Patent ID: 8388413

Claim:
An apparatus for sharpening a tool having a back surface, opposing side surfaces and a beveled leading edge surface which adjoins the back surface at an acute angle to form a cutting edge, the apparatus comprising: a sharpening guide comprising: opposing first and second body portions configured to contactingly apply a clamping force to the respective side surfaces of the tool to secure the tool to the guide, wherein the guide is configured to present the beveled leading edge surface of the secured tool adjacent an abrasive surface to sharpen the cutting edge while the guide is in an upright orientation, and to present the back side of the secured tool against the abrasive surface to hone a portion of the back surface disposed between the first and second body portions while the guide is in an inverted orientation opposite the upright orientation; and an alignment plate configured to align the tool within the guide prior to application of said clamping force, the plate configured to nestingly secure the guide to the plate while the guide is placed in the inverted orientation and the tool is advanced through the inverted guide so that the back surface slides adjacent an upper plate surface and the cutting edge contactingly abuts an alignment feature which projects from the plate surface, and wherein the guide and the plate are configured such that the clamping force is subsequently applied while said contacting abutment between the cutting edge and the alignment feature is maintained.