Knife holding and sharpening block

A block for holding and sharpening knives which comprises:

• an elongated housing member having an open end and defining a cavity therein for receiving a knife blade through said open end;
• and
• means for sharpening an edge of said knife blade, said sharpening means being rigidly and angularly disposed within said cavity at a position proximate said open end at an angle of about 18.degree. to about 24.degree. with respect to said knife blade when said knife blade is introduced substantially along the horizontal plane of said elongated housing member, whereby when said knife blade is introduced into said elongated housing member, or removed therefrom, it is capable of engagement with said sharpening means, and when so engaged contacts said sharpening means at said predetermined angle of orientation so that said sharpening means sharpens an edge of said knife blade while offering minimal resistance to the force required to urge said knife blade into said elongated housing member.

A block for holding and sharpening knives which comprises:

• an elongated housing member having an open end and defining a cavity therein for receiving a knife blade through said open end;
• and
• means for sharpening an edge of said knife blade, said sharpening means being rigidly and angularly disposed within said cavity at a position proximate said open end at an angle of 18.degree.-24.degree. when said knife blade introduced into said elongated housing member, or removed therefrom, it is capable of engagement with said sharpening means, and when so engaged contacts said sharpening means at said predetermined angle of orientation so that sharpening means sharpens an edge of said knife blade while offering minimal resistance to the force required to urge said knife blade into said elongated housing member, wherein said elongated housing member and open end thereof is interiorly dimensioned larger than said knife blade so that said knife blade may be introduced into said elongated housing member out of engagement with said sharpening means to avoid sharpening said edge.