Global G-38 - 10 inch, 26cm Diamond Sharpening Steel
Although steels often are touted as sharpening tools, few  actually sharpen knife blades, but they do perform the vital task of  realigning, or resetting, edges, which bend when contacting a cutting  surface or other hard object. Because this tool's chrome/vanadium  stainless-steel rod contains hundreds of thousands of diamond  particles, it's hard enough to somewhat sharpen a blade. Using this  steel won't replace a professional sharpening job, which proceeds from  coarse grinding to ever-finer grinding at tightly controlled angles.  However, it will lengthen intervals between sharpenings better than a  steel without diamonds because it accomplishes the final task of a  professional sharpening, which is polishing the edge to a fine  point.Exceptionally well made, this tool's rod has a solid core and has been  plated with hard chrome for additional resistance to abrasion and to  extend its life. Because the rod is a 3/4-inch-wide oval, it exposes  more surface and works quicker than a cylindrical rod. Like Global's  signature knife handles, the steel's handle is molded for comfort and  dimpled for a safe grip. The rule is that a steel should be at least as  long as the knife blade being drawn across it, and this steel's 10-inch  rod is long enough for most household knives.--Fred Brack