Over the years, I have had the opportunity to use a wide variety of knife-sharpening gizmos. The most efficient and easiest to use has been from the Horl brand, a German company founded in 1993.
In 2016, Horl introduced the world to rolling knife sharpeners. But as a small, family-owned business, it couldn’t have expected a competitor with larger pockets and better marketing to not only launch a conspicuously similar design, but also become the face of rolling knife sharpeners in the process.
Most recently, the company released the HORL3. This new version retains the admirable aspects of its predecessor with a couple of tweaks that make it more dependable.
In short: Knife sharpening is a life skill that anyone using knives needs to learn to be self-sufficient. That said, sharpening knives doesn’t need to be difficult or take an entire afternoon to get results. The HORL3 rolling sharpener requires minimal time and effort to get factory-edge results.
HORL3 Rolling Sharpener
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Sharpener body:
Solid oak -
Diameter:
2.25" -
Height:
5.25" -
Weight:
1 lb., 1 oz. (12.7 oz. without discs) -
Block:
Solid oak 15° / 20° angle -
Dimensions:
4.4" x 2.2" x 1" -
Weight:
14.5 oz. -
Diamond disc (Quick Lock):
400 grit -
Ceramic disc (Quick Lock):
1,000 grit
Pros
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Quality build
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Long-lasting materials
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Incredibly efficient
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Easy to use
Cons
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The six-setting angle block should be standard in all models
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It’s $50 more than the competition
HORL3 Rolling Sharpener Review
Design & Features
The core of the HORL3 is the sharpener body itself, which, in this case, is made from a solid piece of oak. This gives the sharpener both its weight and durability. Weight is important with a rolling sharpener, as you want it to stay on track while you’re using it. If it starts to roll away, you can either ruin your edge or not sharpen it properly at all.
The second element of this system is the angle block itself. Also made from solid oak, the block that comes with the “Classic” has a 15-degree side and a 20-degree side. It utilizes magnets and a rubber pad to allow the knife to stick to the block and stay in place without getting damaged.
Horl also makes a six-setting angle block that comes standard with its PRO model. This is better adapted to people who have a variety of knives they want to sharpen. That said, always check with the knife manufacturer for the correct angle of the knife you want to sharpen.
Last but not least, the stars of the show here are the grinding discs. With the “Classic” model of the HORL3, you get a standard diamond disc for material removal and a ceramic disc for honing. Don’t be frightened by the term “material removal;” this diamond disc isn’t designed to re-profile your blade’s edge. It removes small amounts with each pass. Any rough spots left behind can be polished by the ceramic disc.
On the HORL2, these discs screwed into place. Anything affixed to something that rolls could get loose. In my experience, these haven’t failed, but it’s just something to look out for. The discs on the HORL3 index and lock into place, allowing for a more fluid sharpening experience.
First Impressions
Owning a small knife company where we sharpen all of our knives by hand, I rely on the Lansky Deluxe 5-Stone System. And as someone who is constantly outdoors using knives and tools, I’ve relied on the Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener for precision results on my personal knives.
However, when I am at home on Sunday afternoon and want to hone up a handful of knives I’ve abused in the field, ease of use and minimal effort are what I am after. That’s where the HORL3 comes in. Not only are they a high-quality tool, but their materials, build, and design also make them an attractive showpiece on a shelf display.
The setup also makes it easy to access when you need to hone an edge. In your hand, the roller feels significant, and once you put it down to roll on a table, it’s smooth and tracks straight.
HORL2 vs. HORL3
Visually, the HORL3 is nearly identical to the HORL2. The difference is mostly in the materials.
The angle block has stronger magnets in it to grip smaller and larger knives better. Additionally, the materials used to make up the Quick Lock discs are more fine-tuned and of higher quality. The only visual cue that separates the two models is how the discs interface with the sharpener itself.
HORL vs. Tumbler
In 2023, the Tumbler Original Diamond Rolling Knife Sharpener hit the market in a big way. Its ads were spread far and wide on social media. It was innovative and, as I found through testing, viable. It got the job done in terms of putting a remarkable edge on a knife blade with little effort.
But the design looks strikingly similar to Horl, which was founded in 1993. A small family-owned company, it really made a name for itself in 2016 when it released the original HORL rolling knife sharpener to the masses. When or how Tumblerware encountered Horl is a matter of speculation, but it employed different manufacturing processes and dumped a lot of effort into advertising.
Ultimately, neither company can claim it created the concept of a rolling knife sharpener. This design traces back to the 1940s and ’50s. Where it can be argued that the Tumbler is a quality product worth your consideration, the HORL2 and HORL3 are better made. I can attest that these discs will last longer.
On the Bench
How easy is it to use this rolling knife sharpener? Aside from figuring out the angle of your knife edge, the whole process could take less than 5 minutes to get a factory-like edge. It is not the system you want to use to fix a blade that’s broken or chipped. The HORL3 is designed specifically to restore a dull edge.
The HORL3 does not require any lubricants, so the process is clean. You can do it on the fly, right before food prep or as you head out the door to hit the trail. The only thing you need to consider is when it’s time to replace the discs. With more than 50 knives sharpened on the HORL2, the original discs still get the job done. Horl claims the discs on the HORL3 are even better, so casual users may never need to replace their discs.
That said, I am impressed with both the stronger magnet on the angle block, as well as the way the discs lock to the body of the sharpener. The magnet is so strong on the angle block that it sticks to the metal casing around my microwave, through the display stand.
With both the HORL2 and HORL3, smaller blades require you to position them more specifically, which could mean they’re not touching as much of the surface of the sharpening block. Because of this, on the HORL2, you needed to be a little more gentle, so they wouldn’t move. The stronger magnets on the HORL3 take the guesswork out of positioning.
The discs locking into the body of the HORL3 also mark a noteworthy improvement, although I never really had any issues with the screw-on discs on the HORL2. These new locking discs are just easier to swap out, making a process I already thought was efficient even more so.
Conclusion: Who’s It For?
I think it’s important to state here that I am not knocking other types of sharpeners. I do believe some brands over-complicate their offerings to the point of intimidation. However, I’ve got nothing but praise for brands like Lansky and Work Sharp, which put out professional-grade sharpening solutions for common folks.
But the Horl is a rolling sharpener that gets the job done simply and effectively. It’s an easy approach to a life skill that people of all skill levels can use. Having tested three different versions of this design, I have come to enjoy and rely on HORL the most.
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