K&yuml;chen Stainless Steel Honing Rod with Safety Guard and Ergonomic Handle (12-inch) Grooved steel restores the lost edge of your favorite knives in seconds Regular knife use inevitably causes the blades edge to curl on the microscopic level, resulting in poor performance and more difficult, less safe cuts. Just a handful of passes on a honing rod after every use will keep your investments razor sharp and near-mint for much longer The textured, ergonomic handle supports both horizontal and vertical grips, and the safety guard keeps fingers protected Steel honing rods pair best with low-hardness or high-carbon knives. More brittle, harder steels require gentler ceramic rods The entire rod with handle measures 17" long and can be easily hung from its loop for no-hassle storage