back on for you.
It’s free!
Warranty Service

Benchmade uses quality steel, offers a huge variety of styles and steel, and they have excellent customer service.
The customization options Benchmade offers are beyond compare.

Griptillian drop-point customized in Benchmade custom shop. Fallout glow scales commissioned by private artist, separately.
I love the online customization shop. You can fully customize your knife by choosing model, blade shape, steel, and also add customized graphic etchings to the final product! No two will look the same. You can put your name on your knife at the Benchmade custom shop:
Custom Landing Page

After going to all that trouble of ordering the perfect Benchmade, would you chance wrecking it with an inadequate sharpening system?
Respect your Benchmade.
Whether assisted openers or flick-of-the-wristers, they’re all blink-of-an-eye fast . I especially love the convenience of an ambidextrous locking system like the patented Benchmade AXIS® lock (which, for a Southpaw like me, is definitely a treat). Much respect.
Benchmade doesn’t offer bargain-basement cheap knives. The most inexpensive Mini-Griptillian sells for around $90, if I remember correctly.
(does that seem cheap to you?)
Inexperience and intimidation— that’s what usually keeps people from buying a respectable sharpening system to fit their collection.
Some systems take too long when you’re sharpening a bunch of steel at one time (like my husband and I do).
Some of the sharpening systems are too fast, too slow or are not user-friendly to those who aren’t in the practice of maintaining their own steel.
Some simply don’t work on harder steel.
S30v (if I remember correctly) is a stainless super-steel.
It’s hard .
But I believe it is an internet myth that it’s nearly impossible to sharpen.
Diamond. That will get the job done. Diamond sharpening stones will do the trick. No steel is a match against the hardest substance available in abrasive sharpening stones.
Diamond is expensive, but I believe if you’re willing to fork over a good chunk of change on your pocket EDC*, it would also behoove you to take care of your investment, and not to waste money on a cheaply-designed maintenance system which won’t work.
You’ve seen them.
They advertise the impossible, and leave you feeling frustrated (and may even ruin your blades).
You know the sharpeners I’m talking about, don’t you?
Those automatic fixed-angled kitchen grinders I see in so many kitchens today (it’s enough to make me cringe) .
How could someone pay $1,000’s of dollars for a nice set of kitchen knives, then turn around and pay less than $30 for a sharpening system to maintain them?
Would you wash a Ferrari with generic dandruff shampoo?

This was the first photo I snagged from Amazon. The “ Ferrari” of cheap sharpeners. Don’t believe the 5-star reviews. You’ll ruin your edges with automatic electric grinders like this. The sharpening process should not be convenient, rather meticulous and careful. It should also fit the specific angle specs to your blade.
As with any power grinder, please wear protection! Shaving fine bits of metal and steel dust from your blade can lead to health problems.

Especially if you’re using an industrial-strength belt grinder like this:

As a pianist, I’ve never dared put my fingers up against this bad boy, but my husband does.
I’ve tried almost all the options in sharpening, but I hope you realize this is merely one person’s opinion and not an authority, by any means.
I’ve learned you should go with whatever is comfortable for you . Personal preference. It’s up to you.

My husband and I have long since retired the stones. We have far too many knives to maintain, and have found that although water stones may be relaxing and meditative, they are also tediously slow, and may be better for those people who have fewer knives to maintain.

The Ken Onion Work Sharp is a good product which is available in several model designs, but it is not for novices attempting to sharpen a bunch of expensive blades at one time.

It is very fast. (Almost too fast). It’s a miniature grinder/blade-eater. It’s the scaled down version of our industrial belt sander. I find it intimidating to use on my expensive blades. But if you want fast… that ’ s an excellent option. Please practice on your cheap knives before attempting to sharpen your good ones. Sharpening removes steel from the blade, it shouldn’t be confused with honing , (such as by leather strop) which only succeeds in reshaping the pre-existing steel burr on your edge.
Sharpening is like shaving, whereas honing is like exfoliating the outer layer of skin.
(Is that too girly a comparison for you?)
I’ve ground cheap practice blades to mere teaspoons in a blink of an eye with the Work Sharp .
It’s aggressive, but if you know what you’re doing, it’s so fast and convenient! It’s a good product.

https://m.northerntool.com
The Lansky system is good, but the setup isn’t user-friendly. The angle is not intuitive, which is why we had to mark the holes in the stand ourselves. It can be clunky at times. Even though the angle guide is confusing, it is a good system—but it’s slow to set up:

I would rather go flat-stone to Lansky . Either method is pretty slow, though. Especially with S30v.
I’m going to play “Goldilocks” here, and recommend the “just right” option:
Our newest system—The Wicked Edge , was an investment well worth the money, in my opinion.
At a fixed-angle, it has a guided–arm system, which shaves both sides of the blade at once! No need to stop and flip the blade, or even detach and reset guide arms. Simply lock your knife into the vice, and go. It is difficult (probably impossible) to shave too much metal off with a guided arm.
The angle will be symmetrical on both sides of the blade, cummulating in a perfectly met-edge at the center line.

An example of a shot blade under 10x magnification. You don’t need a close up to see the irregularities.
It doesn’t take any pressure. Glide the varying stones or leather strop over your blade and your angle is always set. There is a pair of diamond tuners included.

Ooooh! Pretty steel. Straight. Sleek. After sharpening.
It’s probably impossible to take off too much steel. The fixed guide arms won’t allow you to dig in too deeply.

Downward view of blade clamped into vice. Guided left arm at precise angle against blade.

Right arm against blade —perfect simultaneous angles.
It’s intuitive and good for beginners.
An additional digital angle guage might help you determine settings, no matter which system you choose. Additionally, a dark permanent marker inked at the blade line will show how much steel is being removed during the sharpening process. Both are inexpensive alternatives to determine precise angles.

A Digital angle guide runs less than $20 dollars.
Man, I wish I’d gone with Wicked Edge before spending so much money on other systems!
It’s easy!
I know an 8-year-old who uses a Wicked Edge (under supervision, of course).

Wicked Edge is all its cracked up to be— in my opinion.
The fixed guides allow you to precisely repeat the angle without messing it up. This is of vital importance when sharpening a blade— that you can accurately repeat the previously chosen angle is important. The guided system is easy to reset to each blade once you know your angle. It will be sharpened equally on both sides simultaneously and will always resharpen to the exact angle you need.
IT WILL CUT.
Precisely equal bevels on both sides of the blade. That’s the key to creating a fine edge! I’ve proven it with magnification, haven’t I?
There are several stones included with the system, as well as diamond and leather stropping blocks for quick tune-up angle honing.
With Wicked Edge, you’ll fine-tune your blades to arm-hair shaving, paper slicing sharpness.
Although not cheap (it runs about the price of three good Benchmades), Wicked Edge is the best sharpening system to protect your steel investments.
I trust it on all my customs.

(I am not compensated by, nor affiliated with, the Wicked Edge company for this review.)

* EDC=Every Day Carry
(all photos mine unless otherwise indicated)

Authentic XYJ Since 1986,Outstanding Ancient Forging,6.7 Inch Full Tang

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