Knife sharpener with clamping assembly

A clamping assembly comprising:

• a base;
• first and second jaws supported above the base in opposed, spaced-apart alignment on opposite sides of a central clamp axis, the first and second jaws each having a proximal end portion adjacent the base and extending to a distal end portion, wherein the first and second jaws are pivotable between an open position and a closed position;
• a wedge movable along the central clamp axis between the proximal end portions of the first and second jaws;
• a handle having a proximal handle end portion connected to the wedge, the handle operable between a first handle position and a second handle position, wherein moving the handle between the first handle position and the second handle position moves the wedge along the central clamp axis;
• and
• a cam assembly between the wedge and the base, the cam assembly comprising:
• a cam with a cam surface;
• a follower on the proximal handle end portion and arranged to engage the cam surface;
• and
• a spring between the cam and the base, wherein compressing the spring increases an axial distance between the cam and the wedge;
• wherein moving the handle from the first handle position to the second handle position advances the wedge between the proximal end portions of the first and second jaws to pivot the distal end portion of the first jaw toward the distal end portion of the second jaw.