Czech sharpening systems — in depth

The most important factor in knife sharpening is maintaining a consistent angle throughout each stroke. Various angle guides help with this, but they are far less accurate than a precision guided system. KMFS systems justify their higher investment with immediate, repeatable results.

To help with this, various guides are used to hold the angle. However, those variants are nowhere near as precise. While you are rightfully investing more money here, the solution is perfect.

Czech symmetrical precision sharpening system with exact angle adjustment

The neat case contains everything you need.

It's like this: you buy a great kitchen knife. It's perfectly sharp for a few weeks, but then it starts cutting less and less because it dulls with use. While a honing steel can realign the edge, it doesn't actually sharpen the knife.

To restore a knife's sharpness, we can use several methods. Either find a master sharpener or dive into it ourselves. I first took the path to a perfect edge that seemed quite complex: whetstones. You can buy a vast number of types and qualities, but the most important thing is grit. Coarser grits are used to repair the bevel, remove chips, or completely regrind to a different angle. The bevel angle is the most important thing you must maintain if you want a perfect edge — and also the hardest part of sharpening itself. I started by buying whetstones of various grits: 240/800, a second 600/1500, a third 2000/4000, and then a uniform 6000. Different grits are simply a necessity: with higher grit, you smooth the bevel after the previous removal by a coarser stone.

I must say that after several months of use and regrinding, I developed a sort of feel and managed to maintain the angle — but it's a struggle and not everyone can handle it. So after months of more or less successful attempts, you suddenly gain a feel and the results are truly razor-sharp. That is, until you accidentally try a professional sharpening set from Czech manufacturer Mr. Lamberský. Suddenly, all your diligent sharpening feels like a futile attempt. This manufacturer is a true polymath, producing the entire device in his factory in Lanškroun.

The device is called KMFS. It costs about six thousand crowns, but more on that later. The KMFS sharpening system is essentially a blade holder — a machine clamp that can grip and hold both straight pressed blades and forged knives that taper toward the edge, so the grip is truly perfect. That is important: if you want a perfect grind, the blade must not move.

Sturdy construction and the heart of the set — the clamp with adjustment screw.

The entire set is sold in a neat case containing everything you need. You place the blade holder on a workbench or table, attach it using the included screw clamp and secure it firmly.

Insert the sharpening plate into the carriers.

Place the knife in the clamp and tighten firmly.

The stand contains a longitudinal screw from which two arms protrude with carriers — holders for sharpening plates with diamond abrasive. The case contains three grits, two pieces each: 240, 600, and 1000. That is sufficiently fine grit even for finishing. By turning the longitudinal screw, the carriers move closer together — this is how you set the same bevel angle on both sides.

To find the ideal sharpening angle, you can place the mounted carrier with the stone against the bevel and find the original grind by lightly sliding it over a bevel marked with a permanent marker. When the stone wipes the marker off the entire width of the bevel, you have the original grind angle set. With the angle set and 240 grit diamonds mounted, start grinding with a light touch, alternating hands with both carriers in reciprocal strokes. Grinding from the bolster to the tip has worked best for me. With light strokes, you remove material quite briskly; once both bevels meet in the center, move to a higher grit. This one already starts to polish the bevel.

The reach of the sharpening plates is substantial — even very long knives can be sharpened without problems.

With this system, you sharpen both bevels symmetrically and essentially at the same time — so the edge doesn't shift to one side or the other. Sharpening is truly brisk, and from bolster to tip, the same angle is maintained throughout. How perfect, how simple, and yet how ingenious.

The entire set sells for a reasonable six thousand, but if I calculate the cost of buying individual stones and the complexity of sharpening on them, this investment seems more than adequate. When you add the craftsmanship — sturdy as a tank and made in our small republic by one skilled individual to be maintenance-free and last a lifetime — I can say without hesitation that this is the best you can get for sharpening almost any knife. The system is so simple that it can be handled by a complete beginner who can insert a dull knife into a machine clamp, tighten it with the included Allen key, and grind an edge that gives goosebumps in a few minutes. Whether it's a kitchen stainless, a Japanese santoku, or a pocket knife with tool steel. Diamond abrasives don't particularly care what steel you're grinding. Just don't press too hard. Overall, satisfaction with the set is enormous. The initial higher investment is balanced by precise workmanship with no play, and the ingenuity and precision of execution can be felt in every way. KMFS is a set I would recommend to anyone who wants enviably perfect edges.

Technical specifications → 🇨🇿 Česká verze

The flagship of mechanical precision with revolutionary self-centering, tool-free clamping

KMFS MOA21: An engineering gem where the strength of duralumin meets the micrometric precision of internal gears.

If the Rival model is synonymous with reliability and the VantaEdge with technological futurism, then the KMFS MOA21 stands in the hierarchy as the unwavering Master of Angle. In the development timeline of this Lanškroun manufacturer, this model appeared as the ultimate answer to the need for absolute precision without using any tools. Each piece is the result of extreme precision, where the body is 7075 T651 duralumin and the internal mechanisms stainless steel.

A view of the massive clamping mechanics with a complex synchronization mechanism for perfect blade centering.

The fundamental innovation that sets the MOA21 apart is fully tool-less self-centering clamping. While conventional sharpeners require an Allen key, here you control everything with a central wheel. The internal mechanism pulls the jaws toward the imaginary center axis perfectly symmetrically — it doesn't matter if you are clamping a thin folding knife or a massive knife with a 5mm spine. The blade will always be centered exactly in the middle.

Another treat for demanding users is the angle adjustment system with the option of independent micrometric fine-tuning for each side. Using the rotating elements on the guide rods, you can correct the angle on the left or right side independently — invaluable when repairing a knife with an asymmetrical factory grind.

Detail of the fine angle adjustment mechanism on individual arms — absolute control over edge symmetry.

The rotating mechanism in the MOA21 has been refined to perfection. After sharpening one side, simply release the positioning element and rotate the entire head with the self-centering clamp. For those who demand maximum precision and don't want to waste time looking for tools, the MOA21 remains the unsurpassed standard of mechanical excellence.

A place for everything: The MOA21 is delivered in a durable case.

KMFS MOA21 — Self-centred jaws, tool-free sharpener

Czech system with absolutely precise angle guidance — reverse kinematics

Just when you think they've exhausted all ideas in Lanškroun for how to build a perfect sharpening machine from duralumin and stainless steel, Mr. Lamberský arrives with the KMFS VantaEdge. If I wrote that the Rival is the "Czech king" and that the Sensei is a revolution for lovers of large stones, then VantaEdge is something like a precision laboratory instrument that accidentally found itself in a knifemaker's workshop. It is sharpening taken to the absolute extreme — no longer just about making a knife cut, but about geometric perfection that takes your breath away.

VantaEdge uses a unique guide rod system led in precise paths. Once you clamp the knife into those jaws, you become the operator of a precision machine. Everything runs in bearing sleeves on hardened rods — smoothly, without the slightest hitch. Forget about the rod twisting somewhere or feeling any "wobble". Here, every movement is guided with mathematical certainty. Whether you are sharpening near the handle or moving to the tip of a long chef's knife, the system holds the set angle with relentless precision. You don't have to worry about the next clamping — the set angle is preserved by the angular head, with no need to re-clamp the knife in the same spot. You achieve a bevel that is symmetrical and perfectly flat along its entire length.

Integral precision: When "play" doesn't exist. VantaEdge looks different at first glance. While with conventional sharpeners you feel like you're putting together a construction kit, here you have an integral system. Once you clamp the knife into those jaws, which self-center the inserted blade, you essentially become the operator of a precision machine.

The carrier is compatible with the RIVAL system of abrasives on dovetail beds.

The greatest magic happens inside the guide mechanism. Everything runs in bearing sleeves on hardened rods — smoothly, without the slightest hitch. Forget about the rod twisting or feeling any "wobble". Here, every movement is guided with mathematical certainty. Whether you're sharpening near the handle or transitioning to the tip of a long chef's knife, the system holds the set angle with relentless precision. That is exactly what you want from VantaEdge — to achieve a bevel that is symmetrical and perfectly flat along its entire length. And you don't have to deal with the next clamping, because the set angle is preserved by the angle head setting; there is no need to re-clamp the knife to the same position.

The foundation of everything is the material. Mr. Lamberský bet on materials more commonly found in aerospace — the entire system is milled from a solid block of 7075 T651 duralumin, with the strength of steel and the lightness of aluminium. The surface is protected by hard anodisation.

The angular head — a Multiangle head with a wider adjustment range is also available.

The kinematics seat the stone on the knife blade at the precisely set angle. Just push lightly, and upon seating the flat face of the stone, the rear arm jumps up and the whole unit then firmly maintains the set angle. It's addictive, technically complex — an interesting solution that no one in the world has.

Surgery on your desk. Using VantaEdge is about discovering the limits of steel. Working with it, you suddenly realize that even the best factory knife has its reserves. With this device you can create such a precise edge apex that the knife becomes a scalpel. The system gives you such a degree of feedback that you can almost feel every microscopic burr, every unevenness of the original grind.

It is about the grace with which the arm moves. No dragging, no unpleasant sounds of poor-quality material. Just the quiet whisper of a stone on steel and the feeling of having everything under control. VantaEdge is for those who won't settle for a knife that "just about cuts". It is for those who want the knife to sing when it cuts. KMFS VantaEdge is not just a sharpener. It is a statement that even a craft as old as knife sharpening can be done with digital precision. If you want your Japanese treasures or pocket companions in a perfectly faultless state while enjoying the process of precise mechanical guidance, there is nothing to think about. It's a Czech product we can be proud of. Mr. Lamberský has once again shown that they do things properly, without compromise and with love of detail. VantaEdge is for me personally the current technological pinnacle of what you can place on your desk. And the result — that incredible, surgical sharpness — is worth every crown of the investment.

How does it actually work when you start sharpening? When you set the angle using the angular head, the system locks this angle across the entire space. During the sharpening itself, you perform graceful strokes from the bolster to the tip. It's almost a meditative activity. You feel how the stone (firmly held in the carrier) rests onto the steel. Thanks to the integral arm construction, the knife doesn't "rock" up and down during sharpening. The angle at the heel is exactly the same as at the very tip — absolutely crucial for long knives or knives with a pronounced belly. The result is a bevel that looks laser-drawn — perfectly straight, symmetrical and clean.

KMFS VantaEdge is not just a sharpener. It is a statement that even a craft as old as knife sharpening can be done with digital precision. It's a Czech product we can be proud of. Mr. Lamberský has once again shown that things are done properly, without compromise and with love of detail. VantaEdge is for me personally the current technological pinnacle of what you can place on your desk.

The foundation of everything is the construction. Mr. Lamberský in Lanškroun bet on materials more commonly found in aerospace or high-end weaponry. The entire system is milled from a solid block of duralumin designated 7075 T651 — a material with the strength of steel but the lightness of aluminium. The surface is protected by hard anodisation, which gives this sharpener that "technical" edge and a durability that will outlast generations.

Sharpening on the VantaEdge is an incredibly calming activity. Everything fits together; you don't have to solve anything by force. It is about feel. The entire set is packed in their classic sturdy case where every component, every Allen key and every stone has its precisely milled place. It looks professional and it delivers professional results.

Is there any downside? Just like the Sensei or the Rival, here too you'll reach deeper into your pocket. VantaEdge with the Multiangle head and complete accessories is not cheap. But you must look at it as an investment. If you have knives worth tens of thousands at home, it's a sin to torture them on a cheap pull-through sharpener from a supermarket. VantaEdge is a tool you buy once and your grandchildren will still be sharpening with it. It's simply a tribute to engineering that serves sharpness.

From diamonds to diamond pastes. When you look at the range of stones for VantaEdge, it's a joy to behold. The standard is diamond plates in grits 240, 600 and 1000. Diamond doesn't care whether you're sharpening an old rusty knife from your grandfather or modern powder steel with 64 HRC hardness — it takes material with gusto and speed. Dovetail mounting of sharpening stones.

The standard are diamond plates in grits 240, 600 and 1000. Diamond doesn't care whether you're sharpening an old rusty knife or modern powder steel at 64 HRC. Available add-ons: fine stones grit 3000, stropping leathers sold in pairs, diamond pastes for the final edge.

Case contents

Dovetail mounting of sharpening stones

Familiarisation with the system and also the possible accessories that I highly recommend — see the videos below.

KMFS VantaEdge — system in action

KMFS Hover Spring Kit — sharpening with a feather-light touch. During final polishing, the biggest enemy is pressure. These springs "lighten" the entire system — in your hand you then feel only the gentlest contact of the stone with the steel. Crucial when moving to grits of 3000 and above, or when using leather with paste.

KMFS Multiangle Head — if you don't get the Multiangle angular head for your VantaEdge, you're missing out on half the fun. This head lets you change the sharpening angle continuously and with incredible precision. Want a delicate 12 degrees on a Santoku? Need a stable 20 degrees on a folder? Done in seconds.

Czech system with brutally precise angle holding — use YOUR own sharpening stones

It's like this: you think that with the Rival from Mr. Lamberský you've reached the pinnacle of what can be achieved at home. I wrote about the Rival myself, saying what a great machine it is, and I still stand by that. But in Lanškroun, in our small republic, a new "polymath" was born. It is called KMFS Sensei. If you're looking for the holy grail among sharpening systems and have a weakness for precise Czech engineering, sooner or later your path will cross with a product called KMFS Sensei. This system from the Lanškroun company KMFS (Krinner Multi Fix) is not just another "sharpener" in a lineup. It is an ambitious successor to the legendary Rival model, which completely flips the logic of how a knife approaches the stone.

If you're looking for the holy grail among sharpening systems and have a weakness for precise Czech engineering, sooner or later your path will cross with a product called KMFS Sensei. This system from the Lanškroun company KMFS is not just another "sharpener" in a lineup. It is an ambitious successor to the legendary Rival model, which completely flips the logic of how a knife approaches the stone.

With most sharpeners we're used to, you firmly clamp the knife and scrub at it with a small stone on a rod. But Sensei turns this completely on its head using so-called reverse kinematics. It sounds complex, but in practice it's brilliant: you have a large, proper sharpening stone lying on the table (even that beloved Japanese water stone) and in your hand you hold a massive arm with the knife. You then move that arm along the stone.

With most sharpeners, you firmly clamp the knife and scrub at it with a small stone on a rod. But Sensei turns this completely on its head using reverse kinematics: you have a large, proper sharpening stone on the table, and in your hand you hold a massive arm with the knife. You then move that arm along the stone.

It's an incredible difference. Instead of torturing the edge on a small piece of diamond, you use the entire surface of a large stone. Material removal is much faster, and yet you have such stability in hand that you could almost lean on the knife. Why is it so ingenious? Because instead of a narrow strip of abrasive material, you're using the entire surface of large stones — whether Japanese water stones, bench diamonds, natural slate, or even ordinary abrasive. The work is therefore much more precise and material removal more efficient. Construction that will outlast generations. Right after opening the robust plastic case in which the Sensei is stored, you realize what you paid for. No plastics, no cheap castings. Everything is precisely milled on CNC machines from high-strength duralumin and stainless steel. The surface finish is superb and every movement of the mechanism is smooth, without any play whatsoever.

Instead of torturing the edge on a small piece of diamond, you use the entire surface of a large stone — whether Japanese water stones, bench diamonds or natural slate. The work is therefore much more precise and material removal more efficient.

Right after opening the robust plastic case, you realise what you paid for. No plastics, no cheap castings. Everything is precisely milled on CNC machines from high-strength duralumin and stainless steel.

What got me the most is the magnetic mounting that holds the blade. You simply "slap" the knife there and it holds like it's nailed down. For those of us who sometimes worry about our Japanese treasures, it's a gift from heaven. The blade doesn't move, the angle is strictly given, and you can focus only on how the knife slides over the stone. The magnets are a huge advantage — the knife sits on them absolutely unshakably and there is no risk of it slipping during sharpening. You don't have to deal with where exactly the knife is clamped; the whole mechanism is set to the desired angle and you simply attach the knife and sharpen. The entire clamping system is designed to be gentle on the blade, although it is always recommended (as with any sharpener) to tape the blade to prevent micro-scratches from metal filings.

What got me the most is the magnetic clamping that holds the blade. You simply "slap" the knife there and it holds like it's nailed down. For those of us who sometimes worry about our Japanese treasures, it's a gift from heaven. The blade doesn't move, the angle is strictly maintained, and you can focus only on how the knife slides over the stone.

Sturdy construction and the heart of the set — the clamp with adjustment screw for fine-tuning the stone height.

Geometry without compromise. What makes the Sensei a true "teacher" (sensei) of sharpness is its ability to hold an angle. The system offers fixed stops for the most commonly used angles: 15°, 17.5°, 20° and 22.5° per side. So if you want a razor edge at 30 degrees on a kitchen knife or a durable 45 degrees on an outdoor workhorse, just set the mechanism accordingly. The kinematics of the system are designed so that when placed against the stone, the arm actively helps to keep the entire bevel surface on the stone. Even if you are not experienced at freehand sharpening, with the Sensei you will achieve a result that looks factory-made — perfectly straight, symmetrical and mirror-polished bevels. An adjustable head is also being manufactured, which will allow a continuous selection of angle range for this system. Not just these four preset angles — but if you're fussy, the new add-on head will be exactly right for you.

The system offers fixed stops for the most commonly used angles:

Stone locking — on a spring; pull the bed to release and swap stones easily.

Sharpening on the Sensei is extremely intuitive. Adjusting the height according to the thickness of the sharpening stone is done by simply unscrewing the arm head, which takes seconds. If you have a collection of stones of various thicknesses, the Sensei handles it thanks to the spring-loaded stone bed — which is also compatible with smaller sharpeners with a dovetail mount.

If we were to look for negatives, we basically run into only two. The first is the price, which runs above 11,000 crowns. Is it a lot? For a regular user, perhaps yes. For an enthusiast who has knives worth tens or hundreds of thousands, it is an investment in a tool they will never have to replace. The second factor is size and weight. Sensei is not a pocket sharpener you take in a backpack on a hike. It is a stationary machine that needs a piece of solid table and its own space. And — you have to provide your own stones.

KMFS Sensei is a demonstration that even in the digital age, honest mechanics have their place. It is a system for people who sharpen their knives not only so they cut, but to relax and enjoy a perfect technical result. If you want to exploit the potential of large sharpening stones while also having the certainty of machine angle precision, you won't find anything better with a "Made in Czech Republic" tag.

Sensei won't teach you to sharpen freehand, but it will teach your knives to cut with surgical precision — with repeatability that you'd only achieve freehand after years of hard training. An engineering gem from Lanškroun: when you first pull the Sensei out of its case, you immediately recognize that no expense was spared on materials. Honest Czech engineering. No cheap castings or plastics — top-notch milled duralumin and stainless steel. The whole construction feels incredibly massive, almost like a small machine tool.

Different stone heights can be used — just tune the system and the angle holds perfectly.

KMFS Sensei — A Revolution in Precision Knife Sharpening | Czech Patent in Action 🇨🇿 Introducing KMFS Sensei — a revolutionary sharpening system from Czech manufacturer KMFS (Krinner Multi Fix), which changes the rules of the game in blade care. Forget estimating angles. Sensei combines the freedom of hand sharpening on classic stones with uncompromising engineering precision.

KMFS Sensei — A Revolution in Precision Knife Sharpening | Czech Patent in Action 🇨🇿

Auxiliary clamp — holding a flexible blade

With this new accessory — the auxiliary clamps — even a very flexible blade such as a filleting knife can be held in place. Such a blade is typically flexible and would tend to deflect away from the sharpening stone during sharpening. These clip-on retaining arms restrict that flex just enough to keep the knife in one flat plane.

With this new accessory — the clamps — even a very flexible blade, e.g. a filleting knife which is flexible and would tend to deflect from the sharpening stone during sharpening, can be held in place. These clip-on retaining arms restrict that flexibility enough to keep the knife in one flat plane.

Scissor holder — 90° collet

With the new 90° collet for clamping scissors, you can now sharpen scissors on KMFS systems without a problem — scissors would otherwise be difficult to sharpen as their angle is too obtuse. This holder solves that problem.

Fine natural stone 3000 grit

An add-on purchase — fine 3000 grit natural sharpening stone. Fitting this stone will give you a mirror-polished bevel and smooth the steel to a state where you can shave with it without a problem.

Overall, satisfaction with the set is enormous — the initial higher investment is balanced by precise workmanship with no play; the ingenuity and precision of execution can be felt in every way. KMFS is a set I would recommend to anyone who wants enviably perfect edges.