Powered sharpener with cold forging member

Abstract

Method and apparatus for sharpening a cutting tool having a blade portion with a cutting edge, such as but not limited to a kitchen knife. In some embodiments, a powered sharpener has an abrasive medium that is advanced by a motor and an edge guide surface adjacent the abrasive medium, wherein the cutting edge of the cutting tool is sharpened by bringing a first portion of the cutting edge into contacting engagement with the edge guide surface and drawing a second portion of the cutting edge across the abrasive medium. A plurality of spaced apart channels are formed in the sharpened cutting edge by contactingly engaging the sharpened cutting edge with a cold forging member with sufficient force to displace portions of the sharpened cutting edge. The channels in the sharpened cutting edge constitute locally deformed, work hardened notches.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.